PRK-CARBONIFBRCUH PLANTS. 



77 



character with tho branches of the present species. The Irish plants as a 

 whole would seem to have been larger and better developed than those of 

 North America in the Upper Devonian oeriod, perhaps a consequence of 

 climatal difference. 



From the typical districts of Devonshire, I have seen only a few speci- 

 mens, from the collection of Mr. Hall of Barnstaple, in tho possession of 

 Mr. Ethoridge. They appear to indicate a largo fern, perhaps Cyclopttrit 

 Hibemica, and a coarsely ribbed Calamitea apparently of the type of C. 

 cannivformis. 



Coniferous wood was long ago recognized by Miller in tho Devonian 

 of Scotland; and from a recent description of tho specimens by Mr. 

 McNab of Cirencester,* they would seem to bo roferrible to tho type of 

 Dadoxylon. 



While in Edinburgh I was favoured by Mr. C. W. Poach with an 

 inspection of his interesting collection of plants from the Devonian of the 

 North of Scotland, and have also looked over a few specimens of similar 

 plants from the oollecti(»i3 of tho late Hugh Millar, exhibited in the 

 Edinburgh Museum. In these collections, more especially in that of Mr. 

 Peach, I find two species of Psilophi/ton, — one of them apparently P. 

 princepa, the other allied to P. robuitiuh, but probably distinct. None 

 of the specimens show the fructification, but there are large and well- 

 preserved rhizomata ; and according to Mr. Poach these plants are as 

 abundant, relatively to others, in the Middle Devonian of Scotland as in 

 that of Gasp^, though they have hitherto been regarded as fucoids or 

 roots. On many of tho specimens I can plainly perceive all the diatmctlve 

 markings of Psilopht/ton. There are apparently, in Mr. Peach's collec- 

 tions, three species of Lepidodendroid plants. One these, identified 

 with L. nothum by Mr. Salter, whether identical with tho species of linger 

 or not, is closely allied to L. Qaspianum. Another, is obviously of 

 the same typo with my Cyclostigma densifolium from Gaspd, and with the 

 branchlets of Cycloitigma from Kiltorcan in Ireland. The third, Lycopoditea 

 Milleri of Salter, may have been an herbaceous plant. Mr. Peach's 

 collections also include a Cyelopteris of the type of 0. Brownii, a Calamites 

 resembling C. transitionia, a Stigmaria, fragments which may be bark 

 of Siyillaria, a plant possibly referable to tho genus Anarthrocanna, 

 and stems or branches probably coniferous, though the structure does not 

 appear to be well preserved. When these collections shall be described 

 in detail, it will be found that the Devonian of Scotland is not so poor in 

 land plants as has been supposed, and that its flora is very similar to that 

 of America in the same period. 



* Philoa. Haga. 



