in 'Texas,is in the upper part of Wichita Group. Romer™ 
has given a full stratigraphic correlation chart of the 
Texas section. The Fulda florule is known from several 
localities, all in the uppermost part of the Belle Plains. 
This florule contains Gigantopteris and extends upwards 
into the Clyde formation, Clear Fork Group, and possi- 
bly higher.’* These two florules are to be correlated with 
the Shihhotse Series of Shansi. It is difficult to compare 
them with the Korean section, but it appears that closest 
comparison should be made with the Kobdésan series (Jido 
of Kon’no). 
David White was the first to point out the marked 
similarity between the late Carboniferous and early Per- 
mian floras of Asia and southwestern United States. 
Halle later observed that not only is this true, but also 
that even in the Appalachian Province there are Asiatic 
elements.” The discovery of Tingia in the Lower Per- 
mian rocks of Texas is another link in the chain of evi- 
dence pointing to the similarity between the contempo- 
raneous Permocarboniferous floras of Asia and North 
America. The occurrence of Tingia and Gigantopteris, 
and similar genera, in these two regions also indicates 
that the Wegener concept of drifting continents is not 
necessary to explain this distribution. This phytogeo- 
graphic problem, like most others, can best be explained 
on the basis of proximity of land masses and land bridges. 
I wish to express my gratitude to Professor A.S. 
Romer for his helpful suggestions in my work on the 
Permocarboniferous floras of the Southwest, to Professor 
Thomas Barbour, Director of the Museum of Compara- 
tive Zodlogy, for the donation of the fossil plants gath- 
ered on the paleontological expeditions, to Mr. Robert 
Witter who was in charge of the 1986 field party, and to 
Mrs. J. I’. Kemp for the gift of the specimens of Tingia 
described in this paper. 
[ 187 ] 
