DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES, PP. 81 



median nerve slender, but distinctly marked ; lateral 

 nerves ascending under a very acute angle, producing a 

 flabellate nervation, forking once near tlie middle of the 

 pinnule, the two lowest adjoining pairs from each pinnule 

 arching up abruptly towards the sinus, so as to leave tri- 

 angular spaces destitute of nerves, as in Goniopteris, or 

 Cymogiossa, to both of which genera it has a strong re- 

 semblance.) 



Habitat. — Roof shales of the AVaynesburg Coal, Cassville. 

 West Virginia. 



Pecopteris Spf PL XXIV, Fig. 7. 



This beautiful little fragment is well marked, and dis- 

 tinct from all species known to us, so far as the portion of 

 tlie frond shown in the specimen can determine this. The 

 pinnae are slender, obliquely placed, and cut into rounded 

 ovate lobes, which are directed forwards. The free lower 

 margin of the lobes is much longer than the upx)er ; the 

 rachis of the pinnae is very slender ; the lobes have a slen- 

 der mid-rib, furnished w^ith simple lateral nerves, which go 

 off so as to be directed toward the end of the j^innule. 



The plant resembles a Goniopteris. Though so well 

 marked we have thought it best not to fix the species on so 

 small a fragment. 



Habitat. — Roof shales of the Waynesburg Coal, Cassville, 

 West Virginia. 



GonioptePkIS, Presl, emend. Al. Braun. 



The plants of the genus Goniopteris, as limited by Schim- 

 per, are among the most characteristic ones of the Upper 

 Carboniferous. They are in some localities very abundant, 

 and form one of the features by which the flora of the 

 higlier strata is distinguished from that of lower horizons. 

 No species of the genus is found in West A^irginia below 

 the horizon of the Pittsburg Coal. It occurs in all hori- 

 zons from tlie AVaynesburg Coal up to 800 feet above it, 

 and near the top of the Upper Barren Group. 

 GPP. 



