36 FLORA OF LOWER COAL MEASURES OF MISSOURL 



generally flexuous point; ultimate pinnae alternate, very open, triangular- 

 linear, sometimes extremely elongated or lanceolate-acute, varying as to 

 size according to place in the frond, often somewhat geniculate, usually 

 rather distant, but often contiguous or even overlapping, pinnatifid below; 

 pinnules alternate, open, often very small, sometimes extremely small, 

 ovate at first with a broad basal attachment, becoming ovate-triangular 

 and sublobate to 5 and more ovate close lobes, separated by an 

 angular sinus, which is decurrent as the pinnules become pinnatifid, with 

 narrow attachment and diminishing marginal wing- in passing downward; 

 lamina minutely rugose, rather tlijck, slightly repand at the margin; 

 nervation generall}' rather indistinct; nerves rather strong near the rachis, 

 thinning in passing upward, a single ynimarj^ nerve, originating at a rather 

 open angle and branching pinnately at a wide angle nearly opposite each 

 sinus, the lower branches forking again in the larger lobes or pinnatifid 

 pinnules, all the nervation being generally clear on the mider surface of 

 the pinnule. 



The true species, as first illustrated in the Illinois geological reports,^ 

 the types of which I had an opportunity to examine in the Illinois State 

 Museum of Natural History,' is well represented by a large series of good 

 specimens in the collections in hand. Recently, during a study of a portion 

 of the Lacoe collection, the examples figured in the Coal Flora^ as Pseudo- 

 fecopteris nmnmularia (Gutb.) Lx., which came from Henry County, Missouri, 

 were found to have been labeled Sphenopteris mixta Schimp. by Professor 

 Lesquereux, a reference which seems to indicate the belief on his part, at 

 the late date when the specimens were catalogued, in the specific identity 

 of the specimens figured under the former name with Sphenopteris mixta 

 Schimp. After a careful comparison of the normal specimens of S. mixta 

 with these types of Pseudopecopteris mmimularia I can find no distinguish- 

 ing specific character between them. 



Concerning the specimen purporting to come from the same region, 

 illustrated in the Atlas to the Coal Flora, pi. liv, fig. 1, under this name. I 

 feel constrained to regard it as not the same species. The original of this 

 figure, transmitted to me for study through the kindness of Mr. Lacoe, is on 

 the whole very poorly preserved, while the margins of the apparently some- 



' Report Geol. Surv. Illinois, vol. ii, 1866, pi. xxxix, figs. 5, 6. 

 2 Vol. ill, pi. ciii, figs. 1, 2, 3. 



