[PENHALLOW] NOTES ON FOSSIL WOODS FROM TEXAS 99 
More recently Jeffrey and Chrysler (7) have recorded another 
species (L. brandonianum) from the Lignite beds of Brandon, Ver- 
mont. This material was in the form of lignite, and the illustrations 
given show a very fine preservation of structural details. 
The genus Laurophyllum is known through a few species in the 
Cretaceous formation, but only through its leaves. The genus Laurus 
as known by its leaves, has a wide range through the Cretaceous and 
Tertiary formations, at least thirty-two species being recorded at the 
present time. 
The present distribution of the genus Laurus, shows that it has 
receded from its former wide distribution since Eocene time, until 
it has become almost wholly insular, retaining but a slight hold on 
the continent on the east and west shores of Florida south of lat. 
28° 50°. | 
In addition to the species described, there are two specimens of 
a palm. Both of these are very highly silicified and one is almost 
pure flint, in consequence of which it proved very difficult to cut. They : 
are also very angular, showing fragmentation after fossilization, and 
this feature made it impossible to determine whether they had been 
derived from the trunk or from the stipe of a frond. Upon micro- 
scopic examination it was observed that in the flinty specimen, the 
original carbonaceous structure had been so far replaced by silica as 
to make a determination of details impossible. In the smaller and less 
altered specimen, local areas of somewhat sclerenchymatized parenchyma 
showed a preservation of details with considerable perfection. The 
vascular bundles had been so altered as to present no recognizable struc- 
tural features except in one case, but even there, the structure was so 
transparent as to make definite recognition of details a matter of very 
great uncertainty, although the general outline and relation of parts 
was fairly clear. 
A very conspicuous feature of the vascular system is to be found 
in the peculiar form, size and perfect preservation of the mechanical 
sclerenchyma which forms coarse strands lying collaterally with the 
vascular bundle proper, and wholly upon one side of it. In transverse 
section, these strands are semi-circular, or even somewhat contracted 
and concave on the side adjacent to the bundle. The component cells 
are large, rounded-hexagonal, and exceedingly thick-walled. The whole 
structure stands out with surprising clearness of detail and sharpness 
of outline in consequence of the retention of a rather large proportion: 
of the carbonaceous residue of the original structure. 
