540 



THE DEVONIAN PERIOD. 



show it to be quite distinct. The Devonian plant-beds of St John 

 are relatively richer in species and individuals belonging to the genus 



Fig. 188. — Asterophyllites, SphenojpJiyllum, and Lycopodites. 



rx 



^ 



A, Asterophyllites parvula; (a) Branches; (b) Leaves enlarged; (c) Stem. 



B, Sphenophyllum antiquum ; (a) Magnified ; (b) Natural size. 



C, Lycopodites Matthewi ; (a) Branch and leaves; (b, c, d) Different forms of leaves. 



Asterophyllites than any zone of the Coal formation with which I am 

 acquainted. The genus is represented in the Devonian of Europe, 

 and more especially by the fine species A. coronata from Thuringia. 



Annularia acuminata, Dn. (Fig. 194, G). Leaves oblong, acu- 

 minate, one-nerved, six to nine in a whorl, erect or slightly spreading. 

 Whorls usually found disconnected. Detached whorls of this species 

 occur, though rarely, on the surfaces of the shales of Carlton. It 

 seems to be a plant of the same type with A. sphenophylloides, Unger, 

 which, according to Lesquereux, occurs in the Coal formation of 

 Pennsylvania. Some specimens show a few whorls attached to each 

 other by a very slender stem. 



Sphenophyllum antiquum, Dn. (Fig. 188, B). " Canad. Nat.," 

 vol. vi. p. 170, fig. 7. Leaflets cuneate, one-eighth of an inch wide 

 at the apex, and less than one-fourth of an inch long. Nerves three, 

 bifurcating equally near the base, the divisions terminating at the 

 apices of six obtuse, acuminate teeth. About eight leaves in a whorl. 

 This plant was described from a few detached leaflets from the 

 graphitic shale of St John, which preserved their form and venation 

 in the most wonderful perfection, though they were completely 



