352 MR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE 



Renault has further suggested that the fruit described by Grand' Eury as 

 Schizostachys may perhaps be identical with that described by him as the fruit 

 of Zygopteris* 



In the whole mode of its growth Schizostachys ramosus, Gr.' E., approaches 

 so closely to Schizopteris pinnata, Gr.' E., and S. cycadina, Gr.' E., that it 

 induces the supposition that it might be the fruit of one of these, or of a closely 

 allied species. 



As, however, the fruiting specimens show no barren foliage, they cannot be 

 referred to these ferns with any degree of certainty. 



Schizostachys sphenopteroides, Kidston, n. sp. 

 Plate XX. fig. 1. 



Description. — Frond bipinnate ; pinnae subopposite, linear, lanceolate ; pin- 

 nules subopposite, coriaceous, and composed of one sporangium on the upper 

 pinnae, and of two diverging sporangia on the lower pinnae. Sporangia oblong, 

 with a central line, from which extends a series of transverse bars. Rachis 

 faintly striated. 



Remarks. — A specimen is shown on Plate XX. fig. 1, natural size. The 

 pinnules, which are quite destitute of any leafy expansion, are reduced to one 

 or two sporangia, according to their position on the frond. The sporangia are 

 oblong and straight, or very slightly curved. On their surface is a longitudinal 

 line, from which the little transverse bars extend at right angles. The specimen 

 is not sufficiently well preserved to exhibit the cellular structure of the spor- 

 angia, as in the case of that described by Grand' Eury, but it shows the trans- 

 verse bars as drawn at fig. la. These bars extend over almost the whole of 

 the exposed surface of the sporangia, but that they indicate the presence of an 

 annulus I am unable to determine. 



I apply the specific name of sphenopteroides to this species from its super- 

 ficial resemblance to some of the members of that genus. 



Locality : — Eadstock. 



Macrosphenopteris, Kidston, n. gen. 



Descrij)tion. — Pinnules very large, ovate, of delicate texture, provided with 

 a central vein, from which spring numerous upward-directed dichotomous 

 veinlets. Margin dentate or laciniate. 



Remarks. — This genus is proposed for the Adiantites Haidingsri, Ettings- 

 hausen,t and the specimen about to be described. 



* Lor,, cit, p. 102. 



f Die Steinkohlenfora von Radniiz, p. 34, p], xix, fig. 3. 



