![Thumbnail: [Volume 83, 1955-56 page 677]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_83/thumbnails/rsnz_83_04_0811_0677_ac_02.gif)
Genus Sphenopteris Brongniart
Sphenopteris mackayi n. sp. (Text-fig. 3, Figs. 1-3.)
Description. Pinnately branched frond, 6 cms long, with winged rachis and pronounced central vein Pinnae deltoid, arising at acute angles, distal part often split, margin entire, apex truncate Venation of pinnae. one prominent vein leaving the rachis and dichotomising three or four times.
Localities. Quail Flat B166/70, (Holotype); Paparoa Coal Measures (Waiomo Formation) B172/5.
Age. Turonian to lower Senonian.
No species matching this has been seen in other New Zealand Mesozoic floras. It is similar in general shape and venation to Sphenopteris (Ruffordia) goepperin Dunker (Arber, 1917. 42; Seward, 1894. 81) but is larger and its secondary veins dichotomise more frequently.
Sphenopteris pterioides (Ettingshausen)
1887. Dicksonia pterioides Ettingshausen, Denkschr k. Akad. Wissen Wien (Math-Nat Cl) 53 (1) 143.
1887. Aspidium otagoicum Ettingshausen, Denkschi k. Akad Wissen Wien (Math-Nat Cl) 53 (1). 143.
1890. Dicksonia ptetioides Ettingshausen Trans. N.Z. Inst. 23: 51. Pl. XXX, Figs. 4-6.
1890. Aspidium otagoicum Ettingshausen, Trans. N. Z. Inst. 23: 15. Pl. XXIV, Fig. 3.
Localities Pakawan (Canterbury Museum Zf 279, a syntype, original of Pl XXX, Figs. 6 6a); Shag Point (Otago Museum C48 68, holotype of Aspidium otagoicum, Pl XXIV, Fig. 3).
Age. Upper Senonian.
As the specimen seen has no trace of sori and as Ettingshausen's other figures are also based on sterile fronds, this species is transferred to Sphenopteris. Two other specimens labelled “Dicksonia pteriodes Ett”, in the Canterbury Museum (Zf 278 and Zf 280), neither figured by Ettingshausen, are fragmentary, and may not be conspecific.
![Thumbnail: [Volume 83, 1955-56 page 678]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_83/thumbnails/rsnz_83_04_0812_0678_ac_02.gif)
Text-Fig. 2.—Figs. 1.4—Cladophelebis australis (Morris). 1 B52/1 Strongman Mine, Lower Senonian; 2. B161/6 Pakawau. Upper Senonian: 3 B166/69 Quail Flat, ? Turonian, 4, B530/7 Mikonui Stream, Upper Senonian. Fig. 5—Cladophlcbis [ unclear: ] llmann n. sp. B428/23, holotype, Strongman Mine. Lower Senonian Fig. 6—Cladophlebis obscura (Ettingshausen) B161/7 Pakawan Upper Senonian Figs. 7.9—Coniopteris [ unclear: ] lobata (Oldham) 7. B125/4 Quail Flat, [ unclear: ] Turonian, 8, B52/5, 428/28 Strongman Mine, Lower Senonian, 9. B166/69 Quail Flat, [ unclear: ] Turonian Figs. 10.12—Phyllopte [ unclear: ] s expansa Walkom. 10, 11, B125/34, 61 Quail Flat, ? Turonian, 12, B19/39, Brunner Bridge, Lower Senonian. Fig. 13—Phyllopteris lanceolata Walkom. B23/1 Ford Formation, Lower Senonian. Fig. 14—Lycopodium of volubile Forst. B351/10 Seymour River, ? Turonian All Drawings natural size.