19G KinSTOX: TIIK FLORA OF TIIK CARBOXIFEROUS PERIOD. 



The fructification of Alethopteris is imperfectly known, but 

 what is supposed to be a fruiting specimen of Alethopteris Serlii 

 Brongt. has been described by Zeiller. This most interesting 

 example appears to show that the sporangia were globular and 

 arranged in rows along the veins. The fronds of Alethopteris 

 attained to large size. 



Tlie genus Lonchopteris Brongt. (Plate XXYL, fig. 2) holds 

 the same I'elationship to Alethopteris tliat Linopteris does to 

 Neuropteris, having the same form of growth and pinnule cutting 

 as Alethopteris, but is easily distinguished at first sight by the net- 

 like reticulation of the veins (Plate XXVI., figs. 2a + 3). 

 Odontopteride^. 



The only genus of this family to which reference requires to 

 be made is Odontopteris Brongt., which, however, is very rare in 

 British Carboniferous rocks, and appears to be restricted to the 

 Middle and Upper Coal Measures (Plate XXVIII., figs. 1 and la — 

 Odontopteris alpina Presl. sp.). 



The pinnules are more or less tongue-shaped and attached to 

 the rachis by their broad base. They have no true mid-rib — several 

 veins passing into the pinnules direct from the rachis, where they 

 bifurcate once or twice. 

 Tree Fern Stems. 



Some of the palfeozoic ferns had stems like our modern Tree 

 Ferns and must have attained to a considerable height. In 

 Britain the two following genera of fern trunks occur : — 



Caulopteris L. & H. (Plate XXXIII., fig. 1 — Caulopterls 

 auglica Kidston). The frond scars are arranged in vertical rows 

 placed close to each other. They are oval and contain, a short 

 distance within the margin, a closed oval or horse-shoe-shaped 

 band, which corresponds to a tract of sclerenchymatous or much 

 indurated tissue. Within this band and near its upper end is 

 placed the vascular bundle scar. The outer surface of the stem 

 is usually densely clothed with aerial rootlets. 



Megaphyton Artis. (Plate XXXIII., fig. 2 — Megaphyton sp. 

 allied to M. anornalum Grand' Eury.). The fronds are attached 



