426 Systematic Paleontology 



Description. — Branches larger in size than in the preceding species, 

 more remote and much longer, but with the same short internodes, 

 constricted at the nodes. Epidermis persistent, the longitudinal rows 

 of tubercles produced by the stomata more prominent than in the pre- 

 ceding. Leaves very short and broadly triangular, closely appressed, 

 often entirely suppressed and never more than a single one observed 

 at a node. Ultimate branches not only deciduous but prone to break 

 up at the joints so that the materials preserved are usually poor. The 

 branches could not have been very woody since in the fossils they are 

 generally pressed flat and ribbon-like. Fontaine speaks of them as 

 succulent, which may or may not have been the case, the mere fact of 

 their being flattened is hardly an argument in favor of such a condition. 



This species more closely resembles F. Hoheneggeri in its long cylin- 

 drical branches, differing in its shorter internodes and in the number of 

 leaves. Both are variable characters, however, since on single specimens 

 so identified by Heer from the Kome beds we find a variation of length 

 of the internodes of from 1 cm. to 2.2 cm. and among the various frag- 

 ments figured some internodes are only 3 or 4 mm. in length while 

 others are 2.4 cm. and a large number are about 1 cm. 



Frenelopsis parceramosa is also closely related if not identical with 

 F. varians described by Fontaine from the Trinity Group of Texas and 

 Arkansas and also shows considerable resemblance to the European 

 species of this genus. Its occurrence in Virginia is very local and but 

 few specimens have been found in Maryland. 



Occurrence. — Patuxent Foemation. Trents Keach, Virginia. Arun- 

 del Formation. Hanover, Howard Brown estate (?), Maryland, 



Collection. — ^TJ. S. National Museum. 



Genus WIDDRINGTONITES Endlicher 

 [Synop. Conif., 1847, p. 271] 



The genus Widdringionites was established in 1847 by Endlicher with 

 Thuites gramineus Sternberg^ from the Tertiary of Perutz, Bohemia, 



^ Sternberg, Fl. Vorwelt, Tentamen, 1825, p. xxxviii, pi. xxxv, fig. 4. 



