374 MR ROBERT KIDSTON" ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE 



Pecopteris Miltoni, Artis, sp. 



Pecopteris Miltoni, Gerinar, Vers. d. Steinl: v. Wettin u. Lubejun, p. 63, pi. xxvii. (excl. syn. Pec. 



polymorpha, and P. Miltoni, Brongt., not Artis). 

 Pecopteris Miltoni, Sterzel, Die Flora d. Ruthl. im nordwesi. Saclisen, p. 6, pi. i. (xxi.) figs. 1-7 



(in Dames & Kayser's Paleont. Abhandl., Band iii. Heft ii. p. 240 (excl. syn. Pec. 



polymorphs). 

 Cyatheites Miltoni, Geinitz, Vers. d. Steinkf. in Saclisen, p. 27, pi. xxx. fig. 5 (fig. 6 '!), var. 



abbreviata, pL xxx. figs. 7-8 ; pi. xxxi. figs. 1 (2, 3 1), 4 (refs. in part). 

 Filiates Miltoni, Artis, Antedil. Phytol., pi. xiv. 

 Pecopteris crenata, Sternberg, Vers., i. p. xx. pi. x. fig. 7 ; ii. p. 154. 

 Hawlea pulcherrima, Corda, Flora protogcea, p. 90, pi. lvii. figs. 7, 8. 



Hawlea Miltoni, Stur, Carbon-Flora, p. 108, pi. lix. and pi. lx. (excl. figs. 3-4., syn. in part). 

 (?) Goniopteris brevifolia, Schimper, Traite d. paleont. veget., vol. i. p. 546. 

 ■Pecopteris abbreviata, Brongt., Hist. d. veget. foss., p. 337, pi. cxv. figs. 1-4. 

 Pecopt&ris abbreviata, L. & H., Fossil Flora, pi. clxxxiv. 

 Pecopteris abbreviata, Zeiller, "Notes sur la flore houillere des Asturies," p. 12, [Mem. Geol. Soc. du 



Nord, 1882) ; Flore foss. du Bassin houill. de Valenciennes, pi. xxiv. figs. 1-4, 1886. 

 Cyatheites villosus, Geinitz, Vers. d. Steinkf. in Saclisen, p. 25, pi. xxix. figs. 6-8.* 



Remarks. — A great difference of opinion exists among botanists in regard 

 to the specific value of Pec. Miltoni, Artis, sp., Pec. abbreviata, Brongt., and 

 Pec. polymorpha, Brongt. 



For a few years I have carefully collected those species and visited several 

 of the British Coal Fields where they occur, with the special object of satis- 

 fying myself as to the true relations of Pec. Miltoni, Pec. abbreviata, and 

 Pec. polymorpha to each other. 



Several authors have united them under one name.t In the barren 

 condition, the discrimination of the species is often difficult. In Pec. poly- 

 morpha the nervation is closer, the divisions of the veinlets more numerous 

 and straighter than in Pec. Miltoni and Pec. abbreviata, where the nervation 

 has often a slight flexuosity. Pec. abbreviata, as will be seen, I regard as 

 identical with Pec. Miltoni. 



Even in the barren condition, I believe, Pec. polymorpha can be safely 

 separated from all other species, if the specimens are well preserved and at 

 all typical. Its fruit, however, at once establishes its individuality, and clearly 

 separates it from Pec. Miltoni. 



Pec. Miltoni was described by Artis from El-se-car Colliery, near Milton 

 Furnace, Yorkshire, in 1825 : — Pec. abbreviata by Brongniart from mines near 



* I am very doubtful if the following species referred by Stur to Pec. Miltoni should be so in- 

 cluded : — Asplenites heteropliyllus, Gb'pp.; Aspl. crispus, Gopp. ; Baluntites Martii, Gopp. The follow- 

 ing, also included by the same author, appear to me to have no connection with Pec. Miltoni: — 

 Adiantites giganleus, Gopp. ; Cyclopteris ooliqua, L. & H. ; Schizopteris lactuca, ltoehl. (Foss. Flora 

 Westph., pi. xviii.) ; and Cyclop, oblata, L. & Ii. 



t Geinitz, loc. cit.; Germar, loc. cit.; Sterzel, loc. cit. 



