1847.] BUNBURY ON FOSSIL PLANTS FROM EASTERN VIRGINIA. 283 



5. Pecopteris (Aspidites) bullata (n. sp.). 



Tab. II. f. 1. 



P. fronde bipinnata : pinnulis contiguis basi discretis oblongis obtusiusculis sub- 

 integerrimis, supra ad soros bullatis ; venis obliquis pinnatis ; soris rotundis 

 confertis costse approximatis immersis, utrinqne uniserialibus. 



" From Clover-hill and Deep-run, Rielimond." 



This seems to be a new and well-marked species, but the specimens, 

 though pretty numerous, are not in such good condition as might be 

 wished. 



The frond is bipinnate : the main rachis smooth ; the primary 

 pinnae going off from it nearly at right angles. The leaflets are very 

 nearly perpendicular to the partial rachis, closely placed, but not 

 united at their bases, about -^ inch long, oblong or broadly linear, 

 more or less obtuse, their margins apparently entire. The midrib 

 scarcely reaches to the extremity of each leaflet. Side-veins very 

 obscure, but, where they can be distinguished, oblique and pinnated 

 with three or more alternate branches. The peculiar and distinctive 

 character of the species consists in the round pits in which the sort (or 

 spots of fructification) are placed, and which produce corresponding 

 pustular elevations on the upper surface of the frond. These are 

 very distinct and well-defined, nearly circular in outline, placed gene- 

 rally close together, forming a single row on each side of the midrib 

 and at a little distance from it, and appear to terminate the lower 

 branches of the side-veins ; a small indentation in the centre of each 

 protuberance distinctly marks the point of insertion of the sorus. In 

 one or two instances I think I have observed an appearance resem- 

 bling the reniform indusium of the genus Nephrodium. 



This plant doubtless belonged to the group of Aspidece, and was 

 very probably a genuine species of Nephrodium (or Lastrea of Presl). 

 It may perhaps be the same as the new Pecopteris described (but not 

 named) by Professor W. B. Rogers, in his paper on the coal-rocks of 

 Eastern Virginia* ; but if so, he has omitted to notice its most stri- 

 king character, the immersed spots of fructification. 



6. Filicites fimbriatus. 



Tab. II. f. 2. 



I find, among the specimens from " Deep-run, near Richmond,'* 

 several fragments of a very singular appearance. They exhibit distinct 

 markings, which seem to be the fructification of a Fern, at first sight 

 much resembling what Goppert has figured in his Asplenites divari- 

 catus ; but I can nowhere perceive the outline of the frond, nor in- 

 deed any trace of its existence, except between these markings ; whence 

 I am led to conjecture that the capsules were seated on the edges of 

 a contracted frond. This is the case in some recent Ferns, but I do 

 not know any which closely resemble the appearances presented by 

 this curious fossil. The frond is in the first instance pinnated, with 

 long narrow pinnae, or flattened branches, going oflP from it at an 



* Report of Assoc, of Am. Geol. p. 311. 



