scholarly journals II. On the structure and affinities of fossil plants from the palæozoic rocks. V. On a new type of sphenophylaceous cone (Sphenophyllum fertile) from the lower coal-measures

1906 ◽  
Vol 198 (239-250) ◽  
pp. 17-39 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Considerable Importance ◽  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
The Family ◽  
New Type ◽  
Extinct Group ◽  
Coal Measures

One of the most striking results of palæobotanical research has been the discovery that in Palæozoic times a class of Vascular Cryptogams existed, quite distinct from any of the three main groups of Pteridophyta with which we are familiar in the recent flora. This class, the Sphenophyllales, while showing in certain respects a clear affinity with the Equisetales, in other characters rather approaches the Lycopods, and some botanists have endeavoured to trace a relation to the Ferns. The work of the last few years has pointed to a connection between this extinct group and the recent Psilotacese; some authors have gone so far as to include the latter in the Sphenophyllales. So far as fossil members are concerned, the class is represented by two genera only—the extensive and comparatively well-known genus Sphenophyllum , ranging from Devonian to Permian, or, perhaps, Triassic times, and the more recently discovered Cheirostrobus from the Lower Carboniferous, of which only the fructification is at present known. Each of these genera must be regarded as representing a distinct family within the class. Spheuophyllum , indeed, is a “genus” only in name, embracing, if we judge by the fructification, several types of generic value. The object of the present communication is to describe a newly discovered fossil strobilus, clearly belonging to the family Sphenophylleæ, but presenting new features of considerable importance.

scholarly journals On the structure and affinities of fossil plants from the palæozoic rocks.—V. On a new type of Sphenophyllaceous cone ( Sphenophyllum fertile ) from the lower coal-measures.

1905 ◽  
Vol 74 (497-506) ◽  
pp. 314-315
Author(s):  
Dukinfield Henry Scott
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Fossil Plants ◽  
New Type ◽  
The One ◽  
Coal Measures

The class Sphenophyllales, of which the fossil described is a new representative, shows on the one hand clear affinities with the Equisetales, while on the other it approaches the Lycopods; some botanists have endeavoured to trace a relation to the Ferns. The nearest allies among recent plants are probably the Psilotaceæ, which some writers have even proposed to include in the Sphenophyllales.

VI.—The Carboniferous Succession in the Forest of Dean Coalfield

1912 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 417-422 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Franklin Sibly
Keyword(s):  
Short Distance ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Comprehensive Account ◽  
Preliminary Account ◽  
Coal Measures ◽  
Future Date

The following preliminary account is presented as the result of several weeks of field-work on the northern and eastern margins of the Forest of Dean Coalfield, carried out partly in 1910 and partly in the present year. The area which I have examined lies almost wholly within Sheet 43 S.E. of the 1 inch Geological Survey Map (Old Series), but extends a short distance into Sheet 43 S.W. In portions of this area, the Lower Carboniferous rocks have been studied in detail and mapped. The Coal Measures, however, have as yet been examined only in their relation to the Lower Carboniferous strata. The present communication is, therefore, confined to a demonstration of the important unconformity which exists between the Coal Measures and the Lower Carboniferous rocks, together with a brief description of the latter. I am continuing my investigations, and I hope to give at some future date a more comprehensive account of the geology of the coalfield. In the meantime, the following outline may be of interest.

A new genus and species of anthracosaur amphibian from the Lower Carboniferous of Scotland and the status of Pholidogaster pisciformis Huxley

1975 ◽  
Vol 269 (900) ◽  
pp. 581-637 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
New Genus ◽  
New Genus And Species ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Lower Jaw ◽  
The Family ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
The Status ◽  
Coal Measures ◽  
Composite Restoration

The isolated skull of a Lower Carboniferous anthracosaur labyrinthodont from the Midlothian coalfield was formerly but erroneously attributed to Pholidogaster pisciformis . It is now redescribed after ‘Airbrasive’ development as the holotype of a new genus and species. The anthracosaur agrees in a number of diagnostic cranial characters with the embolomerous forms of the Coal Measures but other characters, particularly those of the braincase and lower jaw, suggest relationship to the Seymouriamorpha. Its cranial anatomy could well be antecedent to that of both these groups and the sparse evidence available suggests close relationship to the American Mississippian anthracosaur Proterogyrinus . A new classification of the Batrachosauria is presented with a major subdivision into Anthracosauria and Seymouriamorpha. The former group comprises the newly proposed infraorder Herpetospondyli to include the Lower Carboniferous forms, together with the infraorders Embolomeri and Gephyrostegoidea. It is concluded that while no batrachosaur with an otic notch could be a reptile ancestor a primitive ‘notchless’ anthracosaur could be. The cranial anatomy of Pholidogaster pisciformis is then redescribed, after complete ‘Airbrasive’ preparation of the holotype skull. The holotype, like the anthracosaur, comes from the Gilmerton Ironstone of the Edinburgh region, but the earlier holotype skull of Otocratia modesta , long considered to be an ichthyostegid, is also attributed to Pholidogaster . After redescription of ‘ Otocratia ' a composite restoration of the Pholidogaster skull is presented. The nature of the dermal ornament, the post-parietal-supratemporal suture, the absence of tabular horns and the nature of the post-cranial skeleton all demonstrate that Pholidogaster is an early temnospondyl labyrinthodont in no way closely related to anthracosaurs. It is closely similar to the American Mississippian form Greererpeton burkemorani Romer, notably in the presence of large premaxillary fangs and the absence of otic notch and intertemporal. Both may be attributed to the family Colosteidae. It is concluded that there is no strong evidence of close relationship between the colosteids and the Devonian ichthyostegids.

scholarly journals I. On the organisation of the fossil plants of the coal-measures. Part XVII

1890 ◽  
Vol 47 (286-291) ◽  
pp. 294-296
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Coal Measures

In 1873 the author described in the ‘Phil. Trans.’ an interesting stem of a plant from the Lower Carboniferous beds of Lancashire, under the name of Lyginodendron Oldhaminm . He also called attention to some petioles of ferns, more fully described in 1874 under the name of Rachiopteris aspera .

scholarly journals III. On the organisation of the fossil plants of the coal-measures.--Part XV

1889 ◽  
Vol 180 ◽  
pp. 155-168 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Bundle ◽  
Transverse Section ◽  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Generic Term ◽  
Coal Measures

Some years ago M. Renault described some specimens of petioles of Ferns, which he identified with Corda’s genus Zygopteris , identical, in part, with Cotta’s genus Tubicaulis . In my memoir, Part VI., I described, from the lower Carboniferous rocks of Lancashire, two of M. Renault’s species, viz., Zygopteris Lacattii and Z. bibractensis ; but, from an unwillingness to multiply genera based only upon the ill understood fragments of imperfectly known plants, I proposed ( loc. cit ., p. 677) the provisional adoption of the neutral generic term Rachiopteris for a considerable number of these objects, which appeared to be either rhizomes or petioles of Ferns. Subsequent researches have, I think, shown the wisdom of doing so; at all events, further discoveries, which I now propose to put on record, unmistakably confirm my opinion. In the same memoir ( loc. cit ., p. 173) M. Renault described a rhizome, with petioles, the latter of which closely resembled those of Corda’s genus Anachoropteris , and to which the French palæontologist gave the name of Anachoropteris Decaisnii . But the structure of the rachis of this plant, especially of the transverse section of its vascular bundle, was wholly different from that of any plant previously observed. Having obtained a stem identical with this Anachoropteris , but without any petioles connected with it, I figured my specimen in my memoir, Part VI., Plate 58, fig. 51, where I described it as closely resembling M. Renault’s Anachoropteris Decaisnii .

XXVII.—Fossil Plants of the Calamopitys Type, from the Carboniferous Rocks of Scotland

1925 ◽  
Vol 53 (3) ◽  
pp. 569-596 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Scott
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Present Communication ◽  
Lower Carboniferous

During the last few years Dr R. Kidston, F.R.S., has kindly entrusted to me for investigation certain specimens of fossil plants, showing structure, mostly from Lower Carboniferous horizons in Southern Scotland.Four of these plants are dealt with in the present communication, namely:Calamopitys radiata, sp. nov.Calamopitys zonata Kidston, in MS. (now Endoxylon zonatum).Bilignea solida Kidston.Bilignea resinosa, sp. nov.It will be understood that all the specimens were in Dr Kidston's hands in the first instance; the sections were cut under his direction, and he himself had determined the chief points in the structure of each before I began my observations. It only remained for me to work out the details, and to form my own views as to the probable affinities of the plants.

scholarly journals I. On the structure and affinities of fossil plants from the palæozoic rocks.—On cheirostrobus, a new type of fossil cone from the lower carboniferous strata (calciferous sandstone series)

1897 ◽  
Vol 189 ◽  
pp. 1-34 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
New Type

The higher Cryptogamic Flora of the Palæozoic period was exceedingly rich compared with that of our own day. Confining our attention to those Cryptogams in which the fructification has the form of a definite cone or strobilus, we find that at least eight distinct types of such strobili are already known from the primary rocks, leaving out of account all minor differences of a merely specific value, and ignoring imperfectly-known forms. From the recent Flora we could not obtain more than three equally distinct classes of Cryptogamic cones. The fossil strobili at present discovered group themselves under three categories,— the Lycopodiaceous, the Equisetaceous or Calamarian, and the Sphenophyllaceous The two former coincide with well-known recent orders, while the last belong to a purely fossil group, at present only known from the Palæozoic formations, and so far of undetermined affinities.

scholarly journals X. On the organization of the fossil plants of the coal-measures. — Part IV. Dictyoxlon, lyginodendron, and heterangium

1873 ◽  
Vol 163 ◽  
pp. 377-408 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Good Deal ◽  
Carbonaceous Matter ◽  
Fossil Plants ◽  
Lower Carboniferous ◽  
Narrow Zone ◽  
Coal Measures ◽  
Thin Wedge

On February 20th, 1866, Mr. Binney gave to the Literary and Philosophical Society of Manchester a brief description of a new plant from the Lower Carboniferous beds of the neighbourhood of Oldham. The following extracts from the ‘Proceedings’ of the Society embody some of the chief points of that description. “It evidently belonged to the genus Pinites of Witham, since changed by Endlicher and Brongniart into Dadoxylon .” It “has a medullary axis composed of irregular polygonal cells separated by intervening spaces vertically, and thus forming a kind of discoid pith.” “This is separated from lunette-shaped bundles of hexagonal tubes arranged in a convex form from the pith inwards, and lessening in size as they pass outwards into wedge-shaped masses of four-sided subhexagonal cellules arranged in radiating series, and divided by large medullary rays or bundles, which appear to originate in the lunette-shaped masses. On the outside of this internal radiating cylinder are other lunette-shaped bundles similar to those in the inside.” “Then comes a narrow zone of lax tissue, which has been a good deal disarranged. Outside this are some thin wedge-shaped bundles of cellules full of dark carbonaceous matter, and arranged in radiating series of varying sizes, separated by lax tissue, probably represent­ing the bark of the tree.”

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document