422 MR ROBERT KIDSTON ON SOME FOSSIL PLANTS FROM 



Rhacopteris, Schimper. 



Rhacopteris flabellata, Tate, sp. (PI. I. fig. 2; PI. II. figs. 4-7.) 



Rhacopteris flabellata, Kidston, Catal. Palceoz. Plants, p. 63, 1886. 



Sphenopteris flabellata, Tate, in Johnston's Botany of the Eastern Borders,* p. 308, woodcut, fig. 3, 1853. 

 Noeggerathia, sp., Gomes, Flora foss. do terr. Carbon do Porto, Serra do Bussaco, &c, p. 32, pi. ii. figs. 

 1, 2, 1865. 



Description. — Frond pinnate (?) ; pinnse alternate, rhomboidal, or subtriangular in 

 outline, much divided into narrow, linear, acute, single veined segments ; segments of 

 pinnule generally arranged in fascicles, and the pinnule united to the rachis by a short 

 foot-stalk. Rachis moderately thin. 



Remarks. — Owing to the fragmentary and imperfect condition of the specimen on 

 which Tate founded his Sphenopteris flabellata, there is considerable difficulty in dis- 

 tinctly knowing what are the real characters of his species. 



The woodcut figure of the type given by Tate represents portion of a pinnule, 

 " petiolate, flabellate, deeply cut into three radiating segments ; segments cut more or less 

 deeply into linear obtuse lobes, the lowermost having seven, the middle four, and the 

 uppermost eight lobes ; veins radiating, one broad vein passing into each lobe." -J- 



From an examination of the woodcut, I am inclined to think that none of the seg- 

 ments of the pinnule figured by Tate shows its true apex, but that all are embedded 

 in their upper part or broken over. If I am correct in supposing this, there has only 

 been a portion of a pinnule shown, and on this single specimen the species has been 

 founded. 



In February 1886, when in the neighbourhood of Alnwick, I paid a visit to the 

 Mechanics' Institute, where I believe Mr Tate's geological collection has found a 

 resting place. My time at Alnwick was limited, but with as careful a search as 

 circumstances would permit, we failed to find the type of Sphenopteris flabellata. 

 Whether it is permanently lost, or only temporarily mislaid, is not at present known. 

 Under these circumstances all that can be done is to try to interpret Tate's figure as 

 best one can. It is questionable if, under such conditions, it would not be better to let 

 such an imperfectly defined species sink into oblivion, but, on the other hand, one likes 

 to give all honour to those who have been pioneers in a difficult branch of natural history, 

 and to take every means for the preservation of their specific names, and I believe, 

 notwithstanding the difficulty in identifying his species, that I am warranted in applying 

 Tate's name of " flabellata " to the specimens now under consideration. 



For some years I have known of certain specimens which I thought were referable to 

 Tate's Sphenopteris flabellata, the most perfect example being in the collection of the 

 British Museum. This example is included in my Catalogue of Palaeozoic Plants as 

 Rhacopteris flabellata, Tate, sp.J 



* Nat. Hist, of the Eastern Borders, London, 1853, vol. i. This is the only volume that was published, 

 t Tate, loc. cit., p. 308. % Page 63. 



