70 Records of the Geological Survey of India. [vol. x. 
Amongst the fossils brought by Mr. Ball, some specimens are to be referred to this 
genus. I describe them as— 
Rhizomoptebis Balli, Feistm., PI. I, figs. 2-7. 
Rhizomate dichotome ramoso, cicatricibus petiolorum vestito, circiter, 10-14. Cm. 
crasso ramis adccquantibus cicatricibus in quincunciam dispositis, circularibus sub- 
emarginatis fossula circulari circumdatis. 
The rhizoma apparently dichotomous set with scars, which are disposed in quincunx. 
They are circular, aud surrounded with a circular line. 
The specimens from Atgarh agree mostly with those described by Mr. Nathorst, 
especially PL I, fig. 10, while the other ones figured by Nathorst shew larger scars with a 
horse-shoe-like vascular mark, but fig. 10 has the same circular scars as the Atgarh 
specimens. On two or three specimens the ramification (dichotomy) of the Rhizoma is well 
seen. In size they resemble also mostly those from Palsjo. 
Rhizomopteris, Scliimp., takes in the Possil Flora amongst the ferns the same part as 
Spiropteris, Schimp., which comprises the circinnate vernation of fossil ferns, as Rhizomop- 
teris comprises the rhizomata; and there can, of course, be as many different species of 
Rhizomopteris as species of ferns, supposing that all different species of ferns have also 
different rhizomes, but it might be very difficult to decide to which fern a certain Rhizomop- 
teris should belong. 
Here in the Atgarh strata near Cuttack ferns are prevailing, and the Rhizomopteris 
belongs to one of them. The species I devote to Mr. V. Ball, who collected it. 
Some of the forms, which Mr. Schenk (Flora der Grenzschichten, 1867) figured as 
“ trunci filioum,” belong perhaps rather to this genus; and then the stem fragments from the 
Maurii beds, which I referred as very similar to Schenk’s “ trunci filicum," are perhaps 
also rather to be placed with Rhizomopteris. Now I think that also the specimen from 
Kacli, which I figured, PL IV, fig. 3,* and discussed shortly (page 35) as Stem of “ fern” (or 
Rhizome), would be rather a Rhizomopteris. 
X._ On teue Ptekophylluh feom the Raniganj field, and the Cycadeacea: 
FROM THE DAMUDA SeEIES. 
Already in 1850 Dr. McClelland - )" described a real Cycadeous plant from the Damuda 
Series near Raniganj with the name Zamia Rurdmanensis (PL XIV, fig. 4, p. 53 1. c.) This 
figure, however, he has taken from a set of unpublished plates of Burdwan fossils in posses¬ 
sion of the Asiatic Society. 
When subsequently Mr. Oldham wrote his paper on the age and the geological relations 
of the rocks in Central India and Bengal,* he thought justified, on account of the gene¬ 
ral badness of the drawings, as he had not the original before him, in doubting the accuracy 
of this figure, Zamia Burdwanensis, McCl.; and he could not help thinking that a fragment 
of a Schizoneura had in this case been mistaken for a Zamia. 
Only' lately, however, this disputed and very important specimen was found by 
Mr. Medlicott amongst some old collections. It shews that McClelland was completely 
* Flora of Kach: Palieontol. Indica, 1876. 
t Keport of the Geol. Surv. of India for 1848-49, Calcutta, 1850. 
% Memoirs Geol. Survey of India, Vol II. 
