FOSSIL PLANTS. 409 



ous, bearing alternate divisions, cordate, lanceolate in outline, 

 deeply exit on each side in three to five irregular obtuse or 

 pointed lobes, as seen in fig. 4, 5, 6, enlarged; medial vein 

 somewhat inflated like its pinnate divisions, which branch 

 once or twice to the borders, according to the size of the lobes. 



The surface of the leaflets is quite smooth. By its slender, half round secon- 

 dary and tertiary rachis, and the general form of the pinnae and of the divi- 

 sions, our species agrees well enough with that published by Brongniart, Veg- 

 Foss., p. 197, pi. 154, fig. 2. But the author describes and figures the lobes of 

 the pinnules as being more regular, longer, regularly tridentate at the point 

 while those of our specimens are always either more or less irregularly cut, or 

 entire, and also either pointed or obtuse. The difference in the form and size 

 of the lobes of the pinnules of the same pinnae, indicate for this species, as 

 seen from our fig. 4, 5 and 6, a great disposition to vary, and the more essential 

 characters being identical, I can but consider the American specimens as repre- 

 senting the same species as that of Prof. Brongniart. 



It is found in fine large specimens on the shales over the coal at Morris. 



SPHENOPTERIS MIXTA, Schp. Pal. Veg., p. 382. 

 Sphenopteris sinuosa Lesqx, ined. 



PI. xv, fig. 7 and 8. 



This species is the same which, from incomplete specimens, was in the second 

 volume of this Report, page 435, considered as doubtfully referable to Sphenop- 

 teris rigida, Brgt. It has a tripinnate or polypinnate frond, the specimens being 

 covered with numerous secondary pinnae, of which one only is figured here. Pin- 

 nae branching at a right angle from a broad winged smooth rachis, bearing alter- 

 nate lanceolate secondary divisions, with a half round comparatively broad and 

 regularly sinuous rachis. The pinnules obliquely attached upon each of its con~- 

 vex flexures are oval, lanceolate pointed, regularly divided on each side into three 

 to five half round lobes. The medial vein which, like its divisions, is thin and 

 somewhat obscure, alternately branches into each lobe of the pinnules, the 

 branches forking above the middle. The epidermis is thick, the surface con- 

 vex and somewhat rough. This species appears essentially distinct from Sphe- 

 nofopteris rigida, Brgt., by its broad winged rachis, the form of the pinnules 

 and of their divisions, the slightly rough surface, etc.; nevertheless there may 

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