1870. } CARRUTHERS—EOCENE FERN-STEM. 303 
From the Lower Trias (Grés bigarré) of France, the following :— 
Chelepteris vogesiaca, Schimp. Traité Pal. Vég. vol. i. p. 702. 
Ch. Voltzw, Schimp. Tr. Pal. Vég. vol. i. p. 703. 
Ch. micropeltis, Schimp. Tr. Pal. Vég. vol. i. p. 703. 
Bathypteris Lesangeana, Schimp. & Moug. Monogr. Pl. Foss. des 
Vosges, p. 67. 
And from the Keuper, near Wiirzburg :— 
Chelepteris macropeltis, Schenk, in Von Meyer’s Paleontogr. 
vol. xi. p. 304. 
Bathypteris strongylopeltis, Schenk, in Verh. Phys. Med.Gesellsch. 
Wiirzb. vol, viii. p. 212. 
EXPLANATION OF PLATES XXIV. & XXV. 
Puate XXIV. 
Figs. 1-3. Osmundites Dowkeri, Carr. 
Figs. 1 & 2. Drawings of the outer surfaces of the specimen. Fig. | is the 
surface which has been most rubbed, and exhibits the bases of the petioles 
near their origin. Fig. 2 represents the less-worn surface, with larger 
petioles and adventitious roots, ‘The lunate vascular bundle is shown at 
the ends of some of the petioles. Fig. 3 is a transverse section, showing 
the position of the axis and of the petioles and roots. 
Figs. 4-6. Osmunda regalis, Linn. 
Fig. 4. Outer surface of the caudex after the adventitious roots have been 
cut away. Vig. 5. Transverse section, showing the axis, petioles, and roots. 
Fig.6. Transverse section of the axis, showing the meshes in the vas- 
cular cylinder. All the figures are of the natural size. 
PLatre XXV. 
Figs. 1, 3, & 4. Osmundites Dowkeri, Carr. 
Fig. 1. Section of a portion of the centre of the stem, showing :—a, the 
central cellular tissue ; 0, the vascular cylinder with the meshes through 
which have passed the vascular bundles to the leaves ; ¢, the tissues of two 
petioles or leaf-stalks; d, the dark-coloured parenchyma surrounding the 
axis ; ¢, two adventitious roots. Fig. 3. A few cells, showing the starch 
granules, and the mycelium of the fungus. Fig.4. Transverse section 
of a petiole, showing :—a, the boundary of the petiole ; 6, the parenchyma 
surrounding the vascular axis ; and, ¢, the parenchyma of the wing of the 
petiole. 
Figs. 2 & 5. Osmunda regalis, Linn. 
Fig. 2. Transverse section of part of the axis, showing :—a, the central 
cellular tissue; 4, the vascular cylinder; c, two petioles; d, the paren- 
chyma surrounding the axis; ¢, a root springing from the vascular 
cylinder. Fig. 5. Longitudinal section of a petiole, showing :—a, the 
boundary of the petiole; 4, the parenchyma; c, the scalariform tissue ; 
d, the parenchyma separating the two extremities of the vascular bundle; 
é, the parenchyma of the wing of the petiole. 
Discussion. 
Mr. W. W. Smyru, in calling on those present for remarks on the 
paper, commented on the very remarkable manner in which the 
minutest details of the original plant had become silicified. 
Mr. Ernrrince mentioned the discovery of fossil fern-stems of 
somewhat similar character at Bromsgrove. 
Prof. Ramsay suggested the possibility of the fossil having been 
derived from a bed even higher than the Thanet Sands. He thought 
the rarity of such delicate structures being perfectly preserved by 
