126 THE OLDER MESOZOIC FLORA OF VIRGINIA. 



tceniata, Braun, of the Rhsetic of Europe. The so-called Walchias are not 

 true Walchias. In the absence of the originals, and with only the imperfect 

 figures of Emmons before me, I freely admit that my determinations are 

 doubtful. The onty one of these plants, judging by the figure, that might 

 be taken for a Walchia is the W. diffusus of Emmons, Palissya diffusa of 

 this work. The primary branches go off in a regularly pinnate manner 

 like those of Walchia, but this is the only point of resemblance. The pri- 

 mary branches themselves branch, and the leaves are flat, and apparently 

 in two rows; features that do not belong to Walchia. This plant has some 

 resemblance to Cheirolepis gracilis, Feistmantel, Araucarites gracilis, Old. 

 & Morr., from India. It may be a Cheirolepis and not a Palissya. Al- 

 though the figure of Emmens's Albertia latifolia is very imperfect, it is clear 

 that the plant is rather an Otozamites than an Albertia. The shape of the 

 leaves and their insertion are similar to some Otozamites, while the nerva- 

 tion, as represented in the only complete leaflet on the plant, is given as 

 forking near the margin of the leaflet. Even if the plant were a true Al- 

 bertia, it could not, taken alone, be held as evidence of Triassic age. The 

 more natural view would be to consider it as a survivor, remaining among 

 the later plants. Indeed, when we consider that there is no evident uncon- 

 formity betwe en the lower and upper beds of the Mesozoic areas, while it 

 is most probable that a portion, at least, of the lowest beds was deposited 

 in Triassic times, it is surprising that we do not find quite a number of 

 Triassic plants among those discovered in the Mesozoic of North Carolina and 

 Virginia. Pecopteris bullata is the only remaining plant for which a Triassic 

 age has been claimed. The very imperfect specimens of this fossil hitherto 

 made known did not suffice to give its true character. It is clear that it 

 has nothing in common with Pecopteris (or Lepidopteris) Stuttgartensis* 



The affinities of the North Carolina flora with Liassic plants are much 

 closer than with those of the Trias. We have two species that are probably 

 identical with Liassic plants, and six that are closely allied to those of the 

 Liassic or lower Oolitic strata, giving 20 per cent, of Jurassic forms. 



The affinities, however, point more strongly to a Rhsetic age for this 



*I omit in this table a reference to the relationship of Asterocarpus platyrachis with A. Meriani, 

 and refer it for relationship to Pecopteria condnna Presl, of the Rhsetic of Europe, as this is perhaps 

 nearer. 



