784 SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 



In general the present variety occurs at later and more southern 

 horizons than the type, which might be ascribed to the fact that only the 

 slender terminal twigs are preserved. This is regarded as improbable, 

 however, since the same reasoning should hold good for the areas where 

 only thicker twigs have been found. 



The remains are usually much macerated and broken and the imme- 

 diate cause for the recognition of a new variety was the discovery of a 

 relatively large specimen from the Magothy formation of Maryland, 

 which showed such striking unlikeness to the type that separation was 

 demanded and specific differentiation was even considered. In view, how- 

 ever, of the occurrence of both forms in association in Maryland and the 

 well-known variation of not only the type, but of coniferous foliage in 

 general, it seemed wiser to consider the present as a variety of the type, 

 which as time progressed supplanted it to a large extent, if not altogether. 



The new specimen from Maryland shows the terminal part of two 

 approximately parallel and curved twigs about 12 cm. in length, united 

 proximad. These in their largest portion are only 6 mm. in diameter. At 

 intervals of from 3 mm. to 5 mm. subopposite lateral branches are given 

 off in a pinnate manner. These are relatively much elongated, curved, 

 and slender, averaging about 4 cm. in length by 2 mm. in diameter, 

 bluntly pointed and not tapering to any appreciable extent. These have 

 been occasionally observed to fork pseudo-dichotomously and at times 

 they give off toward their distal ends tiny lateral branchlets less than a 

 centimeter in length and about a millimeter in diameter. 



The general proportions are thus decidedly different from the sup- 

 posed parent type. The leaves are slightly smaller and smoother and 

 somewhat more elongated in their relative proportions, at the same time 

 lacking the apical papilla and the convergent striae. The form is much 

 more graceful in appearance, and in its general aspect suggests the 

 Lo\ver Cretaceous genus Arthrotaxopsis of Fontaine. 



While tiny species of Brachyphyllum like BrachyphyUum microdadum 

 Saporta of the Neo-Jurassic have been described, the new variety is even 

 more slender than Brachyphyllum gracile Brongniart of the Jurassic. 

 The most closely allied form known appears to be one from the Albian of 



