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A Genuine Fossil Ophioglossum 



Dr. Hollick's recent paper* on "The taxonomic and mor- 

 phologic status of Ophioglossiim Alleni Lesquereaux" is especially 

 noteworthy for the admirable new figures he presents. We are 

 agreed, at least, that the fossil has nothing to do with Ophio- 

 glossum. One objection to the idea that it is a pod is the fact 

 that I could never see two valves in any of the specimens. 

 Were they present they would be indicated by the overlapping 



Ophioglossum hastatiforme, twice natural size. 



of the very open reticulation. Dohinea, on the other hand, is 

 quite a new suggestion, but the marginal venation of that plant 

 (not well shown in Dr. Hollick's figure) is quite unlike that of the 

 fossil. 



It is very interesting to now discover a perfectly genuine 

 Ophioglossum in our Tertiary rocks. It was discovered by Mr. H. 

 N. Brown of Lander, Wyoming, who transmitted it to Professor 

 I. A. Keyte of Colorado College. It was finally referred to the 

 Museum of the University of Colorado, to which it has been 

 kindly presented. Two specimens were found. 



Ophioglossum hastatiforme new species 



Lamina elongate, enlarged apically with the outline of a spear- 

 head, the apex broad but acute; spike elongate, formed as usual 

 in the genu's, the gradually attenuate end not quite reaching the 

 end of the lamina. Sporangia in about 28 pairs, the series, 



♦Bulletin, Torrey Botanical Club, 50: 207-213. 1923. 



