203 



So far as now known this is the first fruiting fossil SelagincUa to 

 be described. Of the fojr previously named fossil American 

 species Selaginella marylandica Fontaine* is from the Lower Creta- 

 ceous (Patapsco formation) of Maryland. It is based on fragmen- 

 tary remains of dichotomously branching stems of sympodial habit 

 with two laterally attached rows of minute leaves. Concerning 

 its status Berryt says: "While the reference of this form to 

 Segalinclla is not conclusive it is certainly very suggestive of that 

 genus in its superficial appearance." 



Two species were described by Lesquereux from the Montana 

 group at Point of Rocks, Wyoining. Of these S. falcata Lesq.J 

 is based on small branches with two rows of leaves. Its reference 

 to this genus is questioned even by Lesquereux. The other 

 species, S. laciniata Lesq.,§ is open to even graver question. 



The remaining American species, S. Berthoiidi Lesq.,I| from 

 the Denver formation (Eocene) at Golden, Colorado, has every 

 appearance of having been correctly placed in this genus, al- 

 though it bears no trace of fruit. 



A review of the literature discloses the fact that there are only 

 three^ fossil extra-American species referred to the genus Selagin- 

 ella, not one of which, however, is in a fruiting condition. These 

 are S. arctica Heer, from the Upper Cretaceous of Atanekerdluk, 

 Greenland; 5". dichotoma Velenovsky, from the Upper Cretaceous 

 of Bohemia; and S. gallica Laurent, from the Pliocene of Cantal. 



The genera Selaginites, which is confined to the Paleozoic, and 

 SlagineUites, which is found in the extreme upper Paleozoic and 

 lower Mesozoic, are provided for forms believed to be more or 



* Fontaine, W. M., in Ward, L. F., U. S. Geol. Survey Mon. 48, p. 553, PL CXV. 

 figs. 9, 10, 1905. 



t Berry, E. W., Geol. Survey Maryland, Lower Cretaceous, p. 307, PI. XLI, 

 figs. I, 2, 1911. 



t Lesquereux, Leo, Tertiary Flora, p. 46, PL LXL figs. 12-15, 1878. 



§ Op. cit., p. 47, PI. LXIV, figs. 12, 12a. 



II Op. cit., p. 46, PI. V, figs. 12, 12a. 



^ The plant from the Jurassic of Yorkshire, England, described by Lindley and 

 Hutton as Lycopodiles falcatus, was transferred by Brongniart to Selaginella, but 

 later authors, notably Seward (Jurassic flora Yorkshire, p. 68), have returned it to 

 Lycopodites. Concerning it Seward saj^s: "There is little doubt that Lycopodiies 

 falcatus should be regarded as a Lycopodiaceous plant more nearly allied to the 

 genus Selaginella than to Lycopodium." 



