Further Notes on Lower Devonian Plants from South Wales

Abstract

In 1926 I recorded the occurrence of a Lower Devonian flora from the Senni Beds near Brecon, and described one new genus, Gosslingia , in detail. In 1931 a “thalloid-like” plant, Thallomia , from the Lower Downtonian of the Llandovery district, was recorded (Heard and Jones 1931). Other fragmentary plant remains are present in both the above localities, and it is the object of this communication to place on record some of the more interesting of these fossils. Most of the material is badly preserved, and has proved unsuitable for examination by transfer or “film-pull” methods. As previously recorded (Heard and Jones 1931, p. 552), the plant Thallomia occurs with a few fragments of dichotomously branched stems and obscure carbonaceous material at Capel Horeb near Llandovery. The fossil plants are associated with a lenticle of mudstone which is intercalated with the flaggy sandstones (Tilestones) of Lower Downtonian age. Only one fairly complete specimen was obtained by Mr. J. F. Jones, who found the plant bed (Pl. XII, fig. 1). This consists of a slender stem, about 4–5 cms. long and 0–8 mm. wide, which shows two dichotomous branchings. Each of the two upper and equal divisions of the stem is terminated by a capsule-like body (5 mm. by 2 mm.), which tapers at the base and has an obtuse end. This is regarded as a sporangium. A “film-pull” from these sporangia shows only a broken carbonaceous margin to the sporangium. No spores are to be seen. The greater part of the fossil