PRE-CARBONIFBROUS PLANTS. 



u 



The leaves to which the name Cordaitea has been given by Unger, and 

 that of Pychnophyllum by Brongniart, (and some of which have been 

 placed by botanists iu the genera Flahellaria and Noeggeratlda) 

 are exceedingly abundant in the shales both of the Carboniferous and 

 Devonian. They were parallel-veined and attached to the stem by a broad 

 clasping base, which seems to have been readily disarticulated, as they 

 are usually found disconnected from the stem. The aspect of the leaf 

 suggests affinities with Endogens, but the structure of the stem, as 

 described by Corda, with its simple cylinder of scalariform vessels desti- 

 tute of medullary rays, obviously approaches to that of Lomatojfoios, 

 Leptdojloios, and Lepidodendron. Structurally, therefore, these plants 

 are members of the Lepidodendroid group, generally regarded as Lyco- 

 podiaceous, though markedly distinguished by their broad parallel-veined 

 leaves. Unger, for this reason, places them in Lycopodiaceae ; though 

 Brongniart suggests aflSnities to Sigillariacea;, which do not, however, seem 

 so close, except, perhaps, in the resemblance of the leaves of some species 

 to the parallel- veined leaves of Siyillaria elegana. I have followed Unger 

 in placing these plants with the Lycopodiaceae. 



(Filices.') 



Genus Cyclopteris. — Brong. 



69. Cyolopteris (Archacoptcris) Jacksoni, Dn. — (PI. XV, Figs. 167 to 

 169.)— Cauad. Nat. VI, 173 ; Fig, 9. J. G. S., XVIII, 319. It. 

 XIX, 462 ; PI. XIX, Fig. 20.— U. D., Perry , Maiuo. U.D., N. York 

 M. D., St. John. 



"Frond bipiimate; rachis stout and longitudinally furrowed; pinno 

 alternate ; pinnules obliquely obovate, imbricate, narrowed at tl.e 

 base, and apparently dccurront on the petiole ; nerves nearly 

 parallel, dichotomous ; terminal leaflet large, broadly obovate or 

 lobed." . . ' 



A specimen recently received by the Geological Survey from Gaspd, 

 shows pinnules which I refer to this species, on a slab which also con- 

 tains a portion of a large Lepidoganoid fish, allied to Holoptyoldua. This 

 is the first occurrence of a fern in the Gaspd beds. It is, probably, from 

 the upper part of the series. 



60. C. (Archceopieria) Ealliana, Goeppert.~(Pl. XV, Fig. 170.)— Fl. 

 Sil. 498. Hall, Report on New York, p. 275, Fig. 127. J. G-. S., 

 XVIII, 318 i PI. XVII, Figs. 64 and 66.— U. D., New York, 



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