32 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500 



Telangiopsis sp. 

 Text fig. HE, F; pi. 12, figs. 1-k 



Description . — Monopodially branching axis "bearing terminal syn- 

 angia with five sporangia. Individual sporangia 3 to k mm long and 0.5 

 to 1.0 mm wide, with an acuminate tip. 



Discussion . — Thirteen specimens bearing sporangia have been 

 found. They are preserved as molds with little or no organic material 

 present ; no spores have been found within the sporangia. Each specimen 

 contains two or more sporangia; some specimens preserve five in a clus- 

 ter and several contain two or more clusters. 



One specimen (ISM kl6^2l) does contain four and possibly five 

 clusters and some trace of the connecting axis, indicating the mutual 

 arrangement of the synangia. Two specimens (ISM kl6h60 9 ^16280) pre- 

 serve the bases of sporangia. One of these {kl6k6o) also contains two 

 sporangia exposed in profile. The sporangia are roughly banana-shaped 

 and do not appear to be fused to each other. The different positions 

 of the sporangia, shown in text figure HE and F, may represent changes 

 during maturity or positions before and after anthesis. 



Nine specimens of Telangiopsis occur on the same bedding plane 

 as Eusphenopteris morrowensis ; this concurrence may indicate that the 

 two species belong to the same plant. 



Rhodeopteridium phillipsii sp. nov. 

 Text fig. 10C-G; pi. 13, figs. 1-5 



Description . — Deeply divided leaf at least three times pinnatifid; 

 alate axis; pinnules elongated and strongly lobed; lobes either oval, 

 elongated oval, or wedge-shaped with a long side attached to the axis ; 

 one vein per lobe. Pinnules 5 to 9 mm long and 1.5 to 2 mm wide; about 

 five lobes per pinnule. Pinnules distant from each other, rarely over- 

 lapping. Fructifications (sporangia ?, seeds ?) occupying the end of a 

 lobe. They are bean shaped and 0.5 by 0.7 mm. 



Holotype : Specimen ISM U16527, figured on pi. 13, figs. 1, h. 



Paratype : Specimen ISM 1+16530. 



Derivation of name : The new species is named in honor of Profes- 

 sor Tom L. Phillips, University of Illinois, in recognition of his con- 

 tributions to our knowledge of Pennsylvanian age plants and his encourage- 

 ment of young paleobotanists. 



Discussion . — The form genus Rhodeopteridium (formerly known as 

 Rhodea) is well characterized by the highly dissected foliage. The genus 

 is nevertheless artificial and several distinct kinds of fructifications 

 have been found on different species of Rhodeopteridium, None of those 

 fructifications is identical with the one found in the Spencer Farm Flora. 



The fructifications of Rhodeopteridium phillipsii are preserved 

 as casts. The bean-shaped bodies are surrounded by a very thin edge of 

 lamina. Thus, we would interpret them as seeds rather than sporangia. 



