FOSSIL FLORA OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FIELDS. 81 



is founded on an incompletely developed condition of Sphenopteris obtvsiloba, though 

 one hesitates to affirm that this is the true interpretation of the species. 



I originally referred Sphenopteris dilatata to Sphenopteris trifoliolata Artis, sp., 

 but in this I now feel certain I was in error.* 



The fossil figured as Sphenopteris Honinghausi by Salter f should, I think, be 

 referred to Sphenopteris dilatata, whatever position may be eventually assigned to 

 that plant. 



My thanks are due to Dr A. Smith Woodward, F.R.S., for permission to figure 

 the specimen shown on the Plate, which is preserved in the Geological Department 

 of the British Museum, No. V., 1377. 



Horizon and Locality. — Ten-foot Ironstone Measures {—Roof of Thick Coal): 

 Coseley, near Dudley. 



Sphenopteris trifoliolata Artis, sp. 



1825. Filicites trifoliolatus, Artis, Antedil. Phyt., p. 11, pi. xi. 



1828. Sphenopteris trifoliolata, Brongt., Prodrome, p. 50. 



1836. Cheilanthites trifoliolatus, Gopp., Sys. fil. foss., p. 245. {Refs. in part.) 



1911. Eusphenia trifoliolata, Anon., Catal. Coll. foss. conserves an Mus. liouil. de Lille, p. 26. 



Remarks. — Up to the present, this species does not appear to have been found 

 outside of England ; for though several Continental botanists have figured a 

 Sphenopteris under the name of Sphenopteris trifoliolata Artis, sp., none of the 

 figures they give are referable to Artis's plant. \ 

 Horizons and Localities. — 



Blue Measures, six feel above Brooch Coal: Hamstead Colliery, Great Barr, 



near Birmingham. Collected by Mr H. Insley. 

 Roof of Brooch Coal: "Neighbourhood of Dudley " (? Himley). 



Sphenopteris Sauveuri Crepin. 



1880. Sphenopteris Sauveuri, Crepin, Soc. roy. hot. de Belgique, vol. xix. part ii. p. 17. 



1886. „ „ Zeiller, Flore foss. bassin houil. d. Valen., p. 79, pi. ix. fig. 6. 



1903. ,, „ Potonie, Abbild. u. Beschreib. Pflanzen-Reste, Lief. i. No. 4, figs. 1-3. 



1829. Sphenopteris Schlotheimii, Brongt. {non Sternb.), Hist. d. veget. foss., vol. i. p. 193, pi. Ii. {Excl. 



syn.; fig. imperfectly drawn.) 

 1848. Sphenopteris elegans, Sauveur {non Brongt.), Veget. foss. de la Belgique, pi. xviii. fig. 3. 

 1885. Diplothmema Schlotheimii, Stur, Die Fame d. Schatz. Schichten, p. 336, pi. xx. figs. 1, 2 {non 



pi. xxv. fig. 4). 

 1866. Sphenopteris obtusiloba, Andrae {non Brongt.), Vorwelt. Pjtanzen, p. 32, pi. x. figs. 1-4. {Excl. 



refs.) 

 1885. Diplothmema Richthofeni, Stur {pars), ibid., p. 343, pi. xxv. figs. 6-7. 



Note. — Sphenopteris Sauveuri is rare in Britain. 



* Catal. Palaeoz. Plants, p. 72, 1886. t hoc. cit. 



% The specimens usually referred to Sphenopteris trifoliolata are, I believe, forms of Sphenopteris obtusiloba. For 

 references see Kidston, Mem. Muse'e roy. d'hist. nat. de Belgique, vol. iv. p. 10, 1911. 



TRANS. ROY. SOC. EDIN., VOL. L. PART I. (NO. 5). 11 



