Maryland Geological Survey 375 



Taxites already in use^ but as it is in the literature and differentiates 

 an abundant type which is at least specifically distinct from the species 

 usually referred to the two genera just mentioned, it is retained in the 

 present publication. It may be characterized as follows : 



Much branched stout limbs, apparently in a single plane, although 

 it is impossible to determine to what extent this is due to pressure during 

 fossilization. Leaves flat, linear-lanceolate, coriaceous and persistent, 

 rather variable in size, mucronate tipped; base slightly decurrent and 

 twisted; midrib broad and flat, bordered on either side below by a 

 stomatal groove. The leaves are distichous in habit but the phyllotaxy 

 was undoubtedly spiral as it is in so many other gymnosperms with the 

 distichous habit, and is attested by the twisted leaf bases. No fruits 

 have been found upon any of the abundant foliage specimens although 

 certain associated species of Carpolithus'' are mentioned by Professor 

 Fontaine as the probable fruits of this genus, which are assumed to have 

 been drupe-like with a bony seed after the manner of the existing species 

 of Podocarpus and Cephalotaxus. This may well have been the case, 

 the fact that no fruiting specimens occur in the abundant sterile material 

 lends some support to this interpretation, since such fruits would stand 

 far less chance of successful transportation by water and subsequent 

 fossilization, than would the woody, buoyant cones of the majority of 

 the conifers. 



With the genus Tumion probably present in the Virginia Potomac, 

 and with Nageiopsis representing the subfamily Podocarpete, the family 

 Taxace^ is abundantly represented in the Lower Cretaceous, and when 

 the individual abundance is considered rather than the specific differ- 

 entiation it must be admitted that this family furnishes an important 

 element in the Potomac flora. 



The existing distribution of the Taxacese is shown on the accompany- 

 ing sketch map of the world (Fig. 12), the subfamily Taxese being 

 represented by horizontal lining and the subfamily Podocarpe^ by 

 vertical lining. 



^ eg. C. fasciculatus, G. mucronatus, C. sessilis, G. ternatus. 



