18 MR, NEWELL ARBER ON THE CLARKE COLLECTION  { Feb. 1902, 
Noeggerathia distans. 
1845. Goeppert, in Tchihatcheff’s ‘ Voy. sc. dans ]’Altai Oriental ’ p. 385 & pl. xxviii. 
1871. Geinitz, in Cotta’s ‘ Der Altai’ p. 176 & pl. iui, fig. 9. 
Noeggerathia palmeformis. 
1871. Geinitz, in Cotta’s ‘Der Altai’ p. 176. 
Noeggerathia elongata. 
1849. Dana (49) p. 715. 
Noeggerathiopsis elongata. 
1892. Etheridge, Rec. Geol. Surv. N.S. W. vol. ii, pt. 1, p. 75. 
Zeugophyllites elongatus. 
1847. McCoy (47) p. 152. 
1850. Unger (50) p. 332. 
1872. Schimper (69-74) vol. 11, p. 505. 
1878. Feistmantel (78) p. 95 & pl. xiii, figs. 6, 6a. 
1883. Tenison- Woods (83) p. 152. 
1890. Feistmantel (90) p. 150 & pl. xxi, figs. 6, 6a. J 
The nature and affinities of the fossils about to be described have 
long been the subject of speculation, and no little perplexity. 
McCoy identified specimens in the Clarke Collection, labelled ‘ from 
Mulubimba Carboniferous Series,’ as Zeugophyllites elongatus, Morris. 
Before discussing the nature and systematic position of these 
fossils, some description of the plants themselves may be given. Of 
the various fragments, the best is a group of three leaves (PI. I, 
fig. 1) which appear to radiate from some axis, unfortunately 
missing. The largest of these is 35 inches long, and is the median 
portion of a leaf. Another is an apical portion, 31 inches long. 
Another slab (PI. I, fig. 2) shows a basal portion, 11 inches long, 
part of the contracted base of the leaf, and an exceptionally well- 
preserved apical portion 12 inches long. The following are the 
essential characters of this plant, so far as these specimens are 
concerned. Rhachis absent. Leaf(?) elongate, spathulate, more 
than 4 inches long, and in breadth +, inch near the base, increasing 
to a maximum of 2 ort inch near the apex. Base sharply contracted 
to a petiole, 1 inch or more long. Margin entire, straight or slightly 
curved. Apex obtuse, rounded. No median vein. Veins, about 
twelve in the petiole, dichotomizing once or twice where the leaf 
begins to expand. Venation of the leaf parallel, with occasional 
dichotomy. The number of the veins at the point of maximum 
breadth is generally about 30. Veins equal in size, strong, close 
(less than =}, inch apart), not contracting (that is, still parallel) at 
the apex. 
With regard to the identity of this plant, there is in the first 
place much doubt as to the correctness ' of Morris’s? identification 
of his specimens with Brongniart’s genus Zeugophyllites. Brong- 
niart’s ° original description is as follows :— 
‘Feuilles pétiolées, pinnées ; folioles opposées, oblongues ou ovales, entiéres, 
a nervures trés-marquées, en petit nombre, confluentes a Ja base et au sommet, 
toutes d’une égale grosseur.’ 
The original specimen, on which the genus was founded, was 
called Z. calamoides, and was obtained from Raniganj, Bengal 
1 Etheridge, Rec. Geol. Surv. N.S. W. vol. iii (1892-93) p. 74. 
2 Morris (45) p. 250 & pl. vi, figs. 5, 5a. 
3 Brongniart (28)! p. 121. 
