[VOL. XII. 
16 J) Records of the Geological Survey of India. 
specimens the same Asterophyllites is said to have a fructification of the kind of 
Bruckmannia (Stur), and to he preserved in such a manner, that it has to he 
considered as branches of Oalamites, preserved on the same slab of shale. 
The conclusions to which Mr. Stur arrived are that Syhenoyhyllum is no 
peculiar genus, but belongs to Asterophyllites, and both Asterophyllites and Sjphe- 
nophyllum are branches of Oalamites. 
Professor Williamson and Professor E. Weiss have published their opinions 
about this remarkable discovery 
Professor WiUiamson considers the connection of a Sphenopliyllum and 
Asterophyllites as quite probable, and finds in it the confii’mation of his own views 
on the relation of Asterophyllites and Sphenophyllum; but he thinks it impossible 
that both these genera should be the branches of a Oalamites of the ordinary 
type, as it occurs in England, the structure of Asterophyllites and Sphenophyllum 
being totally different from that of Oalamiites. 
Professor Weiss concurs with Professor Williamson as regards the impossi¬ 
bility of Asterophyllites and Sphenophyllwm belonging to Oalamites ; but he is not 
prepared to accept the view that all Asterophyllites and Sphenophyllum should be 
closely related, and he finds a distinguishing character in the fructification. He 
saj^s (1. c.), p. 264:— 
“ From the admission that branches with the appearance of Asterophyllites 
and Sphenophyllum may be found on the same plant, as observed by Stur, it 
would not at all follow that Asterophyllites in general is identical with Spheno¬ 
phyllum, and still less that both these should be identical with Oalamites." 
Professor Weiss therefore seems to allow that Asterophyllites-likB branches 
may be found with Sphenophyllum-\ike branches on the same plant, there being 
also two other genera, i.e., Cingularia ondi Bowmanites, which have Asterophylhtes- 
like stalks. Sphenophyllum and Asterophyllites of the carboniferous formation 
also agree in the arrangement of the leaves, all being arranged in whorls. But 
still ho maintains the independence of Sphenophyllum in other cases. 
If we now turn to the Equisetaceous plants in the Indian coal-beds, we find 
especially three forms— 
Phyllotheca (not very frequent, and in the Eaniganj group only). 
Schizoneura (rare in the Barakar group, but very numerous in the P^aniganj 
group). 
Trizygia (in both the Barakar and Raniganj groups). 
Besides these many other stalks, without certain affinities. 
The genus Phyllotheca is known from the lower (paleeozoic) coal-beds, 
the Newcastle beds and Wianamatta beds in New South Wales, and from the 
upper mesozoic beds (Bellarine-beds) in Victoria; from jurassic-beds in Siberia 
(Altai, Lower Tungutska river^ and Eastern Siberia), and in Italy. 
' N. Jalirl). f. Min., 1879. pp. 256 and 260. 
- Tlie formation with fossil idaiits in these two distri-cts is Jurassic, according to the last com¬ 
munication of Prof. Schmalhausen (Bull. d. I’Acad. des Sc. d. St. Petershourg, Vol. XI, pp. 77-81), 
containing Phyllotheca, Sphenopt. anthriscifolia, Asplenium whitliense, var. tenue, Zamites m- 
flexus, Fodozamiies eichivaUU, Ctenophyllum, Phiptozamites (Koggerathia), Czehanomhia rigida, 
4-c. 
