plants from the Devonian rocks 95 
Sphenopteris sp. 
Plate V, figs. 2 and 4. 
Two small fragments of a further frond have been obtained 
from the Baggy beds of Croyde Hoe quarry, associated with 
Xenotheca. These are figured on Plate V, figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 4 
shows two fragments of pinnz, one with two, and the other with 
one pinnule. The pinnules are more or less: orbicular in shape, 
with several rounded lobes, which are either entire or notched. 
They are contracted at the base. The nervation is not clearly 
seen, but appears to be of the Sphenopteris type. The axis is 
faintly striated longitudinally, but not winged. 
Another specimen, shown on fig. 2 of the same plate, which 
we think may possibly belong to the same plant, has two un- 
divided orbicular pianules, the nervation of which is also obscure. 
In general habit these specimens somewhat recall the common 
Coal Measure frond Sphenopteris obtusiloba Brongn., but the 
pinnules in the Devonshire specimen are much smaller, and the 
two plants are undoubtedly specifically distinct. 
The resemblance is closer to the fragmentary and unique 
Cyclopteris trifoliata, Unger*, from the Devonian of Saalfeld in 
Thuringia, which for some, not very obvious, reason Schimper+ 
places together with Cyclopteris dissecta in his genus Triphyll- 
opteris as T. elegans (Ung.). 
Crépin{ has also figured another fragment from the Devonian 
rocks of Condroz (Belgium) under the name last mentioned above, 
and this again appears to be very similar to the specimen figured 
on Plate V, fig. 4. 
The same is also true as regards the Lower Carboniferous type 
described by Stur§ as Sphenopteris foliolata, a much larger form 
with rounded pinnules and lobes. 
On the whole, although the Devonshire specimens are certainly 
too fragmentary to warrant specific comparison, we should be 
inclined to regard them as very nearly allied to, if not identical 
with, the Devonian types described by Unger and Crépin, as 
mentioned above. 
* Unger, Denksch. K. Akad. Wissen. Wien (Math.-Nat. Cl.), Vol. x1. 1856, 
p. 161, pl. vi. fig. 2. 
+ Schimper, Traité Pal. Végét. Vol. 1. 1869, pp. 480—1. 
£ Crépin, Bull. Acad. Roy. Belgique, Ser. 2, Vol. 38, p. 362, pl. 1. fig. 6, 1874. 
§ Stur, Culm Flora, Part 1, 1875, p. 22, pl. v. figs. 3—6. 
