90 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES OF PALMOXYLON. 



The species are divided by Felix into two sections, the first of which in- 

 cludes those having selereuchyma bundles scattered between thefibro. 

 vascular bundles, and the second of which includes the species without 

 sclerenchyma bundles. The first section includes most of the species 

 described by Felix. The two species from Louisiana represent both 

 sections. 



The species belonging- to the first section I am inclined to identify 

 with a species described by Felix, from Antigua, although it differs 

 from it in some relatively important features. 

 Palmoxylon Quenstedti Felix, Foss. Holz. Westindiens, p 25, PI. iv, fig. 4. 



Described by Felix as follows: Fibro-vascular bundles extraordi- 

 narily numerous, the bast portion strongly developed, and the xylem 

 portion very much reduced, or not well preserved. Sometimes the 1 >ast 

 portion surrounds the xylem and sieve tissues, so as to give the appear- 

 ance of their lying in an opening of the bast tissue. Numerous isolated 

 bundles (Faserbiindeln) of very considerable size appear about thefibro- 

 vascular bundles. The fundamental or parenchymatous tissue is com- 

 posed of long, but rather small, cells without intercellular spaces. 



The form from Louisiana agrees well with this description, but has uot 

 been as well preserved. The fibro-vascuhir bundles have been very nu- 

 merous, particularly near the periphery of the stem, as also have been 

 the smaller sclerenchyma bundles. 



The fundamental tissue has not been preserved except in immediate 

 contact with the fibro-vascular bundles. It is then seen to be comp< »seq 

 of small, nearly regular, cells, with few small intercellular spaces among 



them. 



The specimens from Antigua upon which this species is founded, were 

 first collected by Quenstedt in 18G7,* who recognized at once their 

 palm like structure. They were opalized in a very beautiful manner. 

 Palmoxylon cellulosum, n. sp. Plate xxx, tig. 2. 



This species, as stated above, belongs to the section characterized by 

 the absence of sclerenchyma bundles outside of and among the fibro- 

 vascular bundles. The fundamental tissue is composed of large, 

 irregular cells, between which are very large intercellular spares 

 The tissue is more compact in the vicinity of the bundles, but is loose 

 and spungy in general. The fibro-vascular bundles have been modes 

 ately numerous. They are large, usually elliptical in outline. The bast 

 cells are large, with the lumen reduced to a minimum, while the xylem 

 portion is nearly completely surrounded. 



The fundamental tissue of this species bears a strong resemblance to 

 that of PalmoxylonlacunosumFelix, and would be referred to it but for 

 the absence of the isolated sclerenchyma bundles, which so clearl " 

 marks the species of Felix. 



Kapides Parish, the locality from which these fossi ls were obtained , 

 "liaudbuck tl. Fetrelactenkunde, 2. Autl., p. 883. 



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