Stur[1002] retains this generic name for sori in which the sporangia are free and united only by the proximal end to a central receptacle (fig. 291, F, G). He describes the individual sporangia as possessing a rudimentary annulus, a comparatively strong wall, and terminating in a pointed distal end. He emphasises the greater degree of cohesion between the sporangia of _Asterotheca_ as the distinguishing feature of that genus; but this is a character difficult to recognise in some cases, and from the analogy of recent ferns one is disposed to attach little importance to the greater or less extent to which sporangia are united, at least in such cases as _Asterotheca_ and _Hawlea_ when the cohesion is never complete. _Scolecopteris._ Zenker[1003] gave this name to detached fertile pinnules from the Lower Permian of Saxony, which he described as _Scolecopteris elegans_. He recognised the fern nature of the sori and suggested that the pinnules might belong to the fronds of one of the “Staarsteinen” (_Psaronius_), a view which subsequent investigations render far from improbable. The sori, which occur in two rows on the lower surface of the small pecopteroid segments with strongly revolute margins (fig. 291, H–K), contain 4–5 sporangia attached to a stalked receptacle comparable with that of _Marattia Kaulfussii_. These pedicellate synangia were fully described by Strasburger[1004], who decided in favour of a Marattiaceous alliance. The lower portions of the distally tapered sporangia are concrescent, the distal ends being free (fig. 291, H). Stur includes in _Scolecopteris_ the common species _Pecopteris arborescens_ (fig. 376), but Kidston[1005] states that the British example of _Scolecopteris_ is _S. polymorpha_, Brongn. from the Upper Coal-Measures. _Scolecopteris elegans_ Zenk. furnishes an example of a plant, or plant fragment, which has been assigned to the animal kingdom. Geinitz[1006] described silicified pinnules as _Palaeojulus dyadicus_, the generic name being chosen because of the resemblance to Millipedes such as the genus _Julus_. The mistake is not surprising to anyone who has seen a block of siliceous rock from Chemnitz crowded with the small pinnules with their concave surfaces formed by the infolding of the edges. Sterzel[1007], who pointed out the confusion between Myriapods and Filices, has published figures which illustrate the deceptive resemblance of the pinnules, with their curved lamina divided by lateral veins into segments, to the body of a Millipede (fig. 291, K). He points out that Geinitz searched in vain for the head and legs of _Palaeojulus_ and expressed the hope that further examination would lead to fresh discoveries: the examination of sections revealed the presence of sporangia and demonstrated the identity of _Palaeojulus_ and _Scolecopteris_. _Discopteris._