CONIFEE.E— DIGRANOPHYLLUM. 273 



from the base. The dichotomies are repeated three or four times at a 

 rather narrow angle, and the ultimate divisions are often strongly outward 

 ciu-ved. As remarked above, the branches appear to have been macerated; 

 so that while it is obvious that the axis was robust and of considerable 

 substance, no satisfactory evidence as to the leaf bases is at hand, Avhile 

 the leaves themselves are so destitute of any considerable residue of carbon- 

 aceous matter and so lax, particularly toward the apex, as to suggest that 

 the fossil should be rather associated nearer the Algae. Usually there is 

 left not even any other trace of the vascular axis of the leaves than a 

 rugose furrow or canal. Often this, too, is lacking. Numerous spore-like 

 bodies of various dimensions, some of which equal large macrospores in size, 

 are mingled with the leaves and seem to have been lodged there. In the 

 form and aspect of the branches, the general attitude of the decurrent 

 leaves and the bifurcation and apparent basal rigidity of the latter — in fact, 

 hi their habit and such superficial characters as are visible, these plant ft-ag- 

 meuts seem to represent badly macerated twigs of Dicrauophyllum. It is 

 possible that specimens better preserved will show characters of the axes, 

 leaf bases, or even the leaves, that will make it necessary to refer them to 

 some other genus or even to a different class, such as tlie Thallophyta. 



The specimen in hand is not the first representative of this genus to be 

 reported from this country, I), dichotomum and D. dimorpliimi having been 

 described by Professor Lesquereux from Cannelton, Pennsylvania.^ 



Of the few species of Bicranophylkmi yet described, D. gallicimi Gr. 'Ey. 

 and I), tripartitum Gr. 'Ey. are nearest to the form in hand. Our specimens 

 should be compared with the illustrations of the former species given by 

 Grrand 'Eury," Wenceslau de Lima,^ and Renault,* or of the latter species 

 given by its author." 



The resemblance to several of the figures given by de Lima° and 

 Renault^ is certainly very interesting and appears to indicate a closely 

 related species in the flora of Missouri. The leaves of the American plant 

 fork more frequently and nearer the base, are less rigid, while the lower 



' Coal Florii, vol. ii, p. 553, pi. Ixxxvii (bound in text), figs. 9, 9a, p. 5.54: pi. Ixsxii, figs. 1-3. 

 = F1. Carb. Loire, 1877, p. 275, pi. xiv, figs. 8-10. 



'Moiiogr. d. gen. Dicrauophyllum, 1888, p. 13, jil. i, figs. 2,3; pi. iii. 

 ■•Fl. foss. bassiu liouill. Commeutry, pt. 2, pp. 6, 26, pis. Ixx, Ixxi. 

 "Grand 'Eury : Geol. etpal. bassiu houill. Gard., p. 335, pi. vi, figs. 12, 13. 

 ''Op. cit., pi. iii. 'Op. cit., pi. Ixx, fig. 7; pi. Ixxi, fig. 5. 



MON XXXVII IS 



