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Paleobotanical contributions.
As was mentioned above, Swedenborg describes a number of the
fossil plants found at Liége, which lie, together with his companion, the
Provincial Physician in Vestrogothia, Johan Hesselius, collected on the
journey. The illustrations, which will now be examined, have been
reproduced in facsimile in the accompanying Plate I. Although there
are no statements concerning the scale according to which the figures
are drawn, still a majority of tliem may be determined, at least as to
the genus.
As long ago as 1836 Göppert1 called attention to the plant-fossils
from Liége described by Swedenborg. »Auf einer Tafel Abbildungen
von Abdriicken ans dem Steinkohlensandstein und Schieferthon: Fig. A,
C—I, O—R Arten der Gattung Pecopteris und Neuroptteris in schwer zu
bestimmenden Bruchstiicken. Fig. B scheint eine zufällige
dendritenähn-liche Bildung. Fig. H. Stiick eines plattgedriickten Calamiten. Fig. L.
Favularia. Fig. M. Lycopodiolithes dichotomus.1 2 Fig. N. Yielleicht ein
Calamit».
Swedenborg’s views concerning the fossils are found partly in the
text68 and partly in the Index petrificatomm130 which accompanies the
plates. If we endeavor, according to the present standpoint of science,
to determine as well as is possible without access to the originals the
fossils of which figures are given, the result will be about as follows.
A, C and F probably Alethopteris, while O, which is considered by
Swedenborg to be of the same kind as the foregoing (»A, C, F, O,
Ramusculi, ut opinor, buxi»), possibly is rather a Neuropteris.
B, »Ramusculus Tithymali Cyparrisini», cannot be determined with
certainty; Professor Potonié of Berlin, with whom I have conferred in
regard to the matter, suppbses that possibly an Apldebia may be in
question. Goppert’s opinion, that it might be a dendrite, appears to
be improbable.
E, G, K, R, »Foliola, ut puto, osmundae vel filicis», are perhaps of
some Neuropteris. The little branch in the middle of K is perhaps a
Lepidodendron.
D, I, P, Z, »Foliola ex ramis praedictis, ut opinor, sed majora»,
without doubt Alethopteris, probably A. lonchitica.
1 H. R. Göppert: Die fossilen Farnkräuter (Systema filicum fossilium). Breslau
& Bonn, 1836. Nova acta etc., T. 17. Supplement, p. 18, note 1.
2 Lepidodendron dichotomum.
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