140 PECOPTERIS. 



6. Sphenopteris, sp. (from Australia). 



V. 4205. A portion of a frond, with the nervation preserved in 

 places, but too fragmentary to determine specifically. 



7. Sphenopteris, sp. (from S. Africa). 



Zeiller 1 has figured a fragmentary specimen from the Transvaal, 

 with dichotomising nerves, apparently belonging to this genus. 

 In addition, there are two specimens, also very fragmentary, to be 

 briefly referred to here. 



V. 3622. Figured by Seward (97 1 ), p. 332, text-fig. la. 



A very minute fragment, with forking nerves. Probably a 

 pinnule of a Sphenopteris frond. 



Casey's Township, Transvaal. Prcs. ly B. Draper, Esq., 1897. 



V. 3260. Imperfect fragments of fronds. A trace of the 

 nervation can be seen here and there. 



Bedford, Cape Colony. Pres. by B. B. Fraser, Esq., 1893. 



Genus PECOPTERIS, Brongniart, 1822. 

 [Mem. Mus. d'Hist. Nat., vol. viii, p. 233.] 



Bi-, tri-, or quadripinnate fronds. Pinnules attached by their 

 whole base to the rachis, not contracted below, usually with 

 parallel sides or margins slightly converging towards the apex, 

 generally entire, with obtuse apex, contiguous, and often set almost 

 at right angles to the rachis. Median nerve clear, giving off 

 pinnately arranged, simple, or dichotomising nervules. 



The form- genus Pecopteris is now generally restricted to include 

 only certain fern- like fronds of Upper Carboniferous and Permian 

 age, although this type of leaf is met with in the Mesozoic and 

 Tertiary rocks, and can be closely matched among living ferns. 



Pecopteris phegopteroides (Feistmantel). 



1876. Alethopteris phegopteroides, Feistmantel, Journ. Asiat. Soc. Bengal, 

 vol. xlv, pt. 2, p. 362, pi. xviii, figs. 1, la, 2, 2a. 



1881. A. phegopteroides, Feistmantel, Flora Goudw. Syst., vol. iii, pt. 3, 

 p. 81, pi. xviii a, figs. ], la, lb. 



1 Zeiller (96 1 ), p. 371, pi. xviii, fig. 1. 



