336 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



of the leaf scar. On either side of the nerve trace, and at but 

 Httle distance within the lateral border of the scar, is situated 

 a vertically elongated and slightly crescentic cicatricule, the 

 cross-section of a loosely parenchymatous transpiratory tract. 

 The cicatricules (parichnoi) are slightly hooked inward at the 

 upper ends, figure 4, while in the subepidermal impression they are 

 found to coalesce in an ovate figure embracing the nerve trace. ^ 

 No distinct trace of appendages has been observed. 



By the characters of the leaf scar the Naples tree is more 

 closely related to Bothrodendron and Sigillaria than to any 

 representative of the Lepidodendreae. The rounded form of 

 the scar suggests Bothrodendron, though the vertically elongated 

 parichnoi are comparable only to those of certain Sigillariae, 

 especially the Rhytidolepis group. By its combined characters 

 the scars of the Devonic trunk differ however, from both Both- 

 rodendron and Rhytidolepis, the two oldest representatives of 

 their respective groups. 



Leaves. The leaves of this type of tree appear to have 

 remained attached for a long time, since some of them are per- 

 sistent as low as but 70 cm from the base of the trunk. As 

 shown on the left border in the lower middle, at L in plate 11, 

 and in figure 3, plate 10, they are short, not over 3 cm in length, 

 very narrow, and somewhat lax. In this fossil which comprises 

 the older portion of the trunk they stand out at nearly a right 

 angle, or are even slightly reflexed. The base of the leaf is 

 conically enlarged to coincide with the leaf scar, and this 

 portion seems to hav^ been largely composed of soft and very 

 perishable tissue. The nerve trace is clearly marked, while on 

 the sides there is evidence of the boundaries either of parichnoian 

 zones or of a large sheath which may be traced in gradually 

 converging lines nearly to the apex. 



The small size, usually rather lax form, enlarged base, and 

 persistent habit are in general characteristic of the leaves of 

 the Devonic group to which the Naples tree belongs. 



General relations of the tree 



The examination of the magnificent specimen from Naples 

 shows that although it appears to represent a synthetic type 

 antecedent to the later Paleozoic Lycopo.diales it is none the 



ilninany<)fthesilbepidermah impressions, plate 7, figure 3, ftre prominent cicatricule strongly 

 resembles the corresponding sigillarian homologue once generically described as Syringoden- 

 dron. 



