Vol. 69.] 



OCR KNOWLEDGE OF WEALDEN" FLORAS. 



some specimens (for instance, A & E, text-fig. 4) the carbonized 

 covering is broken at the distal end : there is, however, no decisive 

 evidence as to the nature of this structure, whether it is a capsule 

 or an inrolled fertile piece of lamina. The spore-masses, on sepa- 

 ration from the covering and on treatment with macerating solution, 

 show no indication of grouping into sporangial masses within the 

 whole group. Two of the spores are reproduced in PI. XIV, fig. 5, 

 and text-fig. 2 B (p. 91). Text-fig. 4 E, below, represents in outline 

 part of a carbonized covering, in which no cell-outlines are visible, 

 with some of the spores beyond its ragged edge. Text-fig. 4 D 



Fig. 



4. — Pelletieria valdensis : A 

 covering ; D —piece of axis ; 



9 diameters.) 



-C, E, 4" F= spore-masses with 

 G= pinnule. (Magnified by 



is probably a piece of a forked axis. The surface-sculpturing of the 

 spores is of the same type as in several Schizseaceous ferns : the 

 spores of Mohria caffrorum Desv. have a diameter of 80 ju and those 

 of Aneimia tomentosa Sw. a diameter of 110 p, as compared with 

 60 to 70 [x in Pelletieria. Mr. Boodle x discovered numerous petrified 

 spores in the tissues of the Wealden fern Tempslcya, 60 n in 

 diameter, which bear a very close resemblance to those of Pelletieria. 

 The spores of Schizceopsis, a genus already mentioned, which was 

 recently instituted by.Mr. Berry for certain Potomac fossils originally 

 described by Eontaine as species of his genus Baieropsis, are very 

 similar to that shown in PL XIV, fig. 5 : they have a diameter of 

 100 p. Mr. Berry 2 regards the spore-masses of his fern — spindle- 

 shaped bodies 4 mm. long and 1 mm. broad — as consisting of a 



Boodle (95). 



Berry (11) p. 195. 



