90 PP. REPORT OF PROGRESS. FONTAINE & WHITE. 



We find near Bellaire, Ohio, 20 feet below the Pittsburg 

 Coal, a plant which resembles the one found in the Upi3er 

 Barren Measures, but it is larger and stouter in every re- 

 spect. In this the lateral nerves are preserved, and are 

 coarse and single, or once forked; hence this is not A. gigas 

 of the Permian. The resemblance of this plant to the one 

 now in question throws some doubt on the identity of the 

 Upper Barrens' plant with the Permian form. But for the 

 possibility that the Bellaire species has ascended into the 

 Upper Strata, we should have no hesitation in identifying 

 the plant at the higher horizon \vith A. gigas. 



Habitat. — Sandy shale, at Bellton, Marshall Co. 500 feet 

 above the Wavnesburo- Coal. 



Taeniopteris, Brongt. 



The finding of Taeniopterids with a well marked Per- 

 mian facies among the plants of the horizon of the Waynes- 

 burg Coal, is a most significant indication of the important 

 changes which the flora of the Carboniferous upper strata 

 have undergone when compared with that of the horizons 

 below the Pittsburg Coal. No plants of such a type have 

 been found at any lower horizon. 



A still more interesting feature is the discovery of fruit- 

 ing forms of this genus, which show the character of the 

 fructification, hitherto unknown, in the most unmistakable 

 manner. 



Scliimx^er has separated the genus Oleandridiwm from 

 Taeniopteris, taking apparently as his ty^e species Taeiil- 

 02:)teris Ylttata, Brongt. He gives no reason for sei3arating 

 T. Yittata from the rest, or for founding a distinct genus 

 ''Oleandridium." Had he defined this genus better we would 

 perhaps find ourselves compelled to 23lace our fruiting plant 

 in it, as this form is much like Oleandra in form and ner- 

 vation, and besides, possesses a fructification not unlike 

 Oleandra, in position at least, and arrangement. We place 

 all our forms provisionally in the genus Taeniopteris. 



