380 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETT. [March 26, 



2. On the Tree Ferns of the Coal-Meastjres, and their Relations 

 to other Living and Fossil Forms. By W. Caertjthers, Esq., 

 F.R.S., F.G.S. 



[Abstract*.] 



After referring to the remarkably uniform character of the order 

 of Ferns throughout their whole history on the globe, the author 

 pointed out that there existed in the Coal-Measures two very di- 

 stinct kinds of fern-stems, each represented by several species. Both 

 of these were very different from the Chelepteris-gxowp already de- 

 scribed by the author in the Journal of the Society. The first group 

 had a stem-structure like that of living tree ferns. In them the 

 vascular elements of the stem formed a close cylinder round the 

 pith ; and the vascular bundles for the leaves were given off from 

 the out-turned edges of the cylinder, where, at regular intervals, 

 corresponding to the position of the leaves, narrow meshes occur for 

 this purpose. To this group were referred the stem described by 

 Lindley and Hutton as Caidopteris Phillipsii, and several hitherto 

 undescribed species from Badstock and Newcastle. No materials 

 had yet been detected which could throw any light on the foliage or 

 fruit of these fern-stems. The second group included some stems 

 the casts of which the author had obtained from Badstock, and the 

 root-structures from Halifax. By the help of a fine series of speci- 

 cimens in the collections of the British Museum, he was able to 

 correlate the different parts of these plants. The stems had been 

 described by Corda under the name of Stemmatopteris. They dif- 

 fered from the other group chiefly in having the ends of the vascular 

 plates, as seen in the transverse section, turned inwards, and having 

 the bundles of the leaves formed in a complete condition in the axis 

 of the stem. The author showed that the relation of the different 

 parts of the stem in the species of Caxdopteris was the same as in a 

 first year's dicotyledon ; while in the latter group the analogy of the 

 structures was with the monocotyledonous stem. The roots, which 

 surrounded the older portions of the stem, formed the well-known 

 genus Psaronius, of Cotta ; and as this was the earlier name, it was 

 proposed to retain it for the genus. There was associated with all 

 the fine specimens of this group, which the author had received from 

 J. M'Murtrie, Esq., F.G.S., foliage which had been described as 

 Cyatheltes arborescens. Although this had not been observed orga- 

 nically connected with the stems, the author adduced several reasons 

 for believing that it belonged to them. If this connexion could be 

 established, it was of the greater importance, as this form was 

 known in fruit; and the fruit established that its affinities were 

 with the living Alsophilas and Cyatheas. Many species of this 

 genus occurred in the continental coal-fields ; but the author be- 

 lieved that all the specimens found in England, though differing 

 considerably amongst themselves, belonged to a single species. 



* The publication of this paper is postponed. 



