402 Systematic Paleontology 



Pinus scMsta Ward, 1906, Mon. U. S. Geol. Surv., vol. xlviii, 1905, p. 531, 



pi. cxii, figs. 13-15. 

 Araucarites virginicus Fontaine, 1906, in Ward, Mon. U. S. Geol. Sury., 



vol. xlviii, 1905, p. 572, pi. cxix, fig. 8 (non Fontaine, 1890). 

 Pinus vernonensis Berry, 1911, Proc. U. S. Natl. Mus., vol. xl, p. 316. 



Description. — Cones elongate, conical^ somewhat variable in size, 

 averaging about 7 cm. in length by 1.8 cm. in diameter. Axis stout, 

 2 mm. to 3 mm. in diameter. Cone-scales triangular, relatively thin, 

 thickened apieally to form a rhomboidal boss with an elevated transverse 

 ridge. A central umbilicus may represent the area of attachment of a 

 short spine which had been worn away before fossilization. Length 

 about 1.5 cm., greatest width about 0.8 cm. to 1.0 cm., thickness 1 mm. to 

 2 mm. 



The arrangement of the scales is a close spiral and in all of the 

 cones collected or seen, numbering several score, none was found ex- 

 panded, all having the scales closely appressed. This may indicate 

 fossilization before maturity, since numbers of the cones retain their 

 seeds, which is remarkable if the cones were shed in a ripe state. The 

 seeds seem to be mature, however, and it is probable that the cones in 

 this species had reached nearly or quite their full size when they were 

 blown into some Lower Cretaceous stream and carried out and buried 

 in the Patapsco estuaries. Each cone-scale subtends two seeds which are 

 typically those of Pinus. The seeds are elliptical, 3 mm. to 5 mm. long 

 with straight wings 5 mm. to 15 mm. high and not over 7 mm. wide, 

 sides rather straight though somewhat curved on the outside, obtusely 

 rounded apieally. 



The single seed from Federal Hill represents the maximum of size 

 as given above and is also rather more pointed than the specimens from 

 the other localities. It was doubtfully described by Fontaine in his 

 first monograph. More recently Professor Ward discovered seeds of 

 Pinus at Mount Vernon, Virginia, and at Ft. Poote, Maryland. The 

 former were described as Pinus vernonensis which now becomes the 

 name of all the Pinus-like remains from the Patapsco formation. The 

 latter specimens were described as a distinct species, Pimis schista, be- 

 cause the wings are somewhat split. As the latter are identical with 



