Lesquereux. } Jod4 |Mareh 1, 
bark thin, covered with leafy scales; leaves of various size, sub-linear, 
narrowed or enlarged to the point of attachment, forking or dividing 
upwards in two or more lacinive ; nervation distinct with the glass only ; 
primary nerves parallel, about three in two millimeters, buried in the epi- 
dermis, more distinct upon the decorticated face, generally inflated or 
half round, intermediate veinlets very thin. 
LEPIDOXYLON ANOMALUM, Lesqx. 
Pl. LIV, fig..5. Pl. LY, fig. 11a: 
Schizopteris anomula, Bret. Veget. Foss. p. 334, Pl. CX XXV. 
The character of the species is that of the genus. 
The bark is a thin coating of coaly matter covered with sparse, distinct, 
foliaceous, oblong, lanceolate-pointed or acuminate scales, marked near the 
base by a short inflation like a midrib. 
The lower surface of the stem where this thin bark is destroyed, shows 
round scars of various sizes from one to two millimeters in diameter, which 
represent either the base of the scale or that of small leaves. Short, small 
leaves narrowed to the base are attached upon the stem mixed with the 
scales. On the borders, the leaves are more enlarged at the base, some of 
them, however, narrowed ; others seemingly broken and compressed upon 
the stem; others still, enlarged as a mere diverging part of the stem. They 
vary in diameter from three to ten millimeters, dividing by an anomalous 
forking with an acute sinus, either from near the base or from above, 
marked in the length by parallel, equal and equally distant primary 
nerves, and very thin intermediate veins. 
I consider the species as identical with that of Brongniart, described 
in great detail, loc. cit., especially from the figures of Geinitz, Versteine- 
rungen der Steinkohlen Formation in Sachsen, P]. XXVI, fig. 2, which 
shows the divisions of the leaves of this species somewhat broader than 
those of Brongniart. In our specimens, as figured, the leaves are still 
broader.. I must say, however, that in another specimen in my posses- 
sion, which is like the top of Pl. LY, the stem, whose scars of scales are 
marked upon the bark in elevated round points, bears, mixed with these 
scales, linear leaves as narrow as those figured by Brongniart. Though 
there might be some doubt of this identity of species between the Ameri- 
can and the European plants, they evidently belong to the same group, 
and are referable to the same genus. 
Specimens of Schizopterts are very rare. After Brongniart none have 
been found, or at least described, but that of Geinitz. Brongniart in con- 
sidering his species admits it as probably referable to Ferns. Geinitz joins 
it to Aphlebia, Presl., Rocophyllum, Schp., a genus which as seen from the 
species described in this flora, is a compound of mixed types, whose affinity 
is unascertained, and which Schimper considers as representing primary 
fronds of ferns. From this genus this species is positively removed, not 
only by its peculiar stem, but by character of its ribbon equally nerved 
leaves. On the true relation of the plant to any of the present time, I can 
