OF SOME CARBONIFEROUS FERNS. 591 
The fructifications originally included in Calymmatotheca are com- 
posed of a number of elongated sporangia, arranged in a circle 
round a common point of attachment. In the fossil state the 
sporangia more commonly appear as if they radiated in a fan-like 
manner from their common support; but this is due to the circle 
haying been broken, as many specimens I have seen show them to 
radiate from a central point, and some in this state have been figured 
by Mr. C. W. Peach*, under the name of Staphylopteris Peachu, 
Eth. and Balfour, and later by Zeillert. The explanation of the 
true structure of the fruit of Calymmatotheca was first pointed out 
by Renault +, and has been corroborated and more fully explained 
by Zeiller. Stur, indeed, regards these sporangia as the split-up 
remains of an involucre or indusium. ‘This view, however, from the 
explanation of the structure given by Renault and Zeiller, and the 
figures of the last-mentioned author, as also from the specimens I 
have seen, appears to me to be quite untenable. 
In the ferns for which I propose the genus Zelleria, we have 
an indusium which is, whilst immature, globular, but at maturity 
splits into four valves. On the specimens of Zeillerra (Sphen.) 
delicatula, in the British Museum, one is able to trace the several 
stages of development. In this new genus must also be placed the 
two species lately described by Stur, C. avoldensis and C. Frenzli §. 
There is still another difference between Calymmatotheca and 
Zeilleria. In the former genus the fructifying portions are entirely 
destitute of foliage-pinnules, whereas in the latter genus the 
fructifying fronds differ little in appearance from the barren, the 
fruiting segments being only slightly produced to form a pedicel on 
which the indusia are supported. 
Calymmatotheca, as here restricted, is probably related to the 
Marattiacee ; whereas Zeilleria appears to have affinities with the 
Ek ymenophylacece. 
* ©. W. Peach, “ On the Circinate Vernation, Fructification, and Varieties of 
Sphenopteris affinis, and on Staphylopteris ? Peachii of Etheridge and Balfour,” 
Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xxxiv. pl. vii. vii. 
Mr. Peach has kindly allowed me to examine the specimens from which most 
of his figures were drawn. What he regards as the fruit of S. afinis, L. & H. 
(pl. vii. f. 2.), is, I believe, merely a roughness on the back of the pinnules, but 
not of organic origin. The real fruit of this fern is Staphylopteris Peachit, 
which was regarded by Mr. Peach as a parasite; but from abundant evidence 
it is proved beyond all doubt that the supposed parasite is the fruit of S. affinis, 
which must now be placed in Calymmatotheca, as originally used by Stur. I 
have also seen a Calymmatothecous fruit attached to the stem of Calwmmatotheca 
(Sphenopterts) bifida, L.& H., sp. Mr. Peach’s fig. 4, pl. viii. probably belongs 
to C. bifida, L. & H., sp., which has a much greater number of elongated sporangia 
than ©, affinis, L. & H. 
+ Zeiller, “ Fructifications de Fougéres du terrain houiller,” Ann. des Sci. 
Nat. 6e sér. Bot., tome xvi. p. 182, pl. ix. f. 10, 11. 
I have great pleasure in naming this genus after M. R. Zeiller, who has 
done much to elucidate the fructification of the Carboniferous Ferns. I am 
also personally indebted to him for kind assistance given me in regard to the 
synonymy mentioned in this communication. 
t Renault, ‘Cours de Botan.’ vol. iii. p. 198 (1883). 
§ Stur, Z¢. pp. 171, 172. 
2B 
