184/.] BUNBURY ON FOSSIL PLANTS FROM EASTERN VIRGINIA. 281 



2. Descriptions of Fossil Plants from the Coal-Field near Rich- 

 mond, Virginia. By C. J. F. Bunbury, Esq., F.L.S. 



1. T^niopteris magnifolia. 

 (Rogers, iii Report of Assoc, of American Geol. p. 306-9.) 

 *'From Clover-hill and Deep-run, Richmond." 



The numerous specimens of this fine plant, collected by Mr. Lyell, 

 although none of them complete, are fully sufficient to confirm the 

 propriety of Prof. Rogers's determination of it as a genuine species of 

 Tceniopteris, very nearly allied to T. vittata and T. major, but doubt- 

 less distinct, though the differences are not very easily reducible to a 

 strict definition. I observe among these specimens two varieties, in 

 one of which the frond is somewhat obovate and suddenly rounded off 

 at the end, while in the other (though still obtuse at the point) it tapers 

 much more gradually, so that the whole outline is more lanceolate. 

 The manner in which the frond is in many cases creased or crumpled, 

 shows it to have been of a thin and membranous texture, like the re- 

 cent Oleandra pilosa, not rigid and coriaceous like most of the simple- 

 fronded Ferns. I can perceive no trace of fructification. The midrib 

 is very broad, flat, striated (without any distinct channel along the 

 middle), tapering gradually, and reaching quite to the extremity of 

 the frond. Veins extremely numerous and close, parallel, quite straight 

 and perpendicular to the midrib, except close to their base, where 

 they are bent at an obtuse angle ; they are either perfectly simple or (not 

 unfrequently) forked at their base, close to the midrib ; almost always 

 simple throughout the rest of their length. This character clearly 

 distinguishes our plant from T. major (Fossil Flora, t. 92), in which 

 nearly all the veins are repeatedly forked. The elliptical or somewhat 

 obovate form of the frond, which tapers away rather gradually into the 

 footstalk, together with its much larger size and (seemingly) different 

 texture, will suffice to discriminate it from T. vittata. 



As Prof. Rogers has not given us a specific character for this Fern, 

 I would propose the following : — 



Tceniopteris magnifolia : — fronde ampla membranacea elliptica vel 

 obovato-elliptica, basi attenuata ; costa latissima striata ; venis sim- 

 plicibus vel basi furcatis. 



2. Neuropteris linn^^folia (n. sp.). 



Tab. I. 



Syec. char. — N. fi^onde bipinnata : pinnis suboppositis ; pinnulis oppositis alter- 

 nisque sessilibus contiguis subimbricatis orbiculatis integerrimis subconvexis ; 

 venis dichotomis flexuosis e basi pinnulae radiatim divergentibus. 



This beautiful Fern, of which I have seen only a single specimen, 

 but a very fine one, appears quite different from any hitherto 

 described. The frond is bipinnate and of considerable size, the spe- 

 cimen being above a foot long, though broken off at both ends. 

 Primary pinnae nearly opposite (a rather unusual character), long and 

 narrow, nearly linear in their general outline : their partial rachis 

 narrow, flat, slightly striated. Leaflets numerous, sessile, partly op- 



