64 ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE COAL DEPOSITS OF AUSTRALIA, 



and Sphenophylhtm.* They are the coal-forming plants of the 

 Carboniferous period and some of the names are used by Prof. 

 Geinitz as typical of certain zones. There is no evidence of the 

 existence of any of the three named genera after the Permian 

 period. Dr. Feistmantel is of opinion that even the genus 

 Equisetum was present in the coal formation. Of its presence in 

 the mesozoic strata he says there can be no doubt, but in that 

 case it is associated with genera which are not found in the coal 

 measures. 



The mesozoic Equisetacece are confined to the genera Equisetum, 

 Schizoneura and Phyllotheca. Schizoneura has not yet been found in 

 Australia : of Phyllotheca I shall treat subsequently. Equisetum 

 is a genus which has not hitherto been found in Australian coal 

 deposits ; I have now to record its occurrence abundantly at the 

 "Walloon mine, Ipswich, Queensland. 



Before describing the species it is necessary to remark that 

 Messrs. Morris and Oldham did not consider that they were 

 justified in using the word Equisetum, as they were not sufficiently 

 sure of the identity between the fossil and living genera. They 

 employed the term Equisetites (Flora Pajmahalensis tab. II and 

 XXXV.), but gave only a figure without any description. 

 Saporta and Schimper, and according to Feistmantel, many others, 

 use the word Equisetum, which I employ in the sense they do. 



As the genus Equisetum or Horsetail (French Prele, German 

 Schachtelhahn), is not known in Australia, a few words about it 

 may be useful. They are leafless branched plants, with a striated 

 stem in the outer sheath of which a very large quantity of silica is 

 secreted. The stem is easily separated into joints, where it is 

 found that each joint has a whorl of teeth forming a sheath. It 

 is fistular, having many longitudinal cavities in its circumference, 

 but is coated externally with a layer of hard woody tubes, from 



* These are the views of Brongniart, Suckow, Feistmantel and others 

 hut Prof. Williamson and Prof. Renault (Paris) both regard the two last 

 named genera as nearer Lycopods than any other plant. See Feistmantel, 

 " Jurassic Flora of the Rajmahal group, p. 10 (62.)" 



