AND STAPHYLOPTEKIS PEACHII. 135 



pteris (?) and Sphenopteris ; many of those of the former are tri- 

 radiate, and at times assume different forms according as they are 

 fixed. One of the stems is partly studded with small wart-like protu- 

 berances ; these appear to communicate with the stem of Sphenopteris 

 to which it is fixed ; and the same occurs in other instances. 



In addition to triradiate stems, " flower-like forms "are scattered 

 about with portions of the supporting stem of Sphenopteris and a few 

 detached portions of its fronds and leaves. In one instance we 

 have a splendid Sphenopteris similarly surrounded, but with more 

 delicate stems and "flower-like forms;" there are, however, two 

 interesting examples of the mode of attachment of Staphylopteris (?) 

 to Sphenopteris, showing a disk -like form laid on the stem of Sphe- 

 nopteris, with delicate rootlets springing from it and folding round 

 the stem. 



A piece of shale which shows the finest example of triradiate stem 

 I have ever found, flat and broad, and throwing out smaller 

 crooked stems at the ends, with "flower-like forms," is especially 

 interesting, some of the stems having passed through the shale, and 

 thus the plant had flourished on both sides. This passing through 

 laminae of shale has occurred to me several times. 



Another fact should not be passed over : wherever Staphylopteris (?) 

 is met with, there is Sphenopteris also ; the latter (Sphenopteris), 

 however, is very frequently, in fact most frequently, found where not 

 a vestige of the "dinger" is to be seen, clearly showing that Spheno- 

 pteris thrives without Staphylopteris. There is another curious fact : 

 whenever Staphylopteris (?) is in contact with Sphenopteris, the 

 latter is found to be denuded of its fronds, and often the stems 

 are in a shattered state, showing sickness and death. Portions of 

 the shattered parts often lie in the same slab, but not attached to 

 the Sphenopterisi 



Under these circumstances the question often occurs to me, " Is 

 Staphylopteris (?) a parasite or an epiphyte ?" If either, we could 

 easily understand the forlorn state of Sphenopteris, it having, like the 

 tares, nettles, hemp, &c. of the present day infested by Cuscuta, been 

 strangled or otherwise destroyed. The " flower-like forms " of 

 Staphylopteris, with the twisted and contorted (often screw-like) 

 stems, shrivelled and furrowed, remind me so much of Cuscuta 

 that I feel it difficult to avoid thinking (but " thinking " is not allow- 

 able) that there is some relationship between the ancient and modern 

 " dingers." Then another question crops up : " What about the 

 triradiate stems ? " I can only refer to those of the Mistletoe. 

 One curious fact on this head : I have never found Sphenopteris 

 when in youth and beauty so clothed with Staphylopteris (?) — only 

 when, to use a nautical phrase, " under bare poles." I must now 

 leave these questions to be decided by the scientific palaeontologist. 

 One thing I will try to do, if my lease is further renewed, 

 find more and better specimens, and, if possible, some that 

 will tell either yes or no. Whatever Staphylopteris (?) may be, 

 I never saw a trace of it on any thing but Sphenopteris, although 

 several other plants are in the same rocks where it is found. 



