FOSSIL PLANTS. 435 



Genus Sphenopteris, Brgt. Frond bi or tripolypinnatefid, 

 pinnules generally wedge-form or narrowed at the base, lobed, 

 with the inferior division larger; nervation pinnate, primary- 

 veins ascending to the margin, flexuous, secondary veins dicho- 

 tomous, forking once, twice or thrice in each lobe. 



Sphenopteris paupercida, Sp. nov. PL 41, fig. 4 and 4 a. 

 Frond bipinnatifid ; pinnse linear-lanceolate, apparently long, 

 with a strong rachis; pinnules nearly equal, distant, oblong 

 obtuse, somewhat decurrent by a narrowed base, and oblique 

 on the rachis; margins equally sinuate, or nearly pinnately 

 round lobed; medial nerve flat, broad, pinnately branching in 

 each lobe ; veins forking two or three times. Distantly rela- 

 ted to Pecopteris Schoenbeiniana, Brgt., of the Keuper of Europe. 

 The figured specimen is from St. John, Perry county. I have 

 got a few others from Pennsylvania, but all broken and too 

 small. Coal No. 3. 



Sphenopteris irregularis, Sternb. Vers., 2, p. 63, tab. 17, fig. 

 4. A few specimens of this fine species are preserved in the 

 State Cabinet. Locality : Colchester, McDonough county. Coal 

 No. 3. 



Sphenopteris obtusiloha, Brgt. Hist, des Veg. Foss., 1, p. 204, 

 tab. 53, fig. 2. The only specimen of this species in the State 

 Cabinet is poor. It comes from Murphysboro, Jackson county. 

 Lower Coal -Measures. 



Sphenopteris latifolia, Brgt. Hist, des Veg. Foss., 1, p. 205, 

 tab. 57, fig. 1 to 6. One specimen from Mazon creek shows 

 well the general outline of this species, but the leaflets appear 

 somewhat denticulate by the strong veins projecting beyond 

 the margins and forming points. 



Sphenopteris rigida, Brgt. Hist, des Veg. Foss., 1, p. 201, 

 tab. 53, fig. 4. The species figured in our plate 39, fig. 5, 5a, 

 and 6, 6 a, is, by its ramification, the form of the leaflets, and 

 the obscure nervation, apparently the same as Brongnia^rt's. 



