422 Systematic Paleontology 



species, Becklesia anomala.^ These, as their author points out, show 

 considerable resemblance to some of the more poorly preserved specimens 

 of Frenelopsis Hoheneggeri figured by Schenk from the Wernsdorfer 

 schichten. 



Nathorst in a recent paper upon some fossil plants collected by Felix 

 from the Neocomian of Tlaxiaco, Mexico,^ establishes a new genus for 

 somewhat similar remains which he calls Pseudofrenelopsis on the ground 

 that the specimens are not truly jointed. To this genus he would refer 

 Fontaine's species and in this he is followed by Seward (he. cit. p. 181). 

 It is difficult to see the basis for N"athorst's proposals since the Mexican 

 remains appear to differ from those found in Maryland, Virginia, or 

 Texas, and since these latter are all jointed and therefore exhibit the 

 characters of true species of Frenelopsis according to Nathorst's own 

 definition. 



Frenelopsis eamosissima Fontaine 

 Plates LXXI, LXXII 



Frenelopsis ramosissima Fontaine, 1890, Mon. U. S. GeoL Survey, vol. xv, 

 1889, p. 215, pis. xcv-xcix; pi. c, figs. 1-3; pi. ci, fig. 1. 



Frenelopsis ramosissima Fontaine, 1906, in Ward, Mon. U. S. Geol. Surv., 

 vol. xlviii, 1905, pp. 504, 512, pi. cxi, fig. 8. 



Frenelopsis ramosissima Berry, 1910, Botanical Gaz., vol. 1, pp. 305-309, tf. 

 1, 2. 



Description. — Stems sometimes of large size, the branches sometimes 

 alternate but usually crowded in whorls at the nodes with three to five 

 branches to the whorl. Internodes usually short, as are the ultimate 

 branches. Jointing not visible in the larger stems. Epidermis durable, 

 longitudinally striated. Leaves in whorls of three at the nodes, decussate 

 in outline, acute, closely appressed, becoming somewhat variable on the 

 larger stems. Clusters of abortive branches or buds occur and are figured 

 by Fontaine. 



^ Seward, Wealden Fl., pt. i, 1894, p. 179, pi. xiv. 



- Nathorst, Pflanzenreste aus dem Neocom von Tlaxiaco in Beitr. z. Geol. u. 

 Palseont. d. Repub. Mexico, von J. Felix u. H. Lenk, ii Theil, Leipzig, 1893, 

 pp. 51-54 (see p. 52, figs. 6-9). 



