410 Systematic Paleontology 



specimens also the leaves appear most often to be attachecl lateralh^ to 

 the stems as now preserved^ while no doubt they were originally scat- 

 tered around the stem. This appearance, as in the case of Leptostrotus, 

 is doubtless due to the accidents of preservation. ISTo nerves could be 

 made out with certainty. The leaves are very narrow, being sometimes 

 like hairs.'' 



The unsatisfactory nature of the material upon which this genu? is 

 founded renders any extended comment superfluous. As here under- 

 stood it includes but a single speci'fes which is confined to the Patuxeni 

 formation of Virginia. That there is any relation to the modern genus 

 Larix is doubtful and it seems probable that Laricopsis will eventually 

 be correlated with those Cretaceous remains here referred to the genus 

 AMetites. The fancied resemblance to Larix was based on the grouping 

 of the slender leaves and their deciduous nature, although the criteria 

 for determining such a habit in the case of much macerated coniferous 

 fossils are not altogether obvious to the writer. 



Laeicopsis atstgustifolia Fontaine 



Laricopsis angustifoUa Fontaine, 1890, Mon. U. S. Greol. Survey, vol. xv, 



1889, p. 233, pi. cii, figs. 9, 10; pi. ciii, figs. 1, 4. 

 Laricopsis 'brevifoKa Fontaine, 1890, IMd., p. 234, pi. cii, figs. 5, 6. 



Description. — Twigs slender. Leaves slender, scattered singly or in 

 fascicles, thin and flat, ranging in length from 1 cm. to 3 cm. 



Obviously the variation among the different examples of these rare 

 twigs is not sufficient to serve as a basis for two species as described by 

 Fontaine, and as the remains come from identical outcrops they are here 

 considered as slight variants of a single species; the apparent minute 

 differences noted by their original describer being due to differences of 

 preservation. They are an altogether negligible element in the Potomac 

 flora at best. 



Occurrence. — Patuxent Foemation. Dutch Gap and Trents Eeach, 

 Virginia. 



Collection. — U. S. National Museum. 



