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



characteristic is the arching and anastomosis of the basal secondary 

 nerves of contiguous pinnules. They are small Ferns, but Dr. 

 Feistmantel found one of much larger size in the Ramiganj coal 

 plant beds in India, which he described in his essay on the Flora, 

 Damuda and Panchet Divisions* I have found what I believe to 

 be the same fossil in the Ballinore coal beds in N. S. Wales. It 

 is thus described. 



Merianojrteris major. Feist, loc. cit. Frond large, tri-pinnate, 

 secondary pinna? somewhat broadly elongate, only a little nar- 

 rowed towards the apex, pinnati-sect or pinnatifid, pinnules or 

 lobes rounded at the apex and very thin-leaved, costa distinct, 

 and somewhat curved at the apex of the veins, the two lowest 

 divide on emerging and join with the same of the adjoining leaflets 

 in a pointed arch, while the others are placed more towards the 

 upper portion of the pinnule, pass out at a very acute angle from 

 the costa, are also dichotomous, and somewhat flexuous. 



The state of preservation in the Indian and Australian forms 

 shows a large but very thin-leaved and tender Fern. From the 

 figures in Feistmantel, one would conclude that the pinnules are 

 united, and the arching vein spreads from one leaflet to the other in 

 the manner indicated. This occurs more rarely in the Australian 

 fossils. The pinnules are sometimes quite distinct, as I have 

 figured in the plate, which is a little larger than nature, the leaflet 

 three times natural size. There are specimens in which the 

 anostomosing nerves quite correspond with Feistmantel's definition, 

 and I have no doubt that in all other respects they are the same. 

 The Indian beds are regarded as Lias. The Fern is not uncommon 

 but probably not so common as Alethopteris currani, in these strata. 



T.ENIOPTERIDE.E. 



Fronds stipitate, simple, oblong, lanceolate and broadly elongate, 

 entire or pinnate, pinnae linear, Ungulate, more or less acuminate, 

 shortly pedicellate or sessile. Rachis and costa conspicuous, veins 



* Op. cit. Vol. III., part 2 & 3, p. 83. Plate 19 a, figs. 9 & 11. (There is 

 a mistake in the reference page opposite the plate, 9 to ii. , being printed 

 instead of 9 to 11.) 



