184 



THE FOSSIL FERNS. 



Leaves bipinnate, or rarely pinnate ; leaflets, usually, 

 somewhat cordate at the base, neither adhering to each 

 other* nor to the rachis by their whole base, only by the 

 middle portion of it ; mid-rib vanishing at the apex ; veins 

 oblique, curved, very fine, dichotomous. Fructification ; sori 

 lanceolate, even, covered with an indusium, arising from the 

 veins of the apex of the leaflets, and often placed in the 

 bifurcations. 



Twenty-four species in the coal formation.* 



Three species in the new red sandstone. 



One species in the anthracite of Savoy. 



One species in the muschelkalk. 



"We subjoin a figure of N". Loshii (fig. 119), with a magnified 

 leaflet, from Lindley and Hutton, PL 49. 



\ 



FIG. 119. 



FIG. 120. 



Odontopteris, from oSovs, a tooth, and Trrcpis, a fern. 



Leaves bipinnated; leaflets membranous, very thin, 

 adhering by all their base to the rachis ; mid-rib absent or 

 rudimentary ; veins equal, simple, or forked, very fine, most of 

 them springing from the rachis. 



Five species in the coal formation. 



"We insert above a figure of 0. minor (fig. 120), from 

 Brongniart, PI. 77. 



* Pict. Atlas, pi. xxviii. 



