046 A. C. Seward—Cyclopteris from the Coal-measures. 
In the Paleeontographica for 1868-69,' Roehl figures a large speci- 
men showing Neuropteris Loshit and Cyclopteris trichomanoides on the 
same rachis. In his description of Neuropteris Loshii he remarks :?— 
“On the axis or a very large frond I found Cyclopteris trichomanoides 
(Brongt.), which hitherto had only been found by itself, grown as 
axial leaves (‘Spindelblatter’) of this plant.” The Cyclopteroid 
leaves are in this case only attached to one side of the rachis: the 
size and striated character of the rachis closely connect it with my 
specimen. Schimper?* figures some examples under the name of 
Cardiopteris frondosa (Gopp.), showing large pinnules attached to a 
rachis: the nervation and the comparatively equilateral form of these 
pinnules resemble Neuropteroid rather than Cyclopteroid leaves, of 
which latter mine is an example. Feistmantel,* in describing the 
genus Cyclopteris, points out that if it is established that many of 
the species of Cyclopteris are basal or axial leaves (‘“ Basal—oder 
Spindel—blattchen”’) of Weuropteris, other species have the charac- 
teristics of Cyclopteris as defined by Brongniart, viz. absence of a 
median nervure, and the dichotomous and flabellate character of the 
nervures which spring from the base of the pinnules. The figures ® 
given by Feistmantel of Goppert’s Cyclopteris polymorpha show the 
pinnules attached to a rachis, but the nervures appear to start from 
the centre of the base as they do in Cardiopteris frondosa (Gopp.). 
Grand’Hury ° refers some specimens of Cyclopteris to Neuropteris, 
and others to Odontopteris ; he considers (4 yclopteris obliqua and C. 
oblata to be merely detached pinnules of Neuropteris. 
Mr. Kidston,’ in his catalogue of Paleeozoic plants in the British 
Museum, goes so far as to drop the genus Cyclopteris entirely ; he 
considers Cyclopteris dilatata, C. obliqua, etc., to belong to euro- 
pteris heterophylla and refers to Roehl’s figure in support of this view. 
He points out how the pinnules of Neuropteris Scheuchzeri (Hoff.) 
vary in form, some being the typical acute forms and others belong- 
ing to the Cyclopteroid type. The shape of the pinnules varies so 
much that it is of no specific value. In the absence of such evidence 
as is afforded by fructification, we must rely to a great extent on the 
arrangement of the nervures. In my specimen the pinnules appear 
to be almost opposite on the rachis, but this is of no great import- 
ance, as Mr. Kidston remarks,* “the alternate or opposite arrange- 
ment of pinne or pinnules appears to be a character of little value, 
as they are frequently alternate and opposite on different parts of 
the same frond.” 
Through the kindness of Prof. Lebour and Mr. Howse I was 
allowed to examine the Hutton collection of plants in the Newcastle 
Museum ; in this collection there is a specimen showing a pinnule 
Palezontographica, vol. xviil. taf. xvii. 
Ibid. p. 37: 
Traité de Pal. végét. pl. xxxv. (1869-74). 
Zeitsch. der Deutsch. Geolog. Gesell. Band xxi. p. 521. 
Ibid. tat. xvi. figs. 21-24. 
Flore Carb. du Depart. de la Loire, ete. p. 879 (1877). 
Catalogue of the Pal. Plants in the panes Museum, p. 90 eee) 
Ibid. p. 84. 
anraunrwnds 
