TEILIA QUARRY, GWAENYSGOR, NEAR PRESTATYN. 425 



of from 1-2 bifid cuneate segments. On the main rachis, below the bifurcation, are placed 

 distant pinnules of the ordinary type. Nervation not shown. 



Remarks. — Fig. 3 shows the best preserved example, which is drawn natural size. It 

 only shows one of the two arms of the dichotomy of the main rachis ; those specimens 

 which showed the bifurcation of the axis were not in other respects so well preserved as 

 the figured example. 



This species belongs to that group of ferns whose frond bifurcates into two linear seg- 

 ments, a group which appears to be more common in Lower than in Upper Carboniferous 

 rocks. 



The pinnules at the apex of the pinnae are simple or bifid. In those composed of four 

 segments, the pinnule first forms a dichotomy, each half of which again dichotomises, 

 the ultimate segments being slightly cuneate. Probably these were single-veined, but 

 none of the specimens showed the nervation. 



The species is not infrequent at Teilia, but seldom at all well preserved. 



Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, Goppert. 



Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, Goppert, Foss. Flora d. Ubergangs., p. 143, pi. xiii. fig. 3, 1852. 

 Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, Goppert, Flora d. Silur. Devon, u. unteren Kohlenf., p. 61, 1860. 

 Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, var. stenophylla, Goppert, Foss. Flora, d. Ubergangs, p. 143, pi. xiii. figs. 4, 5. 

 Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, Goppert, Flora d. Silur. Devon, u. unteren Kohlenf., p. 61. 

 Archceopteris pachyrrachis, Stur., Culm Flora, Heft i. p. 64, pi. viii. figs. 8, 9. 



Remarks. — Both the typical form and the variety stenophylla occur at Teilia Quarry. 

 The form named stenophylla does not really deserve varietal rank, as the differences 

 between it and the typical plant are merely due to different positions on the frond. 



In my Catalogue of Palaeozoic Plants # I placed certain species under Sphenopteridium 

 dissectum, in which was included Sphenopteris pachyrrachis. 



I still fail to see how many of these species are to be distinguished, but as I hope at 

 an early date to have the opportunity of examining a larger series of these ferns than I 

 have hitherto been able to study, the Teilia specimens are placed in the meantime under 

 Sphenopteris pachyrrachis, with which they are certainly identical. 



If the figures of Sphenopteris crassa, L. and H., as already figured by me,t be compared 

 with those of Sphenopteris pachyrrachis as given by Goppert, the close relationship of 

 these two (?) species is very obvious. The whole matter of the affinities of these ferns to 

 each other requires to be carefully gone into. 



(?) Sphenopteris Schlehani, Stur., sp. 



Calymmotheca Schlehani, Stur., Culm Flora, Heft. ii. p. 280, pi. xi. figs. 2-4. 



Remarks. — On the Teilia specimens only the outline of the pinnules is seen, and 

 that but here and there. In general form the fern agrees closely with Sphenopteris 



* Page 61. 



t Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Edin., vol. vii. pi. v. Sphenopteris crassa, L. and H., was describe and figured in 1835. 



