Vol. 69.] OUR KNOWLEDGE OF WEALDEN FLORAS. 97 



together in some small pieces of ironstone from Ecclesbourne, and 

 there is no doubt as to their specific identity ; the form of pinnule 

 shown in PI. XI, fig. 9 «,is connected by transitional stages with 

 that reproduced in figs. 7 a & 8 a, and the sori in both kinds of 

 pinnules are the same. No sporangia or spores have been found. 

 The longer and narrower type of fertile pinnule (fig. 7 6) reminds 

 one of those of Cladophlebis browniana and Rluhia exills ; but the 

 size of the elliptical patches on each side of the midrib suggests sori 

 rather than the single sporangia of Klukia. Moreover, the pinnules 

 are more erect in the Wealden specimens, and the segments seen 

 in PI. XI, fig. 9 b are distinct from any observed in CI. browniana 

 and Kluhia exilis. 



Although the data are inadequate for accurate determination 

 of affinity, I venture to institute a new generic name, after 

 Father Teilhard de Chardin, for this Wealden fern, which differs 

 in certain respects from any known type. 



Frond tripinnate ; pinna3 linear, alternate ; pinnules on the 

 smaller branches more or less deltoid, with obtuse apices ; other 

 pinnules linear and relatively narrower, entire, or crenulate 

 (fig. 8 b), and attached almost at right angles to the pinna-axis. 

 Venation very imperfectly preserved: as already stated, no sporangia 

 or spores have been discovered. 



Pilix incertai sedis. (PI. XT, fig. 10.) 

 (Near Hastings, Pufford Coll.) 



The specimen shown in fig. 10 is described in Part I of the 

 'Wealden Flora ' 1 as probably a fragment of Sagenopteris mantelli 

 accidentally associated with a rachis-like axis. A more careful 

 examination leads me to regard the leaflets as pinnules of a fern, 

 in association with a piece of rachis to which the lower leaflet is 

 attached. There is a clearly-marked midrib, as also numerous 

 secondary veins which are obscurely preserved : the lamina is con- 

 tracted at the base, and agrees in shape with that of Neuropteris 

 pinnules. 



Comparison may be made with a specimen figured by Schenk 

 from the Wealden of Germany as Alethopteris huttoni 2 and with 

 Cladophlebis constricta Font. 3 



It is possible that these pinnules were borne as Aphlebia-leaftets 

 on the petiole of a fern which possessed pinnae with smaller 

 pinnules ; but there is nothing to support this suggestion, except 

 the analogy of some Palaeozoic fronds. 



i Seward (94) p. 134. 



2 Schenk (71) pi- xxix, fig. 1. [Since the above description was written, 

 it has been pointed out by Herr Huth that Neuropteris huttoni Dunk. 

 ( = Jlethoptcris huttoni) is a fragment of the Carboniferous species Mariopteris 

 jmtricata: see Zobel (12) p. 262. Herr Zobel has identified the specimen 

 figured by Schenk as Marsilidium speciosum, and included by him as a 

 Wealden type, as Sphenophyllum thoni Main*.] 



3 Berry (IP) p. 246 & pi. xxix, fig. 3. 



Q. J. G. S. No. 273. n 



