RADSTOCK SERIES OF THE SOMERSET AND BRISTOL COAL FIELD. 353 



The genus Adiantites, Goppert, as originally employed by its author, bad a 

 very vague significance, and in it were placed ferns of very different character. 

 The genus has been emended by Schimper,* and as now defined, Adiantites 

 Haidingeri, Ett., can no longer be included in it. It is therefore necessary to 

 create a new genus for this fern and for the one I now describe as Macro- 

 sphenopteris Lindsceoides. 



The remains of these ferns are treated as pinnules, as their general appear- 

 ance points to this conclusion rather than to their being fronds. 



Macrosphenopteris, in the delicate texture of the pinnules and the arrange- 

 ment of the veins, shows affinities with Sphenopteris, hence the name (Macro- 

 sphenopteris) now proposed for it. 



Macrosphenopteris Lindsseoid.es, Kidston, n. sp. 

 Plate XXVII. fig. 1. 



Description. — Pinnules very large, of delicate texture, with a central vein, 

 from which arise numerous ascending slightly curved dichotomous veinlets. 

 Margin sinuous or dentate. 



Remarks. — The specimen figured is the only example met with. It is 

 unfortunately very imperfect, but the portion preserved shows that the 

 pinnule must have been of large size. Its texture is very delicate, and the veins 

 are distinct. At several parts of the pinnule the margin is thickened in a very 

 peculiar manner ; whether this is caused by a folding over of the margin or a 

 thickening of the tissue at this part of the pinnule, cannot be determined. The 

 appearance is not accidental, and is possibly connected with the fructification 

 of the species ; it has a strong superficial resemblance to the arrangement of 

 the indusia of the genus Lirtdswa, which has suggested the specific name of 

 Lindsazoides. 



Macrosphenopteris Lindsasoides, though closely related to Macrosphenopteris 

 Haidingeri, Ett., sp., appears to have been a much larger species, with more 

 distant nervation, and the margin not regularly dentate as in Ettingshausen's 

 plant, where each of the veinlets seems to end in a small tooth. 



The Aphlebia pateriformis, Germar,t may be allied to Macrosphenopteris, but 

 " a distinct dichotomy of the longitudinal stripes (veins ?) is not recognisable " 

 in Germar's plant. 



Locality : — Had stock. 



* Traite d. paleont. veget., vol. i. p. 424 (Adiantides). 



f Vers. de. Steink. v. Wettin u. Lobejun, fasc. 1, p. 5, pi. ii. 



