SELLARDS: PERMIAN PLANTS. 



igoo, the author referred to them as apparently representing a new 

 type of fructification. Unfortunately the positive proof is still 

 lacking. 



Scars on or near the Rachis of Taeniopteris. 



Several specimens of this genus bear on or near the rachis, 

 elongate-elliptical scars, resembling very closely those of Macrotae- 

 niopteris magnifolia (Rogers) Schimper as described and figured b}' 

 Professor Fontaine in his Monograph on the Older Mesozoic Flora 

 of Virginia, p. i8, pi. 4, figs, i and la. Two scars are seen in 

 succession on the rachis of T. newberriana, pi. i, figs, i and la. 

 Professor Fontaine's description is taken from the depression, while 

 in this specimen the scars project. The counter impression in 

 wax seems to agree in every particular with his description of 

 "elliptical depressions surrounded by a raised line, which, sweep- 

 ing sharply around the ends of the depressions, continues double 

 until a divergence takes place to embrace the next depression." 

 Near the apex of the same specimen a third scar occurs on the 

 middle of the rachis. Another fragment of this species, figure 2, 

 plate IV, has two scars of the ordinary size on the midrib and a 

 third smaller one between these two and at the side on the lamina, 

 about one-half mm. from the midrib. The scars on T. coriacca are 

 very distinctly marked. Figure i, plate III, shows a string of 

 them on the rachis very suggestive of Fontaine's figure. Two 

 other specimens have a plainly marked row of scars on the rachis. 

 The scars have no regularity of size, distance apart, or position on 

 the rachis. In this respect they resemble Rogers' original descrip- 

 tion for those of Macrotae7iiopteris magnifolia in which he says that 

 the scars are placed at unequal intervals, and at rather varying 

 distances from the midrib, and not unfrequently on the midrib 

 itself. 



A comparison of the scars born on the rachises of the two species 

 on which they occur has failed to bring out any constant differences 

 between them in arrangement, structure or position. They are of 

 various sizes, from very small, one-half mm. or less, to five mm. 

 long, about one mm. wide. The shape is seemingly constant, 

 elliptical with the longest axis parallel to the rachis. The depressed 

 space around the scar, "raised line" of Prof. Fontaine's descrip- 

 tion of the counter depression, is always present, sometimes com- 

 paratively broad and well marked. 



Professors Rogers and Fontaine regarded the scars of Macro- 

 taeniopteris >nagnifolia as probably the bases of sori. But their 



