104 
the veins, as the basis of his genera. By way of illustration, 
we will give a description of a few of these. 
Embkoidebed Eebk. — Pecopteris. 
The frond is once, twice, or thrice pinnate : the leaflets 
have a broad attachment as those of the Brake, PI. II. fig. 19, 
and rarely have a stalk. The midrib reaches the tip of the 
leaflets and the veins are once or twice forked, and nearly at 
right angles to the midrib. In some species of this genus, 
clusters of fruit are found on the back of the frond. One 
of these Embroidered Perns resembles Brake, another the 
Lady Pern, and another the Shield Pern, (Lastrea.) Many 
were undoubtedly Tree Perns, and attained a large size. 
Some leaves four feet wide, and of a proportionate length, 
have been observed. This genus comprises a large propor- 
tion of the Coal Perns. 
Neeved Leae Peek.— Neuropteris. 
This Pern has its frond divided, as the preceding. The 
midrib of the leaflets does not reach the tip, but branches 
off right and left into veins, and gradually disappears. The 
veins are very fine, curved, rising obliquely from the 
midrib. The leaves egg-shaped or lance-shaped, somewhat 
heart-shaped at the base. “ Clusters of fruit lance- shaped 
with a cover arising from the veins of the apex of the 
leaflets.” — Eichardson. One species resembles the Eoyal 
Plowering Pern, but differs in essential characters. Pruit 
rarely found, but when found, on the under side of the 
leaflet. 
Wedge-leae Pehn. — Sphenopteris. 
The frond has its leaflets once or twice pinnatifid, wedge- 
shaped or narrowed at the base. The lower lobes of the 
leaflets are the largest. The leaflets are palmated, i, e, di- 
vided as the palm of the hand is into fingers. The veins 
radiate from the base. The Perns of this genus are exceed- 
ingly elegant. In the bituminous shale at Edinburgh, 
some specimens of one species (Sphenopteris Jffinis) are so 
perfectly preserved, as to admit of portions of the plant 
being taken up entire and pasted on paper like a recent 
Pern. The species amount to about thirty-six. 
