— 519 — 
From the evidently very thick composition of the fossil and 
the peculiar aspect of the large pits shown in the interior of the 
impression of the dorsal (?) surface, I am strongly disposed to re- 
gard it as representing an organ of fructification. The thick walls 
separating these depressions apparently consist only of the arkose 
matrix standing in relief between the impressions of what I re- 
gard as probably sporangia These partition walls show no trace of 
nervation, being composed of the arkose mold, and they are far too 
thick to be regarded as representing anastomosing nerves. In fact, 
the impression of the concave surface of the organs shows no 
trace, unless it be at the borders, of anything which, in my 
judgment, may be regarded as nervation. 
The impression of the convex surface, fig. 6, shows, on the con- 
trary, arelatively distinct nervation with a very narrow, elongated 
mesh, absolutely different from the concave surfac. The characters of 
the concave surface, the nervation and the general form of the fossil 
as a whole lead me to regard it as probably representing a fertile 
pedicellate scale-frond (1) of Glossopteris. The features of its concave 
surface strongly sugggest-comparison with the cycadaceous forms of 
inflorescence. The specimen is to be compared with the polliniferous 
Dolerophyllum shown by Saporta (2) and others, with Grand’Eury’s 
Discostachys cebennensis, (3) and the Plinthiotheca described by 
Zeiller (4) from Heraclea in Asia Minor. 
Locality: Roof of the Irapuaé coal, wast of the residence of 
doctor Ramiro Barcellos, near rio Irapudé, Rio Grande do Sul. About 
135 meters below the Iraty black shale. Lot 3591. 
Vertebraria 
Royle, I. Bot. & Nat. Hist. Himalayan Mts., vol. I, 1839, 
be Is 
Vertebraria ? sp. 
The hard light colored clays from the horizon of the Barro 
Branco coal contain great quantities of small roots somewhat irre- 
(1) See scale fronds from the Damuda series illustrated by Zeiller, Pal. Indica, n.s., 
vol. Il, 1902, pl. Ill, figs. 4 ¢ 11. Also Bull. Soc. Géol. Fr. (3), vol. XXIV, p. 365, 
pl. XVI, figs. 6 e 14. 
(2) Evol. d. Régne Végétal, vol. I, 1835, p. 76, fig. 37, p. 75, fig. 35. 
(3) Géol. et paléont bassin houill. Gard, 1890, p. 306, pl. VIIT, fig. 2. 
(4) Mem. Soc. Géol. Fr., no. 21, 1899, p. 54, pl. lV, fig. 18 e 18%, 
