PLANTS OF THE NEW ALBANY SHALE. III: CHAPELIA CAMPBELLII GEN. N.

The single specimen from the Falling Run Member of the Sanderson Formation is interpreted as a segment of a petiole from a region just proximal to a major branching of the frond. The specimen is characterized, basally, by a four-lobed primary xylem strand. Following stelar branching there are two outer papilionoid strands that produce alternate traces bilaterally and two inner clepsydroid strands, oriented at right angles to the plane of the frond. The frond, which appears to be a morphologically flattened and modified lateral branch system, is probably of calamopityean or pteridosperm affinity.