134: C. W. PEACH ON SPHENOPTERIS AEFTNTS 



stand " and my " flower-like forms" are one and the same species. 

 At present I am doubtful about the genus, and hence the ? mark. 



I now add a further description of my new plant. The " flower- 

 like forms" hang generally on slender twisted stems, in pairs, several 

 of these often clustering together (see PI. VIII. figs. 1 & 2). Oc- 

 casionally the " flower-like forms " are rounded and nearly smooth. 

 The divisions of these, when rubbed down, show the internal struc- 

 ture : this is surrounded by a carbonaceous border, black and 

 shining ; a line also of the black matter runs partly up the centre of 

 one ; in the other it is pressed to one side ; the remainder of the 

 vase is filled with iron pyrites. There is not the least appearance of 



Each " flower-like form " is about J inch over, and fully that in 

 height. Some show seven divisions (or little vases) ; the divisions, 

 however, vary both in size and number, according as they are well 

 or otherwise preserved. The little vases are very much wrinkled 

 and pressed flat. In one instance, in an iron-stone nodule (PI. VIII. 

 fig. 3), I found them plump and rounded, and very finely striated 

 only*. 



The stems in immediate connexion with, the "flower-like parts" are 

 very slender; the others vary considerably: some are tolerably broad 

 and long. 



In PL VIII. fig. 4 I have given the upper end of a " flower- 

 like form " which has been pressed down in an irregular manner, 

 and hence the form. This shows that, when peifect, it was cup- 

 shaped; nothing of structure is seen in the central part (shale 

 only), nor spores in any part of it. The vase-like divisions are as if 

 covered with scales ; this is owing to the nearly vertical pressure. On 

 the same slab another has been similarly pressed, but not so well 

 preserved. 



In one specimen the " flower-like forms " may be seen singly, 

 and their attachment to Staphylopteris (?); and it is interesting to see 

 the delicate, pendent, twisted and flexible stems clothed with the 

 " flower-like forms," and as well the small triradiate stems amongst 

 them, all well contrasting with the stout, straight, bifurcating ones 

 of its supporter, Sphenopteris. As the JStaphylopteris (?) increases 

 in growth, the " flower-like forms " get into large masses, and the 

 triradiate stems become long, broad, and strong. These masses, on 

 close examination, show that they are made up of little clusters of 

 the " flower-like forms " perched on furcate delicate stems ; each 

 of these clusters is again fixed, in an umbellate form, on single 

 stout stems, and these last to a stouter single footstalk, much like 

 the corymbs of elder- flowers. 



In another case I find a little group (mass-like) of the " flower- 

 like forms " laid on their sides like hands with the fingers stretched 

 out, well showing the Staphylopteris (?)-form ; it also is nearly sur- 

 rounded by triradiate stems. I have slabs of stems of Staphylo- 



* The opened " flower " has seventeen points (vases ?) ; this, however, must 

 he received with caution ; so many may be owing to the parting of one or two 

 by pressure. 



