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ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY U8RARY

G&v

^/f

STATE OF ILLINOIS

DEPARTMENT OF REGISTRATION AND EDUCATION

An Early Pennsylvanian Flora with
Megalopteris and Noeggerathiales
from West-Central Illinois

Richard L Leary
Hermann W. Pfefferkorn

Prepared in cooperation with the
Illinois State Museum, Springfield

ILLINOIS STATE

Jack A. Simon, Chief

CIRCULAR 500

GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

Urbana, IL 51801
1977

Digitized by the Internet Archive

in 2012 with funding from

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

http://archive.org/details/earlypennsylvani500lear

ILLINOIS GEOLOGICAL
SURVEY U8RARY

An Early Pennsylvanian Flora with

Megalopteris and Noeggerathiales

from West-Central Illinois

Richard L. Leary and Hermann W. Pfefferkorn

AN EARLY PENNSYLVANIAN FLORA WITH

MEGALOPTERIS AND NOEGGERATHIALES

FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Richard L. Leary1 and Hermann W. Pfefferkorn2

ABSTRACT

The Spencer Farm Flora is a compression- impression
flora of early Pennsylvanian age (Namurian B, or possibly
Namurian C) from Brown County, west-central Illinois. The
plant fossils occur in argillaceous siltstones and sand-
stones of the Caseyville Formation that were deposited in
a ravine eroded in Mississippian carbonate rocks. The
plant-bearing beds are the oldest deposits of Pennsylva-
nian age yet discovered in Illinois. They were formed be-
fore extensive Pennsylvanian coal swamps developed.

The flora consists of 29 species and a few prob-
lematical forms. It represents an unusual biofacies, in
which the generally rare genera Megalopteris , Lesleya,
Palaeopteridium, and Lacoea are quite common. Noegger-
athiales, which are seldom present in roof- shale floras,
make up over 20 percent of the specimens. The Spencer Farm
Flora is an extrabasinal (= "upland") flora that was grow-
ing on the calcareous soils in the vicinity of the ravine
in which they were deposited.

It is suggested here that the Noeggerathiales may
belong to the Progymnosperms and that Noeggerathialian
cones might be derived from Archaeopteris-like fructifica-
tions. The cone genus Lacoea is intermediate between
Noeggerathiostrobus and Discinites in its morphology.

Two new species, Lesleya cheimarosa and Rhodeop-
teridium phillipsii , are described, and Gulpenia limbur-
gensis is reported from North America for the first time.

INTRODUCTION

The Spencer Farm Flora (table l) differs from other Pennsylvanian
floras of the Illinois Basin. Many genera and species in the Spencer
Farm Flora either have not been found elsewhere in the basin or are very

•'-Curator of Geology, Illinois State Museum, Springfield.

2Formerly of Illinois State Geological Survey; presently at Department of Geology,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia.

- 1 -

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

TABLE 1— SPECIES FOUND IN THE SPENCER FARM FLORA IN
BROWN COUNTY, ILLINOIS

LYCOPSIDS

SPHENOPSIDS

FERNS

NOEGGERATHIALES

PTERIDOSPERMS

CORDAITALES

PROBLKMATICA

Page
6

Lepidodendron wortheni

Annularia cf. vernensis
Annular ia cf. asteris
Asterophyllites longifolius
Asterophyllites cf. equisetiformis
Mesocalamites cf. cistiiformis
Calamostachys andanensis

Alloiopteris gracillima
Alloiopteris cf . quercifolia
Dactylotheca aspera

Lacoea seriata
Palaeopteridium reussii
Gulpenia limburgensis

Megalopteris dawsoni
Megalopteris ovata
Lesleya cheimarosa spec. nov.
Alethopteris lonchitica
Sphenopteris preslesensis
Eusphenopteris morrowensis comb
Lagenospermum sp .
Telangiopsis sp .

Rhodeopteridium phillipsii spec
Holcospermum sp.

Cordaites cf. principalis
Samaropsis sp . A
Samaropsis sp. B
Samaropsis sp . C
Cordaicarpus sp. A
Cordaicarpus sp. B

cf. Mariopteris
cf. Eremopteris

rare in other floras. Flora similar to the Spencer Farm was first ob-
served in western Illinois by White (1908), who gave a preliminary list
including the nomen nudum "Lacoeia." White (l93l) suggested that this
flora grew on the limestone plains of western Illinois. Leary (1973) re-
ported on the systematic position and reconstruction of Lacoea.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA!! FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

The material used in this study comes from the northeastern edge
of an outlier of Pennsylvanian strata that is separated from the main
area of Pennsylvanian deposits by the erosion of the La Moine River Val-
ley (text fig. l). The collecting sites are in northeastern Brown County,
Illinois (Rushville, Illinois 15-Min. Quad.; NW^ SW^ NW^ SW^ Sec. 12,
and NE&; SE^ NE^ SE^ Sec. 11, T. IN., R. 3 W. ) , on the bluffs of the La
Moine River (formerly "Crooked Creek"). One locality is along the road
that runs northwest-southeast and parallels the river; the exposure is
15 meters northwest of the turn of the road. A second locality is lo-
cated in a small ravine about 75 meters west of the first locality. The
exposures at both localities are at the same elevation and stratigraphic
position. The specimens described in this paper are housed in the col-
lections of the Illinois State Museum (ISM).

Acknowledgments

We wish to acknowledge the assistance received from the Spencer

family, who donated specimens to the

^rr^ ......

•* V ^ w / 1

^ ' A '

/ v i

/ (i

hCfc y

Y'l

i
ILLINOIS

■4 i\
* t

J
)

0 100 Km

V^-) V*r

/ Pennsylvanian Rocks

This Reporl

Text fig. 1 - Map shoving the relation
of the Spencer Farm locality to the
outcrop area of Pennsylvanian rocks.

Illinois State Museum and allowed
the authors to collect on their
farm.

We wish to thank Dr. Tom L.
Phillips of the University of Illi-
nois and Dr. Sergius H. Mammay, U.S.
Geological Survey, for their en-
couragement and for reviewing our
manuscript. Dr. Russell A. Peppers,
Illinois State Geological Survey,
helped with paleobotanical and strat-
igraphic problems. Material was
loaned by Dr. Dwayne D. Stone, Mari-
etta College, Ohio, and by Dr. Herman
F. Becker, The New York Botanical
Garden. Mr. Rudolf Ewald, Datteln,
Germany, helped us with the deriva-
tion of the new specific names. Dr.
Leo J. Hickey, Smithsonian Institu-
tion, kindly supplied us with photo-
graphs of some of Lesquereux's type
specimens.

GEOLOGY

Erosion of the sub-Pennsylvanian
limestones in the area of the Spen-
cer Farm produced a very irregular
surface with relief of at least 12
meters. The earliest Pennsylvanian
deposits filled low areas only. They
are discontinuous and vary greatly
in thickness and lithology. The de-
posits described in this report rep-
resent the early filling of a ravine
in the Mississippian limestone and

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

PENNSYLVANIAN

Text fig. 2 - Geologic interpretation of cross section through the Spencer
Farm locality.

dolostone. The early Pennsylvania]! deposits were, as they are today,
located between fairly steep bluffs of the St. Louis and Salem Limestones
(text fig. 2). The geology of this locality has been described by Leary
(I97^a).

The geologic position of the flora-bearing beds is not directly
obvious in the field because much of the area is covered and the Penn-
sylvanian as well as Mississippian strata are essentially flat lying.
The first impression in the field is, therefore, that the plant-bearing
beds are overlain by the Salem and St. Louis Limestones. The flora and
the irregular predepositional surface, however, are clear indications
of the Pennsylvanian age of the plant-bearing beds.

Caves , sinkholes , and channels containing Pennsylvanian age shale
and sandstone are present in Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian lime-
stones in Rock Island (Savage and Udden, 1921), Whiteside (McGinnis and
Heigold, 191k), La Salle (Willman, 19^2), and Kankakee (Bretz, 19^0)
Counties. Plant megafossils have been found in deposits in Rock Island
County since the last century (Worthen and Shaw, 1873). Caves containing
Pennsylvanian age material are known from Missouri; Upshaw and Creath
(1965) described a spore flora of early Pennsylvanian age from these de-
posits. Brill (1973) reported a linear deposit bearing fragmentary Penn-
sylvanian plant fossils in St. Louis County, Missouri, and he interpreted
it as a fossil valley.

Leckwijck, Stockmans , and Williere (1955) described a locality
in Belgium that shows many similarities to the Spencer Farm site. In
that locality Namurian shales, which were deposited in solution cavities
in Vis£an limestone, preserved an unusual flora that is known from only
a few other places.

Stratigraphy

A composite stratigraphic section of the deposits in the vicinity
of the fossil locality is shown in text figure 3. Information on local

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

stratigraphy is found in Harvey
(196*0, Reinertsen (196*0, and
Leary (l9T^a).

The Warsaw Shale of Missis-
sippian age is the oldest forma-
tion observed in the report area.
It is exposed in a small creek
southeast of the collecting local-
ities, several hundred meters
southwest of the point where the
creek enters the La Moine River.
The Warsaw consists primarily of
light gray, bluish gray, or green-
ish gray calcareous or dolomitic
shale. In some places it contains
one or more beds of light gray
earthy limestone that are massive,
lacking obvious bedding planes,
and that scale off in thin blocks
upon exposure. Thin beds of dolo-
stone, siltstone, and sandstone
are interbedded with the shale.
Contact with the overlying Salem
Limestone is gradational.

The Salem Limestone is exposed
in the area of the collecting lo-
calities, forming part of the

POPE CREEK COAL

BABYLON SS.

Covered interval

Plant
fossils

d»W^^/V^^^^^*WyN^t^^^rf

WSA^WA^VW^^V^^A^V

z3^^Wi

^ST LOUIS LS.

SALEM LS.

WARSAW SH.

m U

Text fig. 3 - Stratigraphic column of
the rocks in the vicinity of the
Spencer Farm locality.

sides of the ravine in which the fossil-bearing Pennsylvanian sediments
accumulated. The Salem Formation is predominantly a brown to light
brownish gray limestone or dolostone. The limestone is dense to argil-
laceous, silty or even sandy, and commonly occurs in irregular thin beds,
This limestone or dolostone may give way to a light gray or greenish
gray dolomitic siltstone or sandstone, or a light greenish gray calcare-
ous or dolomitic sandy shale that closely resembles the Warsaw. The
Salem is 10 to ik meters thick.

The youngest Mississippi an formation in the report area is the
St. Louis Limestone. Only part of the formation is present, pre-Penn-
sylvanian erosion having removed at least the upper portion, and in most
areas, all of the formation. The St. Louis is a light gray, dense to
lithographic limestone containing small amounts of white to light gray
chert. Thin beds of light greenish gray shale are interbedded with the
limestone. The limestone commonly is brecciated, consisting of angular
fragments of light gray, dense limestone in a matrix that is darker gray
and weathers rusty brown. The maximum thickness of the St. Louis ob-
served in the immediate area is h meters.

The fossil-bearing strata are the lowermost Pennsylvanian depos-
its in the area and belong to the Caseyville Formation. They consist of
very irregularly interbedded siltstone, fine-grained sandstones, and
shales deposited in steep-sided depressions within the Mississippi an
limestones, primarily the Salem Limestone. The siltstones are gray and
well sorted; however, lenses of coarse quartz sand grains in a matrix of

6 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

silt and clay occur. The sandstones are gray, veil sorted, and composed
of quartz; the shale lenses are gray. Where -weathered, the shales, silts
and sandstones become ochre to rust brown. The bases of some sandstone
beds are conglomeratic with clay pebbles dominating. This lithology,
together with the irregular and wavy bedding of the coarse cross-strati-
fication, indicates deposition in rapidly moving water. Further indica-
tions of deposition in such water are the twisted and distorted plant
fossils which often cross bedding planes. That the plants were brought
in by fast-moving water is also indicated by the fact that they are most
common in the coarser beds.

Overlying the fossil-bearing strata is a rust-colored shale. It
overlaps the top of the Salem and caps the hill between the two collecting
localities. Its thickness and exact stratigraphic relationship are not
known; however, it probably underlies the Babylon Sandstone Member of
the Abbott Formation. The Babylon Sandstone in the report area is approx-
imately h meters thick, although elsewhere it is as much as 8 meters
thick. It is composed almost entirely of medium to coarse quartz grains.
For the most part, the sandstone is light gray to yellowish gray, but
the weathered surface may be iron-stained a reddish brown. The upper
part is thick and irregularly bedded to massive, and contains Stigmaria
and Lepidodendron impressions. The lower part is cross bedded and con-
tains carbonaceous partings. To the northeast, the sandstone intertongues
with shale.

Overlying the sandstone is approximately 30 cm of underclay and
shale, light near the top and darker and sandier near the base. A thin
coal is exposed where a road crosses a creek about 300 m south of the
collecting localities. The coal ranges in thickness from ^5 cm to only
8 cm. The thinning is apparently the result of post-lithif ication chan-
neling, as the base of the coal is even and the upper contact very ir-
regular. The coal has been tentatively identified as the Pope Creek
Coal Member of the Abbott Formation.

The hiatus between the Mississippian and Pennsylvanian beds is
apparently quite long in Brown County. The St. Louis Limestone is the
youngest Mississippian unit preserved, and the entire Chesterian Series
is missing. The first widespread deposit of Pennsylvanian age is the
Babylon Sandstone Member of the Abbott Formation. Thus the Caseyville
is represented only by the plant-bearing beds.

The St. Louis Limestone has been tentatively correlated with the
cu III a in Europe (Collinson, Scott, and Rexroad, 1962). The Babylon
Sandstone is of Westphalian B age. Thus the upper part of the Visean,
the entire Namurian, and the Westphalian A are missing between these two
units. This gap represents a time span of 10 to 20 million years (Fran-
cis and Woodland, 196k), The plant-bearing strata could have been de-
posited any time during that interval. Determination of the age of the
flora is thus crucial for the dating of these beds.

LYCOPSIDS

Lepidodendron wortheni Lesquereux

Text fig. l+A; pi. 1, fig. 1

The single specimen of Lepidodendron from the Spencer Farm lo-
calities consists of nine leaf cushions in an area 3.5 by 1.5 cm. The

EAELY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

length-to-width ratio is about 2:1; the cushions are 1.3 to 1.5 cm long
and 0.5 to 0.7 cm "wide. Each cushion merges with those above and below.
There are transverse wrinkles on the lover portion of nearly all
the cushions, and wrinkles are visible on the upper part of one. A
prominent ligule scar, a short vertical slit, is seen just above the
leaf scar. The outlines and details of the leaf scars are not clear.
They are located just above the center of the cushions and appear to be
nearly as wide as the cushions.

SPHENOPSIDS
Annular i a cf. ve mens is
Text fig. 1+B, C; pi. 1, fig. h

Description. — The leaves, averaging 12 in a verticil, are 5 mm
long and 1 mm wide. Each leaf is slightly longer than the internode.
The leaves are conspicuously lanceolate, more or less uniform in width,
taper toward the base and toward the acute apex. They are equal in
length, radiate from the node; they are straight or slightly curved. The
midrib is 0.3 mm wide and is longitudinally striated. The stem is 1 mm
wide, with inter nodes 3 to k mm long.

Discussion. — A single specimen referable to this species has
been found at Spencer Farm. At first glance, the leaf arrangement ap-
pears to be that of Asterophyllites , an impression held originally by
Arnold (19^+9) regarding his specimen from Michigan. However, closer
examination of the Illinois specimen reveals that some leaves radiate
from the axis at an angle greater than 90°. Abbott (1958) interpreted
the leaves as radiating from the node in a single plane and transferred
this species to Annularia.

The number of leaves per whorl is not determinable from the Il-
linois specimens. A maximum of six is observed although it is certain
that others were originally present but are not visibly preserved. The
ratio of width to length of the leaves is more like that of Annularia
than Asterophyllites , as originially noted by Arnold (19^9, p. 183) and

Abbott (1958, p. 326)

Annularia cf. aster is

PI. 1, fig. 6

One specimen of Annularia has been found in the Spencer Farm
Flora; it shows only a single whorl of leaves. The leaves are 3 to k mm
long and about 1 mm wide. The midvein is not visible. There are eight
leaves in the whorl, which is 7 mm in diameter.

The specimen is similar to A. asteris in the number of leaves in
the whorl, in overall size, and in the general shape of the leaves.

Asterophyllites longifolius (Sternberg) Brongniart
PI. 1, fig. 5

The linear leaves are 1.5 mm wide, except for a single specimen
(ISM kl6l2k) that has leaves only 0.25 to 0.375 mm wide; and they are

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

l ./

( \ l\

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

preserved up to 5 cm long. They extend from the stem at angles of 30°
to ^5°. In three specimens, they overlap two nodes. The leaves and
stems are striated.

In our specimens, only six to eight leaves are visible in each
verticil, "but this may be the result of preservation. In other aspects,
the specimens conform to published descriptions of A. longifolius.

Asterophyllites cf. equisetiformis

Three very small specimens of Asterophyllites have been found in
the Spencer Farm Flora. They are too poorly preserved to allow a pre-
cise identification, but are similar to A. equisetiformis in overall
proportion and form. At least 12 leaves were present on each verticil.
The leaves extend from the axis at almost 90° and then curve upward.
They are narrow and slightly overlap the node above. The leaves are
7 mm long and 0.5 mm wide, and the midvein is approximately 0.2 mm wide.
Although no complete whorl is preserved, it is clear that originally
there were at least 12 leaves per whorl. The internode length is 2.0 mm.

Mesocalamites cf. cistiiformis (Stur) Hirmer
Text fig. UD, E; pi. 1, fig. 3

The Spencer Farm Flora contains 1^ specimens of calamitean pith
casts and impressions. All determinable data on these specimens are
given in table 2. The most meaningful characteristics are (l) the con-
tinuity of the ribs, (2) number of ribs per centimeter, and (3) length-
to-width ratio of the nodes.

On most specimens a majority of the ribs pass continuously across
the node whereas the others alternate. The narrow stems, however, which
bear the Calamostachys cones, do not show any alternating ribs. This
variation seems to exist only on very thin, fertile branches, and does
not indicate a specific or generic difference.

Calamostachys andanensis Stockmans and Williere
Text fig. i+F-I; pi. 1, figs. 2, 7

There are about ten specimens which can be attributed to Cal-
amostachys; apparently all of the specimens belong to one species.

Description. — Whorls of bracts alternate with whorls of sporang-
iophores. The sporangiophores bear four sporangia which were probably
attached to a plate. The axes of the sporangiophores form right angles
with the main axis and are attached in the middle between two whorls of
bracts. The measurements are given in table 3.

The specimens are well preserved in the siltstone and compaction
during early diagensis was slight. Nevertheless only a few characteristics

Text fig. k - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A, Lepidodendron
wortheni leaf cushions. B, C, Annularia cf. vernensis , C- partial re-
construction. D, E, Mesocalamites cf. cistiiformis . F-I , Calamostachys
andanensis , F- complete cone, G- cones attached to Mesocalamites cf. cis-
tiiformis, H- reconstruction of part of the cone, I- reconstruction, view
into one verticil. Bar scales are 5mm long.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

TABLE 2— MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIMENS OF MESOCALAMITES cf .
CISTIIFORMIS FROM THE SPENCER FARM FLORA

Internode

Number

Average

Accession

length

Width

Length/

Ridges/

width

Alternating

no.

(mm)

width

ridges

(mm)

Continuous*

Termination

416492

2.6

1.2

a/c

pointed

416493

17?

2.4

0.5

a/c

unclear

416432

2.5

20+

0.8

a/c

unclear

416606

4.5

20-25

0.5

a/c

unclear

416247

2.0

0.3

unclear

416605

28?

3±

20?

0.5

unclear

416262

16?

7-8

30-40

0.25-0.3

cont. (a/c?)

unclear

416352

ca . 5

0.4

a/c

pointed

416353

>1.4

10-12

0.8-1

a/c

pointed

416261

2.5-5

ca. 4

11±

17±

a/c

unclear

416495

20.5

3.5

ca. 6

6-8

0.4

a/c

pointed

The foil

owing be

ar Calamostachys

416487

4.0

0.3

cont.

416413

3.0

0.4

cont. ?

416511

3.0

0.4

cont .

—

* a/c = both alternating and continuous.

TABLE 3 — MEASUREMENTS OF SPECIMENS OF CALAMOSTACHYS ANDANENSIS
FROM THE SPENCER FARM FLORA

Specimen
no .

Length

of cone

(mm)

Width

of cone

(mm)

Length of

internodes

(mm)

Size of

Length

Length of

sporangia

of bracts

s p or angio spore

(mm)

416375

—

3.0

.6 x 1.2 x 1.0

416513

—

2.2

.8 x 0.8 x 0.5

416607

—

2.2

—

416413

2.0

1.5 x 1.0

416511

±20

2.5

—

416266

3.5

—

416609

—

416414

2.3

1 .0 x 0.7

4 1 64 1 6

±25

1 .4 x 0.8

416608

3.5

2.4

3.5

4.0

1.2

1.4

1.3
1.5

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 11

are preserved in any one specimen. One specimen gives the impression
that there were only four sporangiophores and six bracts per whorl. In
another specimen there are four sporangiophores and probably 12 bracts.
It is not certain whether the sporangia were attached to a plate or to
small extensions of the sporangiophore. In one specimen there seems to
be a plate, whereas in a second specimen the plate cannot be observed.
The cone has at its tip a little tuft apparently of four bracts. The
sporangia were oval and are now flattened.

Discussion. — The Calamostachys species described belongs to the
Mesocalamltes found in the same flora. There are three specimens that
show cones attached to the axis. Leggewie and Schonefeld (l96l) found
Calamostachys sengsensis associated with Mesocalamites cistiiformis .
Nine other species of Calamostachys that supposedly belong to Mesocal-
amites are known from the Namurian. Our specimens are similar in size
and characteristics to C. andanensis. All other species of similar
size can be excluded owing to differences in the shape of the bracts.
In general appearance the Spencer Farm material resembles C. binneyana,
which is known from petrifactions throughout the Upper Carboniferous.
However, C. binneyana has six sporangiophores per whorl and the bracts
are shorter than in our form. Purkynova (1970) reported C. ramosa from
the Namurian A of Czechoslovakia. Her figures and description fit our
specimen very well. However, Calamostachys ramosa was used for the
fructifications of Calamites carinatus (= Calamltes ramosus) , which oc-
curs in the Westphalian A to C (Boureau, 196^+, p. 273), and is quite
different from the Mesocalamites in the Spencer Farm Flora.

Remy and Remy ( 197 5b) demonstrated that material described as
Calamostachys represents two different organizational plans, in which
the vascularization of the sporangiophore differs. Our material does
not show the vascular bundle; therefore, we must retain the genus Cal-
amostachys sensu amplo.

FERNS

Alloiopteris gracillima (Newberry) D. White

Text fig. 5A-C; pi. 2, figs. 1-1*

Synonymy

1873 Odontopteris gracillima Newberry, p. 382-383, pi.
k69 figs. l-3a.

1908 Alloiopteris gracillima D. White, p. 269

Description. — Pinnules k to 5 mm long, 2 mm wide, inclined U50
toward the tip of the pinna; pinnule rhomb oidal-shaped, smaller pinnules
fused with neighboring pinnules; one vein enters each pinnule, and forks
twice; older pinnules splitting up into three lobes; some pinnules have
three teeth at the tip. Basal catadromic and anadromic pinnules are
aphleboid and lacerated; contain about 6 to 10 teeth. Pinna long, strap-
shaped, inserted at an angle of 35° to 70°; pinna more than 60 mm long
and 3 to 5 mm wide; pinna of lower order more than 200 mm long and more
than 100 mm wide; more than 26 pinnules on one side of a pinna.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA!! FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 13

Material. — The syntypes of Newberry (l'873.) are in the collection
of the New York Botanical Garden (NYBG). The "best-preserved specimen
(NYBG 59ll+ G) is the one figured by Newberry (l8T3) on plate k69 figure
3. Specimen NYBG 8320 G is figured on plate k69 figure 1. The speci-
men of plate k69 figure 2, could not be located. The specimens from the
Spencer Farm Flora have the ISM numbers 1*16509 , 1*16530, 1*16531, l*l61*3l*9
1*161*50, kl6k519 1*161+52, and 1*161*53.

Discussion. — Newberry (1873) recognized that this species did
not belong in the form genus Odontopteris . He believed, however, that
he should not make a new genus on the basis of one species. His descrip-
tion mentions that two veins enter the pinnules, and in plate 1*6, figure
2a, he even shows three veins originating on the pinna rachis. Examina-
tion of the syntypes shows that only a single vein enters the pinnules
and gives rise to one or two lateral veins. The splitting up of the
larger pinnules seems to occur along the veins, indicating that the
splitting is a post-mortem phenomenon.

Newberry (1873) mentioned a fertile specimen (NYBG 1970). The
specimen is small and does not preserve a sporangial or pinnule struc-
ture. It cannot be definitely identified. The pinnae are 3.5 mm wide
and strap shaped and can therefore be compared with A. gracillima.

Alloiopteris gracillima has a close similarity to A. plumosae-
formis 9 which was described by Gothan (I9I+I) from the Namurian B of
Germany. In A, plumosaeformis , however, the pinnules are smaller and
the tips of the pinnules are blunt. Gothan compares A. plumosaeformis
with A. sternbergi, which is, however, distinctly different by virtue
of the rectangular insertion of the pinna at the pinna-bearing axis. The
same is true for A. erosa (Lesquereux, 1880, pi. 1*1*, fig. l) , which fur-
thermore has concavely rounded recessions between the pointed lacerated
tips instead of acute tips like those in A. gracillima. A. thinnfeldi-
oides has larger pinnules and wider pinnae, but its outline is similar
to that of A, gracillima. A. radstockensis is similar to A, gracillima
in general aspect and in the fact that the vein dichotomizes shortly
after entering the pinnule. The two are different, however, in the
shape of the pinnule; A. radstockensis has rounded lobes, which do not
occur in A. gracillima.

Alloiopteris cf. quercifolia

This specimen (ISM 1*16536) is not preserved sufficiently for a
positive identification, but the general character of the well-pronounced

Text fig. 5 - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A-C, Alloiopteris
gracillima, A- basal aphleboid pinnule, B- pinnules in the middle of a
pinna, and C- pinnules showing venation pattern and breakup of pinnules
along veins. D, reconstruction of one pinnule of Dactylotheca aspera.
Bar scales are 5mm long. E, hypothetical steps in the evolution of noeg-
gerathialian cones: I- Archaeopteris-1 ike fructification; 2- Noegger-
athiostrobus; 3- Lacoea; and 4- Discinites .

Ik ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

axis and the short pinnae is more like A. quercifolia than any other
species of Alloiopteris . Measurements: pinna k mm long, 2 mm wide, 2
mm apart. Pinnules 0.8 mm long.

Dactylotheca aspera (Brongniart) Zeiller
Text fig. 5D; pi. 3, figs. 1-3

Description. — Frond two (or three) times pinnate. Pinnules 9 mm
long, 2.5 mm wide, attached 3.5 to k mm apart; shape and attachment
pecopteroid, slightly restricted at the distal side of the "base. Pin-
nules lobed with five lobes on each side, tip rounded, lobes rounded
and about 1.3 mm wide. Venation badly preserved, but apparently one
midvein with two unforked lateral veins per lobe„ Two to six sporangia
per lobe; sporangia elongated, small, 0.8 x 0.2 mm.

Discussion. — This species bears pecopteroid pinnules with elon-
gated, solitary sporangia that do not show any trace of an annulus. The
arrangement of the sporangia is typically that found in the fructifica-
tion genus Dactylotheca Zeiller. Dyotheca Hartung has also been used
for these forms, and they are similar to Renaultia Stur in general ap-
pearance. The fragmentary specimens at hand, which are preserved in a
relatively coarse matrix, do not allow a thorough revision. Thus for
the present paper, Dactylotheca is used.

Pecopteris aspera is known from the Lower Carboniferous to the
lower part of the Westphalian A (Remy and Remy, 1959, p. 63). Our speci-
mens compare closely with the figures of the same species from the
Namurian A of Czechoslovakia (Purkynova", 1970, pi. 39 9 figs. 6, 6a).
There is some similarity with Pecopteris (Senftenbergia) namurica Pur-
kynov£ (1970, p. 21^, pi. k09 figs. 3, 3a, 3b). There is some overall
similarity to Pecopteris (? Dactylotheca) oregonensis Arnold from the
Namurian of Oregon. However, the latter species has smaller pinnules
and thicker sporangia. Our specimens can also be compared with Renaultia
gracilis. The position of the sporangia is very similar to that in
R. gracilis but the sporangia are more elongated in our specimens.

NOEGGERATHIALES
( ? Progymnos perms )

The Noeggerathiales are a rare group of uncertain systematic po-
sition. The few forms belonging to this group are normally found in
small numbers and as fragmented specimens. In the Spencer Farm Flora,
however, they are the second most common group of plants after the
Pteridosperms. As the geologic position of this flora (ravine deposit)
indicates an "extrabasinal," or upland, flora and because Noeggerathiales
are extremely rare in roof-shale floras (l in ^000 specimens in the Il-
linois Basin), it is concluded that the Noeggerathiales were upland plants

In the Spencer Farm Flora, three species, Lacoea seriata, Palae-
opteridium reussii , and Gulpenia limburgensis , have been assigned to the
Noeggerathiales. Lacoea is without a doubt a noeggerathialean cone, and
Palaeopteridium has generally been regarded as a member of this group.
However, we are tentatively associating Gulpenia with the Noeggerathiales
for the first time.

EAELY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

The systematic position of the Noeggerathiales was always uncer-
tain, and different workers arranged them quite differently in the sys-
tem. Boureau (196I+, p. 1+81 ) lists the older suggestions. The Noeggera-
thiales were compared with Ferns, Gymnosperms , and Tmesipteris (Browne,
1933; Bierhorst, 1971). Other authors considered them to be of uncer-
tain position, and Boureau (1964) used a separate division, Noeggerathi-
ophyta. Beck (1976) suggested the possibility that the Noeggerathiales
might be the pteridophytic descendants of the Progymnosperms . We agree
with Beck that the external morphological characters of several Noegger-
athiales are very similar to the Archaeopteridales. The Noeggerathiales
are characterized by heterospory, by cones of radial structure, and, in
many specimens by wedge-shaped sterile pinnules (or leaves?) with open
dichotomous venation. The sterile foliage closely resembles that of
Archaeopteris . The heterospory is another characteristic common to
Noeggerathiales and Progymnosperms. Structural and palynological infor-
mation will be necessary to verify this hypothesis.

The age distribution of all fructification and foliage genera
that have any morphological similarities to Progymnosperms or Noeggera-
thiales is shown in text figure 6. The figure shows that such forms are
present throughout the Pennsylvanian and the lower Permian. It demon-
strates at the same time how incomplete the record is. Any ideas about
natural relationships between these genera would be premature. We do
not even suggest that all genera shown belong to the same order or class,

UPPER
DEVONIAN

Archaeopteris

PERMIAN

-Fructification

Foliage

Text fig. 6 - Stratigraphic ranges of foliage and fructifications of Progym-
nosperms, Noeggerathiales, and similar foliage. S = Saaropteris , N =
Noeggerathiostrobus , T = Tingiostachya, P = Palaeopteridium.

16 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

The fructification genera of the Noeggerathiales , Noeggerathi-
ostrobus Feistmantel, Discinites Feistmantel, and Lacoea Read 19^-6,
emend. Leary 1973 , can "be arranged in a form- evolutionary sequence that
requires only small transformations between the different forms (text

fig. 5E).

The line started possibly with a hypothetical form similar to
Archaeopteris . The pinnules of this hypothetical form would form Noeg-
gerathiostrobus after the formation of laminae (webbing). A shortening
of the axis between the attachment points of the fertile pinnules would
yield a fructification of the Lacoea type. Further shortening and fusion
of two pinnules would produce the disc-shaped sporangiophore of Discinites,
It has to be emphasized that this conclusion is purely hypothetical and
indicates only a possible trend.

Lacoea seriata Read emend. Leary
PI. U, figs. 6-8

Description. — Cone consisting of semicircular sporophylls, which
alternate on a rather thick axis. Sporophylls attached close to each
other, thus creating a very dense cone. Each sporophyll surface is
covered with numerous diamond-shaped sporangial scars arranged in oblique
rows forming a distinctive pattern. Margin of each sporophyll bends
toward the distal end of the cone and bears a fringed border. Sporophylls
often found detached.

Discussion. — The genus Lacoea was recognized by David White be-
fore 1908, but he never described it (White, 1908, p. 269). Read (19^6)
described Lacoea, but misinterpreted its morphology and systematic po-
sition. The genus was redescribed and reinterpreted by Leary (1973),
who recognized that it belongs to the Noeggerathiales.

Lacoea is in appearance very similar to Discinites. The pattern
of sporangial attachment and the fringed margin are identical. The only
difference is that Lacoea has semicircular sporophylls whereas Discinites
has disc-shaped sporophylls.

Lacoea has so far been found only in the lower part of the Penn-
sylvanian and has been reported or has been found in the following local-
ities :

Dutch Mountain, Pennsylvania (Read, 19^+6)

Youngs town, Ohio (Read, 19^6)

Rushville, Ohio (seen in photograph of collection specimen)

Brown County, Illinois (this report)

northwestern Illinois (D. White, 1908)

Rock Island County, Illinois (field observation)

In at least five of these six locations, Lacoea occurs with
Palaeopteridium reussii or a very similar form. Nemejc (l9*+l) reported
that Discinites and Palaeopteridium nearly always occur together and
concluded that there was at least a good chance that Discinites might be
the fructification of Palaeopteridium. It is possible that Lacoea is
just another fructification of Pal aeopteridi urn-like foliage.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA. FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Palaeopteridium reussii

(Ettingshausen) Kidston
Text fig. TA-C; pi. k9 figs. 1-5

Synonymy

1852 Asplenites Reussii ,

Ettingshausen, p. l6,
pi. 1, figs. 8 and 9

I869 Palaeopteris Reussii ,
Schimper, p. U78

v. 1875 Archaeopteris stricta,
Andrews, p. Ul8, pi.
1+9, figs. 2, 2a

v. 188 k Archaeopteris denti-
culata, Lesquereux,
P. 77*+

189 1+ Archaeopteris Reussii ,
Kidston, p. 2^2

191^ Archaeopteris Reussii ,
Kidston, p. 95, pi.
5, figs. 7, 7a

1923 Palaeopteridium Reus-
si9 Kidston, p. 201-
203, pi. 55, figs. 1-
3

v. 19^-9 Palaeopteridium Reus-

si9 Arnold, p. 219-
220, pi. 26, fig. 6

Description. — Outline of pin-
nules -wedge-shaped, spatulate, or
diamond-shaped (text fig. 7A-C).
Some pinnules have stalk-like base,
some are attached with a larger
part of the base. Open dichotomous
venation. Veins forking once or

Text fig. 7 - Fossil plants from the
Spencer Farm Flora. A-C, variation
of Palaeopteridium reussii pinnules
according to their position on the
frond or branch system. D, E, Gul-
penia limburgensis pinnules. Bar
scales are 5mm long.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

twice. Basal anadromic pinnule on each pinna longer and narrower than
normal pinnules. Only one vein enters each pinnule, but it may appear
as if there were two. The dentation of the outer margin of the pinnules
is very delicate and is not visible in some types of preservation. The
frond is twice pinnate as far as can be judged from the largest preserved
specimens. There are no intercalary pinnules ( "Zwischenfiedern," or
rachial pinnules) known. Other data are found in table k.

Discussion. — The pinnules of Palaeopteridium reussii show dis-
tinct differences according to their position in the leaf or branch sys-
tem (text fig. 7A-C). The pinnules that are narrower and smaller occur
near the tip of the frond. They have a somewhat Tingi a-like appearance.
The pinnules of more mature parts become wider and attain a diamond
shape ( rhomb ohedr al ) . The adaxial margin thus becomes more and more
parallel to the axis. In the widest pinnules, the margin rests on the
axis or even overlaps it. The wider pinnules overlap one another also.

TABLE U— COMPARISON OF MEASUREMENTS OF PALAEOPTERIDIUM SPECIMENS
FROM THE SPENCER FARM FLORA AND OTHER LOCALITIES

Palaeopteridium reussii

C~)

M 00
Dl CN

0 a

TJ •■-]

E oj
B

• 0)
Oh Z

P. sessilis
Leggewie, 1966
pi. 1, pi. 2

On •

— i 4-1

-a vo

t— 1 CNJ

o
c •

CN CO

<tn oo

—t -rH

c -

O LT>

.u m

TJ •
•H iH

t4 a

•H

cfl

•H CN

'O 1

C !=>
1— 1 1— 1

Spencer Farm
specimens

Rushville,

Ohio,
specimens

Pinnules

Length L (mm)

4-5.5

10,8,5

9,9,9,7,9,10,7,8

9,6.5,8

Width W (mm)

2.5-3

4.5

6,3,5

7,6,2.5,3.5,5,6

3,2,2.5

L : W

1.9

1.8

1.5

1.7

2.2

1.3-3.6 (2.0)

3.2

Distance between

centers of

pinnules (mm)

8,4,4,5

2.5

Angle of

attachment

35°-60°

40°

40°, 30°,
40°, 60°

35°

30°-55° (42°)

30°-40°

Pinna

Width (mm)

11,12

Distance between

pinna axes (mm)

12, 7

Angle of

attachment

50°-55°

55°-60°

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 Palaeopteridium9 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 1351* (= 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.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

Discussion. — The two fragmentary specimens found in the Spencer
Farm Flora are 7 and 8 mm long. This fragmentary state has "been typical
of the specimens found in Europe, too. The Illinois specimens are simi-
lar to but smaller than the specimens from the Netherlands and Belgium.
Considering the normal variability of plants, the size does not consti-
tute a taxonomic difference (table 5). Stockmans and Williere (1953)
could show on detached pinnules that the pinnules are relatively broadly
attached and have as many as eleven lobes. In lateral view (if the pin-
nules are attached to an axis), only about five lobes can be seen.

Gothan and Jongmans (in: Jongmans , 1927) described Gulpenia
limburgensis , but did not include a figure. In 1928 (in: Jongmans,
1928), they described it again without giving a generic diagnosis. In
19559 Stockmans and Williere (in.: Leckwijck, Stockmans, and Williere,
1955) described the genus Thonia from beds of the Namurian A. They men-
tioned the similarity between the two genera. The only difference is
that the pinnules of Gulpenia are deeply lacerated whereas those of Thonia
have only short teeth. Considering the fragmentary character of the
specimen and the small amount of information available, this difference
does not warrant the establishment of a new genus. It would probably
be more appropriate to transfer the only species of Thonia, Tm dentata,
to the genus Gulpenia.

In Europe, Gulpenia is known only from the Namurian A. The oc-
currence in Illinois constitutes the extension of its range into the
Namurian B. Gulpenia has been found in Limburg (The Netherlands ), near
Argenteau and Thon-Mosseroux (Belgium), and in Brown County, -Illinois
(U.S.A.). Gulpenia has always been found above an unconformity in the
basal beds of a sedimentary sequence with an unusual flora. In Belgium
it was found in sinkhole fillings at the base of the Silesian (European
Upper Carboniferous) section in a position very similar to that of the
Spencer Farm Flora. This position might indicate that Gulpenia was an
upland plant.

The natural relationship of the genus Gulpenia is uncertain. It
has been placed with the Noeggerathiales in this paper because the few
morphological features known do occur only in that group. The pinnules

TABLE 5— MEASUREMENTS OF GULPENIA AND THONIA

Name of plant:

Thonia dentata

Gulpenia

limburgensis

imburgensis

Locality:

lgium

Belgium

Illinois

Ill

inois

Author:

ockmans and

Stockmans

and

This report

Year:

lli(>re, 1955

Williere ,

1953

ISM A16A98

ISM

A16A99

Width of whole plant

A nun

5-8

5 mm

A mm

Thickness of axis

0 . A mm

0 . 7 mm

0 . 0 mm

Distance of pinnules

2 . 3 mm

2 . 3 nun

2 . 0 nun

Length oi pinnules

2 . 3 mm

3.5-3.8 mm

3 . 0 mm

Numher oi Lobes

4-5 (?)

7-11

(?)

A (?)

5 (?)

Lengl hoi l obes

0 . 5 mm

1. 5-5.0

L.8-2.0 mm

1 . 5 mm

Widl h oi Lobea

0.2 mm

0.25

0. 3 nun

0.2 mm

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 21

(or leaves ?) are broadly attached and are not spread out in the plane
of the frond. They resemble the fertile leaves of the noeggerathialean
cones in their three-dimensional arrangement.

PTERIDOSPERMS
Genus: Megalopteris (Dawson) Andrews

Synonymy

1828 Cannophyllites, Brongniart, Prodr., p. 130

(nomen rejiciendum; see Stafleu et al., 1972,
p. 376)

I865 Neuropteris, Hartt in: Bailey, p. 550

1871 Neuropteris {Megalopteris) Dawson, p. 51

1875 Megalopteris (Dawson) Andrews (nomen conservandum;
see Stafleu et al. , 1972, p. 376) p. ^15

Description. — Simple pinnate leaf, pinnules often attached at
irregular distances and at irregular angles, giving the impression of a
pedate frond near the top; pinnules strap-like or lanceolate, generally
large; strongly decurrent base of pinnule with unequal sides; midvein
thick, longitudinal striations often present; lateral veins dense and
forking one to three times, curved or straight.

Discussion. — Megalopteris has repeatedly been compared with
Alethopteris, There are indeed a number of similarities, like the ve-
nation in some species, the decurrent base of the pinnules, and the
overall shape of the pinnules. However, there are distinct differences.
Alethopteris has pinnules that are very regular in their angle of at-
tachment, and the leaf shows several orders of pinnate divisions whereas
the leaf of Megalopteris is only simple pinnate.

The notion that Megalopteris has a pedate leaf has been derived
from a specimen of Megalopteris fasciculata Lesquereux, which was fig-
ured by Lesquereux, 1879 (Atlas), on plate 2k , figure 2. The specimen
(USNM 1170^0 is reproduced photographically here on plate 6, figs. 1
and 2. The leaf appears to be pedate at the base, but is clearly pin-
nate higher up. All specimens at our disposal were pinnate.

Pinnules vary greatly in size within one leaf. This variation
is expressed in nearly every characteristic of the pinnules. In several
species the angle of lateral veins, for instance, changes within one
pinnule. It is thus quite difficult to find any consistent characteris-
tics that are useful in the delineation of species. There are 15 species
of Megalopteris mentioned in the literature, but only six seem to be
distinguishable on the basis of reasonably objective characteristics.
Only two species, Megalopteris dawsoni and M. ovata9 occur in the Spen-
cer Farm Flora.

22 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

Megalopteris has "been reported from only a few localities:

Wyoming Hills, Iowa - Noe*, 1925

Port Byron, Illinois - Lesquereux, 1880

Brown County, Illinois - this report

Greene County, Indiana - Canright, 1959; Wood, 1963

Putnam County, Indiana - oral communication, C. A. Arnold,

collected in 1936
Rushville, Ohio - Andrews, 1875; Cross, 1962
Grand Ledge, Michigan - Arnold, 193^
Saginaw, Michigan - Arnold, 193^-
Logan County, W. Va. - Arnold, 19^7
New River, W. Va. - D. White, 1895
St. John, New Brunswick, Canada - Dawson, 1871; Stopes,

Pictou, New Brunswick, Canada - Bell, 19^0

In nearly half of these localities Megalopteris occurs with a
peculiar flora which is distinctly different from a normal coal basin
flora and probably lived on rather dry soils.

Megalopteris has never been found with any fructifications at-
tached. Any conclusion about its systematic position must be based on
indirect evidence. It is here included in the Pteridosperms because
the leaf morphology compares with such well-established pteridosperm
genera as Alethopteris and Taeniopteris . Florin (1933) showed that the
structure of the epidermis and stomata of Megalopteris was very similar
to that of Neuropteris and other pteridosperms .

Megalopteris dawsoni (Hartt) Andrews
Text fig. 8A; pi. 6, fig. 3

Synonymy

I865 Neuropteris sp. nov. , Hartt in_: Bailey, p. 137

1868 Neuropteris dawsoni, Hartt in: Dawson, p. 551,
fig. 133

1871 Neuropteris (Megalopteris) dawsoni, Hartt in:
Dawson, p. 51, pi. 7, figs. 191-19^

1875 Megalopteris dawsoni, Andrews, p. Ul5

1875 Megalopteris hartti , Andrews, p. hl6, pi. h69
figs. 1 and la

Text fig. 8 - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A-P, venation pattern in
Megaloptoris , A- M. dawsoni, B- M, ovata, C- Lesleya cheimarosa, D- M. fasciculata,
EC, reconstruction of a leaf* of M. ovata, V, drawing of the holotype of Lesleya
cheimarosa showing the variation in the shape of the lateral veins in different
parts of the leaf. Bar scales are 5 min long.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 23

2k ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

1888 Megalopteris dawsoni, Dawson, p. 76, fig. 26

191^ Megalopteris dawsoni, Stopes, p. 53-55, pi. 13,
fig. 3*+ (first photograph)

Arnold (193*0 and Wood (1963) also figured specimens that can
probably be attributed to M. dawsoni .

Description. — The pinnules are strap shaped and have an acute
tip. The margin is entirely or slightly undulate. The pinnules are
more than 70 mm long (as long as 150 mm according to estimates) and at
least 20 mm wide. The pinnules become unequal sided at the base, with
a width of only 7 to 12 mm. The angle of attachment of the pinnules
ranges from 16° to 46°. The midrib is strong and 1 to 2 mm wide. The
lateral veins fork two or three times. There are 21 to 30 veins per cm
on the margin, with an average of about 23. The lateral veins are curved
in the first half of their course and beyond that continue straight to
the margin. They form an angle of 12° to 20° with the midvein, of 35°
to h5° in the middle, and of 75° to 85° (90° in one case) with the margin,

The measurements are based on seven specimens. The variation is
certainly higher than indicated here and must be taken into account in
establishing a synonymy.

Megalopteris ovata Andrews
Text fig. 8B, E; pi. 7; pi. 6, fig. k

Synonymy

1875 Megalopteris ovata Andrews, p. *+179 pi. *+7,
figs. 1, 2

iQQk Megalopteris dentata Lesquereux, p. 833 (no figure)

Description. — The pinnules are lanceolate and have an acute tip.
The margin is entire to slightly crenulate. The pinnules are 30 to 70
mm long and 7 to 13 mm wide. They are unequal sided at the base and
only k to 7 mm wide. The angle of attachment of the pinnules ranges
from 18 ° to 52°. The midvein is distinct and O.k to 0.7 mm wide. The
veins fork one to three times in many specimens, but are not clearly
visible. Round bodies occur in the laminae between the veins. They are
probably glands and are not always preserved. There are ik to 23 veins
per cm on the margin. The lateral veins are curved and form angles of
10° to 15° with the midvein, k^° in the middle, and k0° to 60° with the
margin.

Discussion. — M. dentata was never figured but Lesquereux (188U)
gave a relatively detailed description. The specimens (no. 783 of the
Lacoe Collection) mentioned by Lesquereux in the original description
are now in the collection of the Field Museum of Natural History in Chi-
cago. They fit well the description of M. ovata given by Andrews (1875).

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA^ FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 25

Megalopteris minima has a venation which is very similar to that
of M. ovata. Another species that seems to be closely related to M. ovata
is Megalopteris abbreviata.

Lesleya cheimarosa sp. nov.
Text fig. 8C, F; pi. 6, fig. 5; pi. 8, figs. 1-3

Description. — Simple leaf of considerable size, about 20 cm long
and k cm vide, lanceolate with acute to attenuate tip. Base long and
narrow (acuminate). Margin entire. Venation pinnate, midrib thick, 0.7
to 2 mm wide; lateral veins fork once or twice; lateral veins S-shaped
with a 10° to 20° angle at the midvein, 30° to 70° angle in center, and
k0° to 70° angle on margin; 2k to 36 veins per cm on margin.

Holotype : ISM 4161+88 a, b, on pi. 8, figs. 1, 2

Paratypes : ISM 1+16508, I+I6526

Derivation of name: From the Greek x£iyaPP°s (= cheimarros),
periodical floods in rivers.

Discussion. — Lesleya cheimarosa is fairly common in the Spencer
Farm Flora but only one complete leaf has been found so far. In text
figure 7E the variation of the shape of the lateral veins on the holo-
type is shown. The density of the veins also differs in different parts
of the lamina. It is not certain whether the asymmetrical base is typi-
cal or is, rather, a result of preservation.

This species is attributed to the genus Lesleya because the leaf
is simple and not part of a compound frond. Lesleya was first described
from Illinois from the level of the Rock Island (No. l) Coal Member.
All subsequent discoveries, however, were reported from France and Italy
from beds of Westphalian D, Stephanian, or Permian age. The oldest form
reported outside the United States is Lesleya weilerbachensis Remy and
Remy ( 197 5a) from the upper Westphalian C of the Saar area in Germany.

Alethopteris lonchitica (Schlotheim) Sternberg
Text fig. 9A-D; pi. 9, figs. 1-6

Description. — Pinnules linear-lanceolate or oblong, length to
width ratio between 2.3:1 and 5:1 (average 3.2:1, based on Ik specimens);
apex obtuse to acute; base decurrent on the proximal side and deeply in-
cised on the distal side, both features highly variable in shape. Pin-
nules not connected with each other in lower parts of pinna, but become
confluent towards the apex. Pinnules attached obliquely 25° to 85°
(average about 60°).

Midvein thick, nearly reaching the apex. Lateral veins varied
in their form, normally forked once, rarely simple or forked twice; their
angle at the midvein ranges from 30° to 75° (average 50°); their angle
with the margin ranges from I+50 to 90° (average 70°). There are 32 to
50 veins per cm on margin (average ko) .

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 27

Discussion. — Alethopteris lonchitica is very common in the Spen-
cer Farm Flora. Several terminal portions have been found shoving the
long, lanceolate terminal pinnule. Some specimens are complete enough
to show the change from simple pinnatifid structure at the tip to two
orders of pinnatifid form farther down.

A single specimen (ISM ^16129) of the near-terminal portion of
a pinna has unusually long, lanceolate pinnules (text fig. 9D). The
longest has a length of 3.2 cm and a length to width ratio of 5.3:1.
Similar size variation is found in other species of Alethopteris (for
example, A. serli).

Alethopteris lonchitica is most common in the Westphalian A and
B, but is known from Namurian B through the Westphalian D (Gothan and
Remy, 1957, p. 118). Our specimens compare closely with the forms found
in the Namurian B of Vorhalle, Germany.

Sphenopteris preslesensis Stockmans and Williere
Text fig. 10A, B; pi. 10, figs. 1-5

Description. — Pinnules appear to be pedately divided, whereas
the veins have a pinnate division. The incisions between the lobes are
deep, and there is in many specimens a central incision that divides the
pinnule into two halves. The tips of the lobes are rounded to acute,
but often appear to be truncated owing to preservation. The size of the
pinnules vary somewhat depending on their position in the frond or in
the pinna. Pinnules are h to 6 mm long and 2.5 to k mm wide. They are
attached at angles from less than 50° to 70°. Pinnules have k to 10
lobes; 6 lobes are most common.

Pinnae are 9 to 20 mm long and 5 to 10 mm wide. They are attached
at angles of 50° to 90°. Pinna axes are 0.3 to 0.6 mm wide, straight
to flexuous, and faintly alate. Axes of lower order are about 1 mm wide.

No aphleboid pinnules were observed.

Discussion. — Sphenopteris preslesensis is one of several Sphenop-
teris species with highly lacerated foliage that occur in the Namurian
and lowermost Westphalian. It is characterized by the fan-shaped ap-
pearance and nearly bilateral symmetry of the pinnules. Sphenopteris
preslesensis is known from the Namurian B of Belgium and Germany.

Eusphenopteris morrowensis (D. White) van Amerom comb. nov.
Text fig. 11A, B, D; pi. 11, figs. 1-1+

Basionym: Diplothmema morrowensis

19^+3 David White, Lower Pennsylvanian species of
Mariopteris , Eremopteris , Diplothmema, and
Aneimites from the Appalachian region: U.S. Geolog-
ical Survey Professional Paper 197-C, p. 99-100,
pi. 3k, fig. 1; pi. 35, fig. 1

Text fig. 9 - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A-D, Alethopteris lonchitica.
Bar scales are 5 mm long.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 29

Description. — Size and shape of pinnules highly varied; depend-
ing on the position in the pinna. Pinnules slightly to strongly lobed;
general outline diamond- shaped to ovoid; three to seven lobes per pin-
nule. At the base, pinnules are decurrent on the proximal side and
deeply incised on the distal side; toward the tip of the pinna, pinnules
tend to be attached along their entire base. Tips of pinnules obtuse,
appearing nearly acute in some specimens.

Lobes are generally rounded and diamond shaped, and a continual
morphogenic development from lobes into pinnules can be observed. The
size of pinnules ranges from 5 x 3.7 mm to 12 x 9 mm, with an average of
8x7 mm. Pinnules barely touch each other or have space between them.
They are attached obliquely and form an angle of 70° to 80° on the acro-
scope side and 50° to 60° on the basiscope side. Basal pinnules are
sometimes larger in more mature parts of the frond, where they appear
somewhat mariopteroid.

Venation is a mixture of open dichotomous and pinnate. The mid-
vein is straight to undulate in the lower two-thirds of the larger pin-
nules and is not different from lateral veins in smaller (younger) pin-
nules. Only one vein enters larger pinnules, but in lobes and smaller
pinnules several veins may enter. In larger pinnules the first distal
lateral vein runs parallel to the pinna axis and can thus create the im-
pression that the secondary lateral veins coming from it are actually
entering the pinnule directly from the pinna axis. Lateral veins are
curved outwards. Venation is distinct but not very coarse.

Between the veins there are numerous round bodies (probably
glands) that are distributed over the entire lamina (pi. 11, fig. 2).
These glands are visible only in certain kinds of preservation and thus
cannot be used as a descriptive characteristic. Construction of frond
unknown, but at least three times pinnate.

Discussion. — Eusphenopteris morrowensis is one of the most com-
mon fossils in the Spencer Farm Flora and therefore can be well charac-
terized. However, all specimens are fragments, even where they cover
entire bedding planes, and it is therefore not possible to reconstruct
the frond. It is nevertheless clear from the shape of the pinnules that
this species belongs to the genus Eusphenopteris , which was recently re-
vised by Amerom (1975).

Our material is best comparable with Diplothmema morrowensis ,
which have therefore to be transferred to the genus Eusphenopteris •
Amerom (1975 9 p. 62) actually mentions D. morrowensis as closely compar-
able to E. aldrichii (D. White) Amerom without proposing the new combina-
tion. Thus, Amerom (1975) recognized the proper position of the species,
and the formal change is made here with the approval and under the name
of Dr. van Amerom.

Amerom (1975) distinguishes several sections within the genus
Eusphenopteris . Our material belongs in the section of E. neuropteroides ,
The Spencer Farm material is also comparable to Sphenopteris cheathami ,

Text fig. 10 - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A, B, Sphenopteris pres-
lesensis . C-G, Rhodeopteridium phillipsii. Bar scales are 5 mm long, except
where noted.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

EARLY PENNSYLVANIAN FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 31

especially specimen USNM 15025 from Tracy City, Tennessee, which was
identified by Lesquereux. However, the figures of S. cheathami in Les-
quereux (l88U) and D. White (19^3) do not compare well with our material.

The foliage of Eusphenopteris morrowensis occurs with a small
seed (Lagenospermum - Nudospermum) and a Telangiopsis-li~ke male fructi-
fication on the same bedding planes. An organic connection between the
foliage and either of the fructifications could not be established in
any specimen, but the association suggests the possibility of a natural
connection. The same association of foliage and fructifications has
been observed in other species of Eusphenopteris (Amerom, 19759 fig. 7).

There are observable similarities between the foliage of Eus-
phenopteris morrowensis and the reconstructed foliage of Schopfiastrum
decussatum (Stidd and Phillips, 1973). Even though sizes and shapes of
the pinnules are somewhat different, the two plants are alike in three
other, more important aspects. The venation pattern is identical.
Glands in both forms are in the same position on the lamina. The inter-
rupted transverse striations (= transverse inner cortical plates) are
present. For instance, the transverse striation is visible in the axis
shown in plate 11, figure 1.

Lagenospermum sp.
Text fig. 11C, D; pi. 12, figs. 5, 6

Description. — Ellipsoidal seeds, 6.25 mm long, 3.38 mm diameter.
Faint ridges (probably eight in all) extend along the length of the
seed.

Discussion. — Three small ellipsoidal seeds are intimately as-
sociated with a pinna of Eusphenopteris morrowensis (specimen ISM kl6^22)
One of the seeds is located immediately to the left of the pinna rachis
and at the base of a pinnule. It is possible but not certain that it
is organically attached to the rachis. Two seeds are to the right of
the rachis, one seed partially overlapping the other and both lying upon
the laminar portion of the pinnule. They do not appear to be attached
to the frond. An isolated fourth seed agrees in all characteristics
with the other three.

The form genus Lagenospermum was established for small ellip-
soidal seeds that appear externally similar to seeds belonging to the
petrifaction genus Lagenostoma but that do not preserve the morphologic
characteristics necessary to justify their inclusion in that genus. The
generic name Nudospermum has also been used for similar seeds. Nudosper-
mum has been considered to be the seed of Lyginopterideae as well as
Eusphenopterideae (data summarized by Amerom, 1975, fig. 7). The seeds
in the Spencer Farm Flora are only slightly larger than Nudospermum kid-
stoni and are therefore very similar to a seed that has been linked to
the genus Eusphenopteris .

Text fig. 11 - Fossil plants from the Spencer Farm Flora. A, B, Eusphenopteris mor-
rowensis. C, Lagenospermum sp. shoving indications of several ribs. D, L. sp.
occurring with E. morrowensis. E, F, two interpretations of Telangiopsis sp. Bar
scales are 5 mm long, except where noted.

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.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 33

The sterile foliage shows certain similarities to Rhodeopteridium
tenue (Gothan) Purkynova" (1970). However, R. phillipsii is strictly pin-
natifid and shows a much more regular construction of the leaf.

Holcospermum sp.
Text fig. 12A; pi. lk9 figs. 6, 7

A single fragment of this genus has been found; it is 12 mm wide
and is preserved to a length of 10 mm, but it is obvious that this is
less than one-half the original length. The nucule was probably ovoid-
elongate and radially symmetrical. The four visible ribs are 0.5 mm
wide; eight were probably present around the entire circumference. This
fragment is similar to specimens of H. mansfieldi figured by Arnold
(19^9, pi. XXIX, fig. 2) from Michigan and by Wood (1963, p. 11, fig. 3)
from Indiana.

CORDAITALES
Cordaites cf. principalis

PI. 15, figs. 1, 2

Cordaites leaves are a common element in the Spencer Farm Flora.
However, they are fragmentary and poorly preserved. The surface is
marked by coarse linear ribs separated by one to three fine ribs. The
striation is the only characteristic on which the tentative identifica-
tion can be based.

Platyspermic Seeds

Two of the most commonly encountered genera of the platyspermic
seeds are Samaropsis and Cordaicarpus. Samaropsis Goeppert includes im-
pressions of flat, more or less circular seeds. The seed is surrounded
by an oval or heart-shaped border called a wing, which is formed by the
soft tissue of the sarcotesta. Cordaicarpus Geinitz includes seeds that
are similar to Samaropsis , but that do not possess a definite sarcotesta
or that show only a very narrow one. Table 6 gives the available data
about the specimens, which are classified on the basis of overall shape.
It should be pointed out that the Cordaicarpus sp. B and the "miscella-
neous nucelli" may in fact be parts of other forms, separated only be-
cause of incomplete preservation.

The platyspermic seeds are treated under Cordaitales because
some of them belong to Cordaites. It should be realized that a connec-
tion has not been shown in most cases and that the arrangement is partly
a matter of convenience.

Samaropsis sp. A
Text fig. 12B;pl. 15, figs. 5, 6, 7

These seeds are large, ovate to heart-shaped with a wide wing.
In the better preserved specimen (pi. 15, fig. 6), the base is cordate
and the nucellus is marked with lines roughly paralleling the margin.
Also visible on this specimen is a V-shaped slit at the apex of the sar-
cotesta. On one specimen (pi. 15, fig. 5), a fairly wide (0.5 mm) line

3^ ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

TABLE 6— MEASUREMENTS OF PLATYSPERMIC SEEDS OBSERVED
IN THE SPENCER FARM FLORA

Nucellus

Overall

Sarcotesta

Accession

width

length

width

length

width

no.

(mm)

416365

Sp.

A <

416361

416463

14
20

—

0 J
S

416468

Sp.

B «<

416469

22?

40?

416364

14?
11

16?
17

—

416462

Sp.

C <

416494

11
8

12
8

16
9

18
15

416610

0.5

Sp.

A <

416467

416522

7.5

0.5

416134

0.5

416362

7.5

0.5

Sp.

B <

416611

4.5

0.5

416300

—

416363

4.5

—

CD -H

416465

h a) <

416612

rH a
.CD 3

416360

•H

416489

(sclerotesta ?) separates the nucellus from the wing, or sarcotesta.
This species is similar to Cardiocarpus dilatatus Lesquereux (l88U, p.
806-807, pi. 110, fig. 2); in our specimens, however, the sarcotesta ap-
pears to possess a more acute point. In their overall shape and large
size, our specimens are similar to Cardiocarpon akroni Read (19^6, p. 22.
pi. 2, fig. 5), although the latter is slightly larger and the form of
the apex is not clear.

Text fig. 12 - Fossil seeds occurring in the Spencer Farm Flora. A, Holcospermum sp,
B, Samaropsis sp. A. C, Samaropsis sp. B. D, Samaropsis sp. C. E, Cordaicarpus
sp. A. F, Cordaicarpus sp. B. G, H, lEremopteris. I, iMariopteris . Bar scales
are 5 mm long.

36 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

Samaropsis sp. B
Text fig. 12C; pi. lk9 figs. 1, 2

Only a single -well-preserved specimen of this form has been found
in the Spencer Farm Flora; two poorly preserved specimens are similar
enough to be included. The nucellus is heart shaped and large (20 mm
vide and 25 mm high). The sclerotesta and sarcotesta have elongated
apices, the sarcotesta being pear shaped. In size and some other as-
pects, notably the lack of residue or relief, these resemble Cardiocar-
pon phillipsii Read (19^6, p. 22, pi. 2, figs. 1-3). However, Read des-
cribed the wing of C. phillipsii as having a distinct V-shaped slit ex-
tending to the apex of the nucellus. Read also stated that the wing
measures only 0.5 cm at the micropylar end; on our specimen, however, the
sarcotesta is more than 1 cm wide at the apex. Lesquereux (l88U) also
described and figured a very large, elongate form, Carpolithes perpusillus
(pi. 110, fig. 22-2U). The variation within his figures and incomplete
preservation of our specimens do not permit further comparison.

Samaropsis sp. C
Text fig. 12D; pi. lk9 fig. 3

This group is represented by two relatively small oval seeds
and the outline of a third. The nucellus is almost completely circular,
the apex being only slightly pointed. The overall form is circular,
the sarcotesta being 2 to 3 mm wide all around the seed except for pos-
sibly a broad V-shaped incision at the apex.

These seeds bear strong resemblance to Cardiocarpon annulatum
Newberry, Cardiocarpus diverges Lesquereux, and C. patens Lesquereux.
The differences between these are minor variations in the form of the
wing at the base and/or apex, differences that may be the result of pre-
servation.

Cordaicarpus sp. A
Text fig. 12E; pi. 15, figs. 3, h

Two specimens are preserved which show an ovate nucellus with a
small point at the apex and a slightly cordate base, a sclerotesta (?)
closely fitting at the base of the nucellus but extending considerably
above the nucellus, and a narrow sarcotesta (?) around the entire body.
The "wing" is not considered wide enough to warrant placing the seed in
the genus Samaropsis . The overall form is elongated oval except for the
slight indentation at the base. The best specimen shows much relief,
but where the specimen is broken, it consists of a very thin film and
thus the relationship of the present form to the original shape is un-
known.

Cordaicarpus sp. B
Text fig. 12F; pi. 15, figs. 8, 9

This group includes seeds with a small (5 x 5 mm) heart-shaped
nucellus and a slightly larger cordate to tear-drop-shaped sclerotesta,

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS 37

the latter being 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm vide on the sides, thicker at the apex
and thinner at the base. In some instances the nucellus, as is the sur-
rounding sclerotesta, is preserved only as a thin, flattened carbon film.
In other cases, the nucellus is preserved in three-dimensional form and
is about 1 to 2 mm thick. Such differences are probably preservational
and make comparison of specimens difficult. These specimens bear a
strong resemblance to Cardiocarpon late-alatum Lesquereux.

PROBLEMATICA

The Spencer Farm Flora contains a number of fragmentary speci-
mens that do not belong to any of the species described above. They
are too incompletely preserved to be identified with any degree of con-
fidence. However, these fragments may be recognizable if more material
becomes available from here or other locations. Therefore, we include
short descriptions and figures.

Specimens ISM kl63Q0 and ISM kl62^>8 (text fig. 121; pi. 5, fig.
5; pi. lk9 figs. k9 5) are Sphenopteris- or Afariopteris-like. The pin-
nules are subtriangular to triangular to lanceolate with an only slightly
lobed margin on the largest pinnule. The pinnules are arranged obliquely
and alternately on the pinna rachis. The pinnules are decurrent, but
the base is constricted slightly on the lower side, more so on the upper.
The nervation of the two specimens is indistinct; the midvein originates
at an acute angle and arches outward. The veinlets divide at least once
as they curve outward to the margin. The measurements are:

ISM U16258 ISM U16380

pinnule length (mm) 9, 12, lk9 12+, Ik 6, 7

pinnule width (mm) k9 h9 k.59 U.5, U.5 2, 3, 3

Another specimen, ISM Ul6529 (text fig. 12G, H; pi. 5, fig. 6),
is an Eremopteris-1 ike form. It has an alated rachis; pinnules are al-
ternate and overlapping. The pinnule bases are very narrow and decur-
rent. The pinnules are deeply trilobed, and each lobe is further dis-
tinctly subdivided, each sublobe being either linear or slightly tri-
angular .

It appears that a single vein enters each pinnule and divides
one or two times to give rise to two or three nearly parallel veins in
each lobe.

DISCUSSION

The Spencer Farm Flora is remarkable with respect to its mode of
occurrence and the taxa present. The flora did not grow in a coal-form-
ing environment, and the differences between this flora and normal roof-
shale floras are thus in part due to the environmental differences.
White (1931) was the first to point out that the basal Pennsylvanian
floras of this kind were growing on the limestone plains and hills in
western Illinois in early Pennsylvanian time. Leary (197^+a, 197 Vb) gave

38 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

more detailed descriptions and reconstructions of the environment. At
the present, the Spencer Farm Flora is the oldest Pennsylvanian flora
known in the Illinois Basin, and certain differences from other floras
are due to age differences.

During late Mississippian and early Pennsylvanian time a karst
topography developed in northern Illinois with sinkholes or ravines which
had very steep sides. Plants grew on the less eroded limestone hills.
Rain storms would then wash "broken-off plant fragments into the ravines
and sinkholes. The floods would carry away the coarser elastics and re-
work the clays into clay pebbles. During times without rain a fine mud
was deposited; it does not contain any plant megafossils. This recon-
struction can be developed from the geologic position and the sedimen-
tology at the site. The setting explains the unusual composition of
the flora. The plants were growing on calcareous soil that might have
been rather dry during part of the year. In contrast, the plants we
find in roof-shale floras were growing on alluvial soils that were not
limy but were often marshy and wet the year round.

Some taxa that occur only rarely in other beds in the Illinois
Basin are common in the Spencer Farm Flora. These are Megalopteris ,
Lesleya, Palaeopteridium reussii , and Alloiopteris gracillima. These
are the taxa that probably belong exclusively to an upland flora.

A count of the occurrence of genera is presented in table 7.
This count was done during two collecting trips and does not include all
specimens at our disposal. The pteridosperms are clearly dominant, and
the Woeggerathiales are the second most common group. Cordaitales,
Sphenopsids, and Ferns are much less common, but are well represented.
Remarkable is the scarcity of Lepidodendron, which is represented by
only three specimens. In roof-shale floras Lycopsids are usually more
common (generally around 10 percent), and Noeggerathiales are not pres-
ent at all. The predominance of Pteridosperms, however, can be observed
in the majority of roof-shale floras (Peppers and Pfefferkorn, 1970;
Pfefferkorn, Mustafa, and Hass , 1975).

Comparable Floras

There are a few floras known which contain some of the taxa
found in the Spencer Farm Flora. Table 8 summarized the occurrence of
the more important taxa in these floras.

White (1908) gave a list of a flora from northwestern Illinois
without citing a precise locality. This floral list is very similar to
the list of the Spencer Farm Flora if a few names are translated into
their modern equivalents. White's flora certainly came from a similar
setting and might be comparable in age. White mentioned Danaeites,
which does not occur in this stratigraphic interval.

Lesquereux (l88*+, Coal Flora III, p. 852) lists a flora found
in a sinkhole near Port Byron, Illinois. Megalopteris is present, but
several of the other taxa are not.

Another flora that has similarities to the Spencer Farm Flora
occurs in Perry County near Rushville, Ohio (Rushville itself is situ-
ated in Fairfield County). Reports on the flora were given by Andrews
(1875), Lesquereux (l88U), and Cross (1962). Even though this flora

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA. FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

TABLE 7— -FREQUENCY OF GENERA IN THE SPENCER FARM FLORA

GROUP
Genus

Number of
specimens

Percentage
of genera

Number of
specimens
of group

Percentage
of group

LYCOPSIDS

Lepi dodendron

SPHENOPSIDS

Mesoca.la.mi tes

Annularia

Asterophyllites

FERNS

Alloiopteris
Dactylotheca

NOEGGERATHIALES

Palaeopteridium

Gulpenia

Lacoea

PTERIDOSPERMS

Alethopteris

Sphenopteris + Eusphenopter is
Megalopteris + Lesleya
Rhodeopteridi um

CORDAITALES

Cordaites

17
1

117

<1%

6
<1

3
<1

10
26

227

<1%

Total

454

100%

454

100%

occurs in a different type of rock (black shale) and contains more lycop-
sids, it has several aspects in common with the Spencer Farm Flora
{Megalopteris, Palaeopteridium, and Lacoea). However, the typical Namuri-
an forms contained in the Spencer Farm Flora have not been found.

Newberry (1873) described a flora from Youngstown, Ohio, that
shows some similarities and Read (19^6) reported a flora from the Dutch
Mountain area in Pennsylvania with Lacoea and a species of Palaeopteridium,

In the Pocahontas Formation of Virginia and West Virginia no com-
parable floras have been reported. Megalopteris does occur there, but
it is rare.

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

The Spotted Ridge Flora from TABLE 8 — OCCURRENCE OF IMPORTANT
the Lower Pennsylvanian of Oregon TAXA IN FLORAS COMPARABLE WITH
was described by Read and Merriam THE SPENCER FARM FLORA*
(19^0), Arnold (1953), and Mamay
and Read (1956). The flora con-
tains Mesocalamites and a Pecop-
teris (p. oregonensis) that is
very similar to Dactylotheca as-
pera.

Ti dwell (196T) described a
flora from the Manning Canyon
Shale in Utah. This flora is of
early Pennsylvanian age and con-
tains a few forms comparable with
species of the Spencer Farm Flora.

Age of the Flora

Prior to the discovery of the
Spencer Farm Flora, the oldest de-
posits in the Illinois Basin could
be correlated with the Westphalian
A. Thus, it was assumed at first
that the Spencer Farm Flora could
be of the same age as other basal
beds. This was in agreement with
the Westphalian B age of the Baby-
lon Sandstone, which was in turn
derived from the correlation with
other plant-bearing beds in the
Illinois Basin.

However, preliminary inves-
tigations of the spore flora in

the host rock of the Spencer Farm Flora indicated a Namurian age (Russel
Peppers, oral communication). An analysis of the megaflora showed that
the flora is most likely of Namurian B age.

The Spencer Farm Flora is difficult to date because it grew in
an environment that is seldom represented in the fossil record. Strati-
graphic ranges have been established elsewhere for only nine of the 28
plants occurring in the Spencer Farm Flora. All of these ranges are
known from European coal basins only. Thus the ranges of those nine
taxa were plotted against the time-stratigraphic scale of the European
Carboniferous (text fig. 13). At first glance, the Spencer Farm Flora
would seem to be a mixture of several ages. However, because all of
the material comes from only two very close locations, this possibility
can be excluded.

If we assume that first occurrence is the most meaningful para-
meter in biostratigraphy, the conclusion would be that the flora is of
Westphalian A age and that the ranges of several Namurian forms would
have to be extended considerably. This conclusion would contradict the
overall Namurian character of the flora.

v£>

r~-

r—i

S-i

<T<

4-1

1=1

•H

T-\

,-J

1— 1

•H

5-1

Ct)

•>

•H

4-1

•H

■H

•u

4-1

1— 1

>->

Alloiopteris gracillima

Dactylotheca

Palaeopteridium reussii

Lacoea seriata

Megalopteris

Lesleya

Alethopteris lonchitica

Alethopteris

Orthogoniopteris

Neriopteris

Eremopteris

cf .

Sphenopteris

Mariopteris

cf .

Neuropteris

The lists are not complete because they are
based on the literature and on a few specimens
consulted in old collections.

EARLY PENNSYLVANIA FLORA FROM WEST-CENTRAL ILLINOIS

Namurian
> a? o

Westphalian
> CD o o

Lepidodendron wortheni

Asterophyllites
longifolius

Mesocolom/tes

Dactylotheca aspera

^ :

Sphenopteris preslesensis

Rhodeopleridium

Polaeopteridium reus si /

Gulpemo limburgensis

The long and differing ranges
of the nine taxa (text fig. 13)
led to the use of the concept of
concurrent ranges. Six forms occur
together in the Namurian B, ex-
cluding only three. Five are pres-
ent in the Namurian C, excluding
four. The numbers of concurring
taxa are even lower for the Namur-
ian A and Westphalian A. We have
thus to conclude that according to
material and information available
at present, the Spencer Farm Flora
is regarded as belonging to the
Namurian B or possibly the Namuri-
an C.

It follows that the range of
Gulpenia limburgensis would now be
Namurian A and B (c), the range of
Lepidodendron wortheni would be

Namurian B (c) to Westphalian D, and the range of Palaeopteridium reussii
would be Namurian B (c) to Westphalian C.

The plant-bearing beds at Spencer Farm are approximately equiv-
alent in age to the Pocahontas Formation in West Virginia. The flora
would therefore belong in zone k of Read and Mamay (196U). However,
none of the index fossils used for the definition of zone k occurs in
the Spencer Farm Flora because of the unusual biofacies of the flora.
On the other hand, the genus Megalopteris has been reported from zone 7.
The Spencer Farm Flora, however, occurs stratigraphically clearly below
the beds correlated in Illinois with zone 7. Megalopteris probably has
an extended range. This extension is indicated by the occurrence in
West Virginia of Megalopteris above the Fire Creek Coal, which lies at
the base of zone 5 (White, 1895 )'.

Text fig. 13 - Stratigraphic ranges in the
European Carboniferous of genera and spe-
cies occurring in the Spencer Farm Flora.
(Data from Gothan and Remy (1957), Fos-
silium Catalogus , and other sources.)
Dotted outline shows time of common oc-
currence of the majority of forms.

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS

1) The Spencer Farm Flora was found in the basal beds of the
Caseyville Formation (Pennsylvanian) . These beds were deposited in a
ravine eroded in Mississippian limestones. The plant-bearing beds are
thus the oldest rocks of Pennsylvanian age in the area and represent the
first deposits laid down after a hiatus.

2) The flora contains 29 species and a few problematical forms.
Nine taxa are identical with or directly comparable with European forms
with established stratigraphic ranges. Six of these have a concurrent
range indicating a Namurian B (or possibly Namurian C) age. Thus, at
present, Spencer Farm Flora is the oldest flora of Pennsylvanian age
known in the Illinois Basin.

3) The flora represents an unusual biofacies, in which generally
rare taxa (Megalopteris, Lesleya, Palaeopteridium , Lacoea) are common.

k2 ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

The Noeggerathiales, a very rare group, make up more than 20 percent of
the specimens. The plants represented in the Spencer Farm Flora -were
growing on calcareous soils surrounding the ravine in which they were
deposited. They are an extrabasinal (= "upland") flora which is distinct
from the basinal floras found in roof shales.

k) It is suggested here that the Noeggerathiales should perhaps
be classified as Progymno sperms . The noeggerathialian cones could be
derived from Archaeopteris-llke fructifications. Within the noeggera-
thialian cones a possibly evolutionary trend can be seen from Noeggera-
thiostrobus to Lacoea to Discinites.

5) Several organic connections are suspected. Mesocalamites cf.
cistiiformis was found in organic connection with C 'alamo st achy s andanen-
sis. Lacoea seriata and Palaeopteridium reussii might belong together.
Eusphenopteris morrowensis has been found with a Lagenospermum (= Nudos-
permum) seed and a Tel angiopsis- like male fructification. It is sus-
pected that they belong together. Eusphenopteris morrowensis is in some
characters comparable to coal ball material of Schopfiastrum decussatum.

6) Two new species, Lesleya cheimarosa and Rhodeopteridium
phillipsii, are described; Gulpenia limhurgensis is reported for the
first time in this country.

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hk ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY CIRCULAR 500

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PLATES

AND

EXPLANATIONS

1*8

PLATE 1
Lye ops ids and Sphenopsids

Figure

1 Lepidodendron wortheni Lesquereux
ISM 1+16510 scale 1.5:1

2 Calamostachys andanensis on Mesocalamites cf . cistiiformis
ISM l+l61+13a scale 2:1

3 Mesocalamites cf. cistiiformis
ISM 1+161+32 scale 1:1

k Annul aria cf. vernensis

ISM l+l6376b scale 1:1

5 Asterophyllites longifolius (Sternberg) Brongniart
ISM U165H scale 1:1

6 Annular ia cf. asteris

ISM 1+16512 scale 3:1

7 Calamostachys andanensis Stockmans and Williere
ISM 1+16513 scale 5:1

PLATE 2

Alloiopteris gracillima (Newberry) D. White

Figure

1 ISM Ul6509 scale 1:1

2,3 ISM 1+16530 scale 5:1

k ISM 1+16531 scale 5:1

PLATE 3
Dactylotheca aspera (Brongniart) Zeiller

Figure

1 ISM kl6k91 scale 1:1

2 same as fig. 1 scale k:l

3 ISM kl65lk scale 5:1

:":" ' '- .■■■■■■■■■■■.. . . '

PLATE h
Palaeopteridium reussii (Ettinghausen) Kids ton

Figure

ISM

1+16528

scale 1:1

coll. Marietta College
(Rushville, Ohio)

scale 1:1

ISM

1+161*36

scale 2:1

ISM

U16528

scale 5:1

ISM

1+16

scale 5:1

Lacoea

seriata

Read

ISM

1|162T8

scale 2:1

ISM

1+16275

scale 2:1

USNM 26222

(Dutch Mountain, PA]

)

scale 1:1

PLATE 5
Gulpenia limburgensis Gothan and Jongmans

igure

1 ISM kl6k9Q

scale

1:1

ISM Ul6i+99

scale

1:1

same as fig. 2

scale

5:1

same as fig, 1

Problematic a

scale

5:1

cf. "Mariopteris"
ISM 1+16380

scale

3:1

6 cf. "Eremopteris"
ISM 1*16529

scale 2:1

PLATE 6
Megalopteris and Lesleya

Figure

1 Megalopteris fasciculata Lesquereux
holotype USNM lYJOh scale 1:1
(Port Byron, IL)

2 same as fig, 1 scale 5:1

3 Megalopteris dawsoni (Hartt) Andrews
ISM 1+16525 scale 1:1

k Megalopteris ovata Andrews

ISM I+I652U scale 1:1

5 Lesleya cheimarosa sp. nov.

ISM 1+16508 scale 3:1

XXXWm:y--X,m' .•>.•■■'■••: . •••-' ' ' .
'■V': v'V. Wi<:.U> - "

&i%^.-v&.> ^X\k'Xl;^X>:Z::--^XX;:..

S'V.'-',- ; " ''G;vf*:

PLATE T
Megalopteris ovata Andrews

ISM 1+16523 scale 2:1

*PW}^T^y*-:$£i-

PLATE 8
Lesley a cheimarosa sp. nov,

Figure

1 ISM kl6kQQ& scale 1:1

2 ISM kl6kQ8b scale 1:1 (counterpart of fig. l)

3 ISM Ul6526 scale 1:1

PLATE 9
Alethopteris lonchitica (Schlotheim) Sternberg

Figure
1

ISM

1+16515

scale 1:1

ISM

kl6l2k

scale 2.5:1

ISM

1+16130

scale 2.5:1

ISM

1+16129

scale 5:1

ISM

1+16516

scale 1:1

ISM

1+16517

scale 1.5:1

PLATE 10
Sphenopteris preslesensis Stockmans and Williere

Figure

1 ISM 1+16356 scale 1:1

2 same as fig. 1 scale 3:1

3 ISM 1+16U17 scale 2:1
k ISM Ul63T6b scale 2:1
5 ISM kl6klh scale 2:1

PLATE 11

Eusphenopteris morrowensis (D. White) Ameron comb, nov,

Figure

1 ISM U16535 scale 1:1

2 ISM U16518 scale 2:1

3 ISM U16532 scale 5:1
k ISM i+16519 scale 2:1

PLATE 12

Telangiopsis sp.

Figure
1

ISM 1+16520 scale 1:1

ISM 1+161+85 scale 1:1

same as fig. 2 scale 3:1

ISM 1+16521 scale 5:1

Lagenospermum sp.

ISM 1+16522 scale 1:1

same as fig. 5 scale 2.5:1

■„!;. . . ,-* <:j>.^

PLATE 13
Rhodeopteridium phillipsii sp. nov.

Figure

1 ISM 1+16527 scale 1:1

2 ISM 1+16527 scale 1:1

3 ISM 1+16530 scale 5:1
h same as fig. 1 scale 5:1
5 same as fig. 2 scale 5:1

1" ttiVv^ r -\

74,;

3«v ; ^

PLATE Ik
Samaropsis and Problematica

Figure

Samaropsis sp. B
ISM 1+161*68

scale 2:1

same as fig. 1

scale 1:1

Samaropsis sp. C
ISM 1+161+62

scale 2:1

"Mariopteris"
ISM 1+16258

scale 2:1

same as fig. 1+

scale 1:1

Holcospermum sp.
ISM 1+161+83

scale 1:1

same as fig. 6

scale 2:1

V • -*

;•'*/:

PLATE 15
Cordaites 9 Cordai carpus , and Samaropsis

Figure

1 Cordaites cf. principalis

ISM 4l6533 scale 1:1

2 same as fig, 1 scale 4:1

3 Cordai carpus sp. A

ISM 4l6534 scale 1:1

4 same as fig. 3 scale 2:1

5 Samaropsis sp. A

ISM 4l636l scale 1:1

6 Samaropsis sp. A

ISM 416365 scale 1:1

same

as fig. 6 scale 2:1

8 Cordaicarpus sp. B

ISM 416362 scale 1:1

9 same as fig. 8 scale 2:1

Illinois State Geological Survey Circular 500
77 p., 13 text figs., 8 tables, 15 plates, 2,500 cop., 1977
Urbana, Illinois 6l801

Printed by Authority of State of Illinois, Ch . 127, IRS, Par. 58.25
(P.O. 0051 8-2 V2M-6/77)

CIRCULAR 500

ILLINOIS STATE GEOLOGICAL SURVEY

URBANA, IL 61801

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Full text of "An Early Pennsylvanian flora with megalopteris and noeggerathiales from west-central Illinois"

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