FOSSIL FLORA OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FIELDS. 131 



Sphenophyllum majus, the only other known species in which the sporangia were united 

 in groups of 4 or 6. 



In Sphenophyllum charxforme Jongmans, another very delicate species, the 

 sporangia appear to be united singly to a sporangiophore, as in Sphenophyllum 

 cuneifolium Sternb., sp., and this at once separates Sphenophyllum tenuissimum from 

 that species. 



The specimen, which is preserved in an ironstone nodule, is seen natural size on 

 PL XVI. figs. 3, 4. It was collected by Mr H. W. Hughes. 



Horizon and Locality.' — Ten-foot Ironstone Measures: Clayscroft Openwork, 

 Coseley, near Dudley. 



Sphenophyllum sp. 

 PI. X. figs. 5, 5a. 



1911. " Microsporanges," Carpentier, " Sur quelques fructifications et inflorescences du "Westphalien du 

 Nord de la France," Revue generate de bot., vol. xxiii. p. 11, pi. xiv. figs. 6, 7. 



Remarks. — Similar groups of sporangia to those figured by M. l'Abbe Carpentier 

 from the Nord Coal Field, France, occur in the Yorkshire and South Staffordshire Coal 

 Fields ; the former were collected by Mr W. Hemingway, and the latter by Mr H. W. 

 Hughes. They consist of four or five obtusely pyriform, or what might be almost 

 better described as " fig-shaped," sporangia, united in groups of four or five by their 

 contracted pedicel-like bases. A quadrate group of these sporangia is shown at fig. 5, 

 PI. X., natural size, and enlarged 2 times at fig. 5a. The diameter of the group is 

 about 4 mm. 



The sporangial termination is as broad as or even slightly broader than long, and its 

 apex sometimes shows a faint indication of a notch. 



Abbe Carpentier compares these sporangia to the fructification of Telangium 

 (Sorocladus) stellatum Lesqx., sp.,* but with this type of fructification I do not think 

 they have any relationship. 



The only plants with which I am acquainted that have the same type and arrange- 

 ment of sporangia are Sphenophyllum majus Bronn, sp.,f and Sphenopyhyllum 

 tenuissimum, described here. 



From the sporangia of the latter they are at once distinguished by their much larger 

 size, and from the former they differ in being flattened at their apex and broader in 

 proportion to their length, and have more the form of a fig than of a pear ; but Dr Paul 

 Bertrand, J with whom I have had some correspondence on these small fossils, mentions 

 that his specimens, of which he has shown me excellent photographs, and which are 

 identical with that figured here, have discharged their spores, and he suggests that 



* Lesquereux, Coal Flora, p. 328, pi. xlviii. fig. 9, 1879. Zeiller, Flore foss. bassin houil. d. Valen., p. 141, pi. xii. 

 fig. 2, 1886. 



t See Kidston, Mem. Muse'e roy. d'hist. nat. de Belgique, vol. iv. p. 221, pi. xiv. figs. 1-4, 4a ; pi. xv. figs. 2, 3 ; and 

 text-fig. 35. 



+ In letter of October 19, 1913. 



