1161 CONIOPIEKIS. 



1874. Fccopteris Lindleyana, ibid. toI. iii. p. 498. 



1875. Pecopteris Lindleyana, Phillips, Geol. Yorks. p. 209, lign. 22. 

 P. serrata, ibid. p. 210, lign. 24. 



P. amtifoUa, ibid. p. 210. 

 1892. Fecopteris arguta, Fox-Strangways, Tab. Foss. p. 132. 

 P. aeutifolia, ibid. 



Frond tripinnate. Pinnse linear and tapering, given ofi from 

 tte rachis at a wide angle ; on the lower pinnse tlie linear pinnules- 

 have a crenulated mar^n and reach a length of 1-2 cm. The 

 smaller pinnules are entire and slightly falcate. The fertile 

 pinnules differ in a marked degree from the sterile segments ; 

 each fertile pinnule consists of a midrib with a narrow laminar 

 border tapering towards the apex, where it bears a circular 

 cup-like indusium 1 mm. in diameter, with a central receptacle 

 to which the sporangia were attached. 



The drawing by the late Professor Williamson in the Fossil 

 Flora of Lindley & Hutton illustrates the difference between the 

 comparatively long and straight pinnules borne on the lower 

 pinnse, and the small, acutely poiated, and curved pinnules in 

 the upper part of the frond. The ferns named by Lindley & 

 Hutton Pecopteris aeutifolia and Sphenopteris serrata, I believe 

 to be specifically identical with their species Neuropteris arguta. 

 There is a fairly close resemblance between the pinnse of 

 Coniopteris arguta, bearing small pinnules, and the pinnse of Kluhia 

 exilis, but in the former species the pinnules are more acutely 

 pointed and attached more obliquely to the pinna axis. 



The name Peeopteris Lindleyana was applied by Presl in 1838 

 to a plant which he regarded as identical with Newropteris a/rguta 

 of Lindley & Hutton ; Royle also described a fern from India 

 under the name Peeopteris Lindleyana, specifically distinct from 

 Presl's species.^ 



Presl's specific name is adopted by Phillips, who figures 

 a specimen in which fertile and sterile pinnules are shown on the 

 same pinna ; the original of Phillips' figure is in the Leokenby 

 Collection, Cambridge. In the absence of the characteristic fertile 

 segments, it is practically impossible in some cases to determine 

 the species of ferns of the Cladophlebis type bearing small 



' Royle (39), pi. ii. (Eoyle's type-specimen is in the Geological Department 

 of the British Mnsram.) 



