EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 19 



Kids ton (1923) mentioned the foot stalk of the pinnules of P. 

 reussii. However, the foot stalk can be seen only in some specimens. 

 The broad pinnules especially appear to be attached to the axis with a 

 wider part of their base. 



In all three known species of Palaeopteridium 9 the anadromic 

 (posterior) basal pinnule is narrower and longer than any of the other 

 pinnules. This characteristic is also present in the specimens from 

 Spencer Farm. Kidston (1923) furthermore reports "aphleboid posterior 

 basal pinnules forming three lobes with sharper teeth." This arrange- 

 ment might occur in the lower portion of a leaf, but has not been ob- 

 served in the Illinois material. 



Two species belonging to Palaeopteridium were described under 

 the generic name Archaeopteris from the Rushville flora: A. stricta, 

 Andrews (1875) and A. denticulata, Lesquereux (1880). Neither has in- 

 tercalary pinnules, and both show all other characteristics of the genus 

 Palaeopteridium. Specimens coming from the type locality of both species 

 have been studied, including the holotype of A. striata (specimen at 

 Marietta College). A. denticulata was never figured, and no holotype 

 was assigned, but the specimens studied were identified by Lesquereux 

 and D. White [specimens in the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago: 

 first specimen UP 135 1 * (= UC ^+01^3 = No. 319 Lacoe Coll.); second speci- 

 men UP 1200 (= No. 319 Lacoe Coll.)]. Neither species mentioned above 

 differs from the other or from P. reussii; they are therefore put in 

 synonymy here. Andrews (1875) did not describe the teeth on the upper 

 margin of the pinnule. However, in the specimens these teeth are clearly 

 present. Lesquereux (1880) stated correctly that there were no inter- 

 calary pinnules. However, the catadromic (posterior or proximal) basal 

 pinnule is attached directly at the base of the pinnule axis and might 

 thus confuse the observer. 



One specimen of P. reussii (IU-277) in the collection of the 

 University of Indiana comes from the base of the Pennsylvanian below 

 Cataract Lake Dam (NW^ NW^, Sec. 13, T. 12 N., R. 5. W. ) in Putnam County, 

 Indiana. 



Three species, Palaeopteridium reussii , P. macrophyllum, and P. 

 sessilis, have been described in this genus. The measurements available 

 have been summarized in table k. The genus is known from Illinois, In- 

 diana, Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania in the United States and from 

 Staffordshire (Great Britain), the Ruhr District (Germany), and the 

 Pilsen Basin (Czechoslovakia) in Europe. P. reussii was known from the 

 Westphalian (up to the Westphalian C) in Europe. Its range now has to 

 be extended down to the Namurian B. P. sessilis occurs in the Ruhr Dis- 

 trict from the Namurian C to the Upper Westphalian B. 



Gulpenia limburgensis Gothan and Jongmans in_: Jongmans 

 Text fig. 7D, E; pi. 5, figs. 1-1* 



Description . — Small cuneiform pinnules (or leaves) spirally at- 

 tached to a small axis; appear to alternate; pinnules lacerated or toothed 

 with open dichotomous venation; pinnules bend upward and often cover the 

 base of next higher pinnule; pinnules h to 8 mm long. Axis 0.6 to 1.0 mm 

 thick. Superficial similarity with Sphenophyllum, but pinnules clearly 

 alternating in side view. 



