36 PP. REPORT OF PROGRESS. FONTAINE &, WHITE. 



their widtli H to 2 mms., their length over 10 cms. The stem 

 of the plant is usually from 1 to 1^ cms. wide, and is rather 

 fleshy than woody in texture. Examined with a strong lens, 

 the epidermis, as well as the leaves, show striae which are 

 quite distinct, and under the lens look like line nerves. 

 They are of the same kind in both, and the leaves contain 

 usually from three to four. 



We have seen leaves over 10 cms. long, and even then 

 the ends were not preserved. 



Habitat— Roof Shales of the Waynesburg Coal, Cassville 

 and West Union, W. Va. 



Sphenophyllum, Brongt. 



This genus is well represented at the horizon of the 

 Waynesburg Coal, both in species and in the number of 

 individuals. It becomes very rare above this coal bed, and 

 like a great many other genera, seems to have been al- 

 most extinguished during the formation of the conglom- 

 eratic sandstone which overlies the Waynesburg Coal. 

 We have met with specimens only from one locality at the 

 higher levels, and these were very few in number. 



SpJienophylhim latifoliwn Sp. nov. PI. I. Figs. 10 and 11. 



Stem, rather strong and rigid, rough leaves, large and 

 very broadly curvate, with the margin incised irregularly, 

 forming lobes of unequal size, and irregular shape, lobes 

 rounded dentate on the margins ; nerves passing out flabel- 

 lately from the insertion, and thrice forking, sending a 

 branch into each tooth on the margin ; whorls, composed 

 of six leaflets, which are often more or less united near their 

 insertion on the stem. 



This plant is more nearly allied to Sphenophyllum long- 

 ifolium. Germ., than any other described plant, but it dif- 

 fers from it in many important particulars, being wider, 

 and not so long in pi-oportion. We never find our plant 

 with bifid leaves, a point which seems common in S. longi- 

 folium. The nervation also is quite different in the two. 



