FOSSIL PLANTS. 
381 
common rachis, as Goppert describes, our Neuropteris hirsuta is certainly not 
identical with it. For this very common and polymorphous species of ours, 
whose frond is sometimes 5 feet long, and at least tripinnate, atoi generally bears 
compound tertiary alternate pinnae or pinnules formed of a large oblong or 
lanceolate obtuse leaflet, cordiform at base, having on each side, and attached 
to the base of its slightly elongated pedicel, a small round or veniform pinnule, 
which is as different in its form as in its nervation from the main middle leaf¬ 
let. This one has generally a well marked, sometimes thick medial nerve, 
from which the veins go out, anastomosing and curving to the borders ; while 
the veins of the small basilar leaflets all come out of an enlarged or circular 
base, without trace of a medial nerve. These leaflets are, therefore, true Ne- 
phropteris, while the main pinnule is a Neuropteris. We have obtained from 
various parts of our Coal Measures, where this species is the most abundant of 
all, numerous specimens which all show filename characters. The pinnae de¬ 
crease in size to the point, and the two‘upper leaflets under the terminal pin¬ 
nule are .simple or do no^^fear at the base the small round pinnules ; all the 
others are compound, Ilhis terminal pinnule is large, round oval, obtuse and 
entire. On the other side, Prof. F. A. Iloemer has published in the Paleonto- 
graphia (1860) p. 186, PI. 29, fig. 4, a leaf which he considers identical with 
Neuropteris cordata, Brgt., though he calls it Dictyopteris cordata. It resem¬ 
bles one large leaflet of Neuropteris hirsuta by its form, and by the straight 
pointed hairs with which its surface is marked. Rut in the leaf figured by the 
German author, the veins and veinlets are undulate, and in curving and anas¬ 
tomosing, they pass from one to the other, forming a kind of reticulation, like 
that which characterizes the genus Dictyopteris. As this peculiar mode of 
reticulation is not remarked in our species, we have to consider it as different 
from Neuropteris cordata , Brgt. 
Neuropteris fasciculata, Sp. nov. 
PL v, fig. 1 to 4. 
Frond pinnately divided, bearing alternate ovate lanceolate 
pointed leaflets, variable in size, irregularly rounded or auri- 
culate at the base, being more extended on one side than on 
the other, or truncate on one side, and rounded on the other. 
Medial nerve distinct, and comparatively broad, either 4e- '24- 
scending to the point of the leaflets, or disappearing at or be¬ 
low the middle, sometimes absent; veinlets thin, close to each 
other, scarcely distinct, arched, forking in ascending. 
