IS 70.] Knowledge of the Fossil Flora in India. 303 



gis incur vat is maxime approximatis, omnibus aequalibus oblique insertis, 

 prim is solum verticaliter adfixis et paulo latioribus, omnibus ad bases 

 connatis ; nervo primario pinnularum distincto ad apicem promoto ; nervis 

 secundariis singulis sub angulo acuto eggredientibus. Fructificatione non 

 obvia. 



A big slab of sbale contains two fronds, besides smaller fragments, of 

 this interesting fern. 



Tbe cbief characters which are to be observed are in the pinnulae ; 

 these are oblong, closely set, a little incurved and oblique to the rhachis of 

 the pinna, only the first pinnulae near the chief rhachis being vertically 

 inserted, and a little broader than the others, so that they are distant from 

 them ; the midrib is pretty thick and reaches to the apex ; the second- 

 ary veins are single, passing out at an acute angle from the midrib ; the 

 lowest two in that portion of the pinnula which is directed from the chief 

 rhachis are arcuate, the rest being quite straight. 



The jnnnse are longest in the middle of the frond and are shorter 

 at base and towards the apex. The chief rhachis pretty thick. 



I have figured two portions of the specimen ; one of them shows two 

 pinna?, which are entire, with the end leaflets. Two other figures illustrate the 

 disposition of the veins and the bases of the pinnulae and the top portion. 



From this we see plainly the relation with the Aspidiaceae and espe- 

 cially with Fliegopteris, of which Fliegopteris decussata is the nearest. 



One sees well in our specimen the triangular empty spaces between 

 adjoining pinnula?, where these are connected : these contain no veins. 



This type of fossil is quite peculiar, and I do not know any form 

 in the palaeozoic strata at all analogous to it. 



But on the other hand there is in the Trias a form which was first 

 described as Fecopt. Stuttgardensis, Bgt.,* but later by Schimperf was 

 placed in a new genus Lepidopteris (in the Fecopterides). 



On Brongniart's figure, which, however, is not quite distinct, one sees 

 very distinctly the single veins arranged in a similar way to our specimen, 

 but I think the shape of the leaflets is different, as they are a little longer 

 and not so incurved, and they are also more deeply separated, but I do not 

 know if the punctation of the rhachis can be considered as a sufficient 

 character, as all ferns present it more or less. 



Into this genus Lepidopteris, Schimper placed also the rhsetic form" 

 Asplenites Ottonis, Schenk, as Lepidopt. Ottonis, Schimp., of which we find 

 near relations amongst the Rajmahal fossil plants. 



I think the Fecopteris arguta, Bgt., J from the coal-measures, belongs 



* Histoire d. veget. fossiles, 1820, PL 130, f. 1. 



t Pal. veget. I. p 572, PI. XXXIV. f. 1. 



X Brongniart, Hist. d. veget. foss. PI. 108, f. 3. 4. 



