Brongniart^ Sur hs Vegdaux Fossiles. 18l 



around the stem, which probably belongs to G. Sagenaria. 

 2. Leaves setaceous arranged in two rows and not appear- 

 ing to leave reticulated impressions. 3. Leaves broad, 

 without apparent nerve, scattered and inserted without or- 

 der all around the stem. These are found only in the bi- 

 tuminous schists of Mansfeld. 4. Leaves obtuse short ap- 

 plied exactly against the stem. Found in the superior fresh- 

 water formation near Paris, resembles somewhat some of 

 the aquatic mosses. Only the last section is found in the 

 superior formations. In the inferior sediment, the third 

 section is found at Mansfeld and a species with thrice pin- 

 nate divisions in the Oxford oolite. The true Lycopoditee 

 or those of the second section are very abundant in the 

 coal formations, but are not found in any more recent for- 

 mations. The Lycopodites are not all distinctly referable 

 to the Lycopodia; but the two first sections may be consid- 

 ered analogous. 



2. Filicites. Frond disposed on the same plane, symme- 

 trical ; secofldary nerves simple, dichotomous, or rarely 

 anastomosed. These plants are all referable to the true 

 ferns. There are five sections. 1. Glossopteris — frond 

 simple, entire, traversed by a single median nerve, without 

 distinct secondary nerves; resembles ophioglossum, but in 

 other respects is little like the ferns. 2. Sphenopteris — 

 Pinnulae cuneiform, rounded or lobed at the extremity, 

 nerves palmated or radiating from the base of the pinnula; 

 analogous to Asplenium and Adiantum. 3. Neuropteris — 

 Pinnulae rounded, never lobed, not adhering to the rachis 

 by their base; nerves expanding from the point of insertion, 

 generally very distinct and dichotomous. 4 Pecopteris — ■ 

 pinnulie adhering by their base to the rachis, traversed by 

 a median nerve, and by secondary pinnated nerves; the 

 most numerous and most like the commonest fronds of ex- 

 isting ferns. 5. Odontopteris — pinnulae adhering to the 

 rachis by theirwhole base, withoutmedian nerve; secondary 

 nerves all perpendicular to the rachis ; frond very delicate, 

 analogous in structure, though not in form, to G. Hymeno- 

 phyllum. Only one specimen of filicite has been observed 



by M. B . in the superior formations, and this very 



doubtful — not found at all in the inferior sediment. Ex- 

 tremely abundant in the coal and anthracite formations to 

 which they seem peculiar. There is no certain example 

 of them in any more recent formations. 



