Geology and paleontology / by B.K. Emerson [and others].

Date:
[1910]
Catalogue details

Licence: In copyright

Credit: Geology and paleontology / by B.K. Emerson [and others]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    249/318 (page 151)
    living species incline to be fimbriate or erose, but they appear to be practically entire in the fossil form under consideration. On some of the pieces of matrix there are numerous detached coni- ferous leaves, but it is not known whether they belong to this genus. Picea (branches), pi. xxiv, fig. 3; pi. xxv, figs. 3, 4. The collection contains several branches showing the characteristic leaf-bases of this genus. The finding of cones and branches is thus proof positive of the presence of this group of trees. The leaves have not been detected with certainty, yet there are numerous detached leaves that may well have belonged with these branches. Picea? (seed). pi. XXXIII, fig. 1. Notwithstanding the abundance of conifers in this collection, only the single seed here figured has been observed. This, as may be seen, is nearly perfect, being 11 mm. in length, with the wing 4 mm. broad. The nuclear portion is about 3 mm. in diameter. It is practically impossible to distinguish this seed from that of a Pinus, but since cones and branches of Picea are abundant, and only a few questionable leaves of Pinus are present, it seems logical to refer it to the former. Pinus? (leaves), pi. xxiii, fig. 2. On several pieces of matrix there are numerous detached leaves that in all probability belong to Pinus. They are between 4 and 5 cm. in length, about 2 mm. in width and have narrowed, sharp-pointed distal ends. There is, however, no indication of their aggregation into bundles. Pinus? (scales), pi. xxiv, fig. 1. The collection contains a single piece of matrix on which are pre- served what appear to be detached scales of the cone of a Pinus. They are of a nearly regular oblong shape, 14 to 17 mm. long and 6 to 9 mm. broad. Occasionally they are a little narrower at one end and very slightly pointed. They were evidently veiy thick, for the actual substance is represented in places by a heavy coaly layer. There is some evidence of the presence of furrows in which the two seeds were contained, but this is not conclusive.