PART 8.] 
Feistmantel: Fossil Floras in India. 
67 
Schimper lias more lately transferred Cyclopteris pachyrachis, Gopp., first to Neuropteris, 
Brgt., and in the last volume of his Paleontologie vegetale (III, p. 476,) to Pecopteris. 
Besides these two very well marked species of ferns there are some more indistinct frag¬ 
ments, only one of which requires notice here. It is a species of Tceniopteris, Brgt., which, 
from the general habit of the frond and its coriaceous appearance, must, I think, he referred 
to Oleandridium, Schimper, and is evidently somewhat allied to O. stenoneuron, Schiinp, 
(Schenk) from Eh® tic beds. 
In general, therefore, the Flora of the Pancliet is very poor ; but still it is sufficient 
for comparison with other Floras, and for determining the age, at least with some probability. 
All the fossil plants hitherto found in the Panchet rocks are from one locality south of 
Maitur, on the west branch of the Nunia in the Raniganj field. 
Amongst the Panchet fossil plants Schisoneum Gondwanensis, Fstm., is the most 
important form. 
If we now turn to the determination of the age, we have, excluding the reptilian remains, 
especially to consider three very well marked species, which at once indicate an age lower 
than Jura (including Lias). Of these three plants, two, Pecopteris cunciwna, Presl. and 
Cyclopteris pachyrachis, Gopp., (as well as, perhaps, the Tceniopteris, Brgt.,) would indicate 
the transition series between Keuper and Lias; but the occurrence of ScMzoneura Gond¬ 
wanensis, Fstm., which on the one side is allied to the European broad-leaved species 
ScMzoneura paradoxa, Schim.-Moug., from the Yosges (Buntsandstein or gres bigarre), on 
the other side is the same as the ScMzoneura so abundant in the Raniganj group (Upper 
Damiida), which also, as will be seen, is lower Triassic (gres bigarre), induces me to take 
the plants altogether as indicating a rather lower age, and I do not hesitate to consider 
them all as Iveupor, a position which is moreover not at all in contradiction with the evL 
dence of the reptilian bones, and with Mr. Oldham’s already pronounced opinion (Mem. III). 
The Pancliet group may he therefore taken as representative of the highest Tr.ias (Keuper). 
I think also the animal remains of this group will not be opposed to these observa¬ 
tions, as they agree very closely with many reptilian remains known from the Rhaetio of 
Bayreuth (Verzeichn. der Petrel’, z. Bayreuth ; F. Braun, 1840). 
This group is allied, through ScMzoneura Gondwanensis, Fstm., with the Damudas, in 
the first place with the Raniganj group, and through this with the whole formation. 
IY.— Feoea and probabie age of the Damuda Foehation. 
This formation is largely developed in India; it is also the most important, as it includes 
the deposits of the so-called “ old coal” of India. We find it in Bengal, South Eewah, 
Satpura Range, on the Godavari and in the Eastern Himalaya. I need not mention anything 
about the stratigraphy of this series, as this has been done in the publications of our Survey.* 
* The most important notices are— 
Memoirs I.—On the geological structure and relations of the Talchir Coal-field in the district of Cuttack. 
(W. T. and T-I. F. Blanford, and W. Theobald). 
Memoirs II.—On the geologSeal structure of the central portion of the Nerbudda District. (J. G. Med- 
licott). 
„ „ On the geological relations and probable geological age of the* rocks in Central India, (by 
Mr. Oldham). 
Memoirs III.—On the geological structure and relations of the Rauiganj Coal-field, Bengal. (W. T. 
Blanford). 
Memoirs VI.—The Bokaro Coal-field. (Th. W. H. Hughes). 
„ „ The Ramgurh Coal-field. (Hughes). 
MemoirsVJI,—Kurhuvbari Coal-field. (Hughes). 
Deoghur Coal-field. (Hughes). 
