FOSSIL PLANTS. 



lora cL'Bareu Insel. p. 37, pi. xiv. figs. 1, 2. 



? Asplenium transition's. 

 Ettingshausen, Denks. k. Akad. Wiss. vol. xxv. p. 99, tig. 8. 



Remarks. Stur, in his Culm Flora (heft. 1, pp. 61 and 64), regards as distinct 

 species, Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, Goppert, and Sphenopteridium (Cyclop- 

 teris) dissectum, Goppert, sp. I have carefully compared the descriptions and 

 plates of these species with Foreign and British specimens, and am unable to 

 find any fixed character by which they can be separated. 



If we compare the figure given by Goppert in his Flora d. Silur. Devon, 

 u. Unteren Kohlenf. (pi. xxxvii. fig. 5), with that given in his Foss. Flora d. 

 Ubergangs (pi. xiii. fig. 3), there does not seem to exist a single point of 

 difference. 



Goppert, in his description of Sphenopteris dissectum (1. c. p. 495), says he 

 believes the differences in the form of the pinnules arise from the plants 

 having been of different ages ; probably they only represent fragments from 

 different portions of the frond ; his figs. 3 and 4 being from a lower portion 

 of the frond than his fig. 5. 



I also unite here Archceopteris lyra, Stur. This author mentions as refer- 

 ences to Sphenopteridium dissectum, Goppert, sp., the three figures given in 

 Feistmantel's paper, "Die Kohlenkalkvorkommen bei Rothwaltersdorf," 

 (pi. xvi., figs. 25-27), but from these Stur's figure of A. lyra does not seem 

 to differ. The upper portion of Stur's figure appears identical with those 

 given by Feistmantel, and towards the lower portion of Stur's plant we have 

 pinnules similar to those shown by Goppert in his Flora d. Silur. Devon, u. 

 Unteren Kohlenf. (fig. 3, pi. xxxvii.). 



The pinnules on this fern vary considerably in their segmentation ; the 

 upper ones are much more deeply segmented and cleft than those on the 

 lower portion of the frond, which are merely divided into round lobes. All 

 these conditions can be traced in the figures cited. 



Sphenopteris linearis, Portlock (non Brongt.), is evidently to be referred to 

 this species. 



The figures of Cyclopteris dissecta, given by Richter and linger, are very 

 fragmentary, it is therefore difficult to decide as to the species to which they 

 belong. 



Horizon. Culm. 



Locality. Foreign. Silesia : Rothwaltersdorf, near Glatz. 



Sphenopteridium Plantianum, Carruthers, sp. 



Odontopteris Plantiana. 

 Carruthers, Geol. Mag. 1869, vol. vi. p. 155, pi. vi. figs. 2, 3. 



Remarks. The three specimens of this plant which were lately presented 

 to the British Museum by C. W. Wilmot, Esq., give additional information 

 regarding the species. One of the specimens is similar to that figured by 

 Mr. Carruthers, but the two others show the lower portion of the frond. 



The largest specimen, though incomplete in its upper part, is seven inches 

 long and shows ten pairs of pinnules. The upper four pairs, though 

 two of them are imperfect, show indications of lappets or lobes, which are 

 characteristic of the upper pinnules. The pinnules towards the basal portion 

 are simple and cyclopteroid in form and nervation, and much smaller. Those 

 situated at the extreme base of the frond broader than long, sessile and 

 slightly decurrent. The pinnules in this example are opposite above, but near 

 the base they become alternate. 



In the type specimens only one side of the frond is exposed, hence this 

 character is not shown. 



I have placed this fern in Schimper's ganus Sphenopteridium, on account 

 of the form of the upper lappeted or lobed pinnules, though the lower 



