1838.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 85 



The fertile plants (PI. xxix, figs. 5-8) have a broad, flat, distinctly striate 

 primary rachis; the secondary division oblique, with rachis of the same 

 character, the tertiary oblique, or at right angles, with rachis flat and 

 smooth, sometimes round in the middle, and the ultimate divisions ob- 

 lique, simple, or trifid, curved, bearing at the apex small globose iuvolu- 

 crate sporanges parting at maturity into three to five lanceolate lobes 

 curved inward, figs. S, 5a, 6a. The divisions of these sporanges are 

 varied apparently from the angle and degree of compression, some of 

 them ovoid, figs. 6, 6a, being only split in two lobes. As the sporanges 

 are much larger upon some of the specimens, one might admit two spe- 

 cies. But fig. 6 is upon the same specimen as fig. 5, and evidently the 

 form which I have named, var. robusta, is, like the multiple forms of the 

 sterile plants, a mere variety, the size of the sporanges depending on a 

 more advanced stage of maturity or on a different position of the pinna? 

 upon the fronds. The pinna? seen upon the fertile plants without 

 sporanges do not seem to be sterile pinnules, but merely pedicels from 

 which the sporanges have been detached. 



There is no reason for changing the name originally given to the 

 plant. The specific name has priority and the genus Zeilleria, though 

 well described by its author, represents only the characters of the fruit- 

 ing part of plants referable to the group Sphenopteris {Kymenophyllites), 

 but may be changed until more is known upon the fruiting parts of the 

 numerous species described as Sphenopteris. 



Six specimens; Museum number, 2664. 



7. Sphenopteris Harveyi Lx., var. robusta Lx. P.late xxix, figs. 7, 8. 

 Seven specimens; Museum number, 2665. 



8. Sphenopteris laxifrons ? Zeiller. 



One specimen; Museum number, 2666. 



9. Sphenopteris polyphylla ? L. & H. 

 One specimen ; Museum number, 2G07. 



10. Pseudopecopteris (Sphenopteris) macilenta (L. & H.) Lx. 

 Six specimens ; Museum number, 2G68. 



11. Pseudopecopteris (Sphenopteris) muricata (Brgfc.) Lx. 

 Twenty-four specimens; Museum number, 2669. 



12. Pseudopecopteris trifoliata Brgt. sp. 

 One specimen ; Museum number, 2670. 



13. Pseudopecopteris latifolia Brgt., sp. 

 Five specimens; Museum number, 2671. 



14. Pseudopecopteris Pluckeneti Brgt., sp. 

 One specimen; Museum number, 2672. 



15. Pseudopecopteris (Sphenopteris) Schillingsii Aud, 

 One specimen ; Museum number, 2673. 



