406 MR ROBERT KTDSTON ON THE FOSSIL PLANTS IN THE 



Mr Lacoe has kindly sent me a specimen of Sph. mixta, labelled as from the 

 " Sub-carboniferous of Clinton, Mo." This series is below the Millstone Grit, and there- 

 fore from a much lower horizon than that from which the British example originates. 

 1 have compared our plant most carefully with Mr Lacoe's specimen of Sphenopteris 

 mixta, and in nervation and pinnule cutting it agrees entirely, and although the example 

 sent me by Mr Lacoe does not show the adpressed hairs, yet the surface of the pinnules 

 have a roughened appearance, suggestive of the presence of hairs. Lesquereux, in the 

 original description of Sph. mixta, which he then identified as Sphen. rigida, Brongt. (?), 

 says, "in our specimens the surface of the leaves is evidently rugose, as if it had been 

 originally squamose or hairy."* In his latest description in the Coal Floral he says, 

 " surface smooth or polished/' but at the same time gives his Sphen. rigida (Lesqx., not 

 Brongt.) as a synonym to Sphen. mixta. Zeiller thinks it probable that the fern 

 Lesquereux figures in the Coal Flora may not belong to Sphen. mixta, Schimper, but 

 be a distinct species. On this question, in the absence of American specimens similar to 

 those figured in the Coal Flora, I cannot enter. 



The Lancashire fossil has been named Sphenopteris pulchra by Mr Marrat in his 

 list of the Ravenhead Ferns, but it does not differ in any point from Sphenopteris mixta, 

 Schimper, as far as I understand this species. 



Sphenopteris coriacea, Marrat. 



PI. I. figs. 4, 4a, 4b. 



Sphenopteris coriacea, Marrat, Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc, Session 13, 1871-72, p. 98, pi. ix. figs. 1-2, 



1872. 



Description. — Frond ; pinnae alternate, ovate-lanceolate, main rachis 



thick ; pinnules crowded on lower pinnse, more distant on upper ones, contracted at the 

 base, deltoid or lanceolate, coriaceous, basal pinnules divided into oblong lobes, the basal 

 lobe much developed and directed towards the base of the pinna, and again divided into 

 oblong simple or lobed segments ; in these pinnules the basal lobe is not much less than 

 the other part of the pinnule. Upper pinnules oblong, and divided into 5-9 simple or 

 lobed teeth; terminal lobe blunt, and not enlarged. Veins immersed, obscure. 



Sphenopteris Footneri, Marrat. 

 PL II. figs. 3, 3a, 36. 



Sphenopteris Footneri, Marrat, Proc. Liverpool Geol. Soc, Session 13, 1871-72, p. 101, pi. viii. figs. 2,3, 



1872. 



Description. — Frond tripinnate or decompound ; rachis winged, flexuous ; pinnae 

 alternate, narrow deltoid ; pinnules oblong, of delicate texture, and divided into 3-7 

 blunt segments, these in turn bear 2-4 blunt teeth, into each of which extends a vein ; 



* Geol. Survey of Illin., vol. iv. p. 436. t Page 276. 



