30 T. G. HALLE, MESOZOIC DEPOSITS AND FLORAS OF PATAGONIA AND TIERRA DEL FUEGO. 
too. NSAPORTA (1894, p. 21) has described, from the Upper Jurassic of Portugal, a form 
which he names Sphenopteris Mantelli neo-jurassica, but it is very doubtful whether 
that form has anything to do with the Wealden species. It seems to be proved, 
however, that Sphenopteris psilotoides reaches as high up as into the Albian of the 
same region. It has even been recorded, by ENGELHARDT (1891), from the Ceno- 
manian of Niederschöna; but as no figures are given, this statement needs corro- 
boration. It seems to be possible, however, that one of the specimens figured by 
VELENOVSKY (1888; pl. 1, fig. 7) from the Cenomanian of Bohemia under the name 
of Thyrsopteris capsulifera — which has been identified by NATHORST (1890, p. 15) 
as belonging to Onychiopsis — should be referred to Sphenopteris psilotoides. At 
any rate it is certain that this species continues some way up above the Wealden, 
where it has its maximum distribution. 
With the exception of the fragment in pl. 1, fig. 19, which is from locality c, 
all the specimens are from the uppermost part of the Rio Fösiles valley. 
Sphenopteris (Ruffordia?) Goepperti DuUNE. 
Pl:523 fs ASPIRE AO 
Cheilanthites Goepperti DUNKER 1843, p. 6. 
Plenge Goepperti DUNKER 1846, p. 4; pl. 1, fig. 6; pl. 9, figs. 1—3. 
Hartlebeni DUNKER 1846, p. 2 pl. 9, fig. 9. 
» longifolia DUNKER 1846, p. 4; pl. 8, fig. 6. 
» Jugleri ETTINGSHAUSEN 1852, p. 15; I 2153 Ti a 
Ruffordia Goepperti. SEWARD 1894, p. 76; pl. 3, figs:15, 6; pli 4; pl. 5; pl 6, fig. 1. 
To the well-known Wealden fern Sphenopteris (Ruffordia?) Goepperti are referred 
here a number of specimens which are of rather varying aspect and at first sight 
suggest the occurrence of more than one species. SEWARD has shown, however, from 
the comparative study of an extensive material, that Ruffordia Goepperti is a very 
polymorphic plant. If we delimit the species in accordance with SEWARD'S views, 
all specimens here figured may with some confidence be included in it. 
The variation is mainly in the different degree of dissection of the frond and 
in the comparative breadth of the ultimate segments. Some specimens of the very 
dissected form are shown in pl. 2, figs. 4—6. The segments are very narrow, cunei- 
form, the narrowest of them have only one vein. The apex of the uninerved seg- 
ments is acute; if there are more veins, it is dentate with one vein passing to each 
tooth. These specimens agree in all respects with those figured by DUNKER and 
SCHENK and with the fronds with narrow segments figured by SEWARD (pls. 4 and 5). 
Somewhat broader segments are shown by the specimen figured in pl. 2, fig. 7. 
The pinnules are cuneate—lanceolate and bluntly dentate. Each tooth, which receives 
one vein, evidently corresponds to one ultimate segment in the more dissected fronds. 
There can hardly be any doubt that this specimen belongs to the same species: the 
general type is the same, and the segments, though broad, are considerably narrower 
