RADSTOCK SERIES OF THE SOMERSET AND BRISTOL COAL FIELD. 371 



Pecopteris oreopteridia, Schlotheim, sp. 

 PL XXVII. figs. 3, 4; PL XXVIII. figs. 1, 2. 



Pecopteris oreopteridia, Brongt., Hist. d. veget. foss., p. 317, pi. civ. figs. 1, 2; pi. v. figs. 1, 2, 3. 

 Pecopteris oreopteridia, Renault, Cours d. botan. foss., 1883, p. 110, pi. xviii. figs. 5, obis ; pi. xix. 



figs. 7-12. 

 Pecopteris oreopteridia, Weiss, Foss. Flora d. jiingst. Stic. u. d. Rotlil., p. 66. 



Pecopteris oreopteridia, Zeiller, Bull. soc. geol. d. France, 3 e s£r., vol. xiii. p. 138, pi. ix. figs. 1, la. 

 Cyatheites oreopteroides, Geinitz, Vers. d. Steirikf.in Sachsen, p. 25, pi. xxviii. fig. 14. 

 Filicites oreopteridius, Schlotheim, Flora d. Vorwelt, p. 36, pi. vi. fig. 9. 



Remarks. — This species is common in the Radstock Series, and some very 

 fine specimens have been collected. Of these, one which I received from Mr 

 Job Moon, Camerton, deserves special note. This example shows three 

 primary (?) pinnae springing from a common rachis, of which only the central 

 primary pinna is perfect. It measures 14^ inches in length, and its greatest 

 diameter, which is towards the centre of the pinna, is 6 inches. The pinna to 

 the right of this one is longer, but, not being perfect, I am unable to give its 

 exact measurements. In outline the primary pinnae are broadly lanceolate. 



Of the three primary (?) pinnae shown on the portion of the frond that 

 has been preserved, the uppermost primary (?) pinna exhibits still, on the 

 inferior side of its rachis, portions of 17 secondary (?) pinnae. These are all 

 barren. 



The central primary (?) pinna bears about 36 pairs of alternate lanceolate 

 secondary (?) pinnae, of which the 6 or 7 lower pairs are barren, or only bear a 

 few fruiting pinnules ; the succeeding 6 or 7 pairs of pinnae are soriferous, the 

 fruit being borne on the central pinnules of the pinnae. The remaining upper 

 pinnae are barren. 



On the remaining and lowest of the three primary (?) pinnae preserved on 

 the specimen, the 15 lowest secondary (?) pinnae are soriferous, the remaining 

 upper pinnae being barren. 



Two secondary (?) pinnae from the central primary (?) pinna are shown on PL 

 XXVIII. figs. 1, 2. On fig. 1 the fruiting pinnules are seen to occupy the central 

 part of the pinna; on fig. 2 only the third pair from the base are soriferous. 



The most interesting point in connection with these soriferous pinnules is 

 the occurrence on them of a dense villous covering. An enlarged drawing of 

 such a pinnule is shown on PL XXVII. fig. 4. On a few of the barren pinnules 

 a villosity can also be detected, but it is so slight that it cannot be compared in 

 importance or prominence with that of the soriferous pinnules. 



An enlarged barren pinnule (PL XXVII. fig. 3) shows from its nervation 

 that this specimen is clearly referable to Pec. oreopteridia, SchL, sp. 



Since detecting the presence of a villosity on the pinnules of Pec. oreopteridia, 



