: 
* a 
Ce a Se i ere eee ane ee 
L. Lesquereux on the Coal Formations of North America. 379 
placed in the genus Alethopteris. But it differs widely from it by 
its nervation and especially by its fructifications. These would 
bring this species near the genus Asterocarpus of Goeppert, or the 
Heptocarpus of Braun, to which it has no affinity whatever by 
the leaves and the nervation. From examples like this, which, 
though few in number, are nevertheless every day multiplied 
y new discoveries, we can admit, I think, for the coal epoch, 
far greater diversity of typical forms than could be supposed at 
first sight and from superficial researches. 
2. What is said above is already an answer to the second 
study of the fossil fruiting ferns very difficult. 
_ 8. Is the small proportion of fossil remains of true arborescent 
€rns in the Coal Measures, compared with the great quantity 
of leaves and stalks or petioles of the same family, a proof that, 
contrary to the opinion generally admitted, the arborescent ferns 
Were not a predominant character of the vegetation of the coal 
epoch? If we consider as remains of true arborescent fe’ 
only those whose bark is marked by large oval cicatrices, left 
at the base of the fronds, at the point of their parting from the 
Main stem, in short those known under the family name of | 
aulopteridee or Protopteridee, it is certain that they are very 
Scarce in the Coal Measures both of Europe and of America. In 
his Genera, 
gia only, distributed in five genera. And from these 
