Szekessy Vilmos (szerk.): A Magyar Természettudományi Múzeum évkönyve 56. (Budapest 1964)

Rásky, K.: Studies of Tertiary plant remains from Hungary

is extremely difficult to delimit the fossil lichen remain from Ipolytarnóc from either of the two recent species. ASAHINA separated Lobaria pulmonaria (L.) HOFFM., (generally identified with the European species) occuring in Japan under the name Lobaria pulmonaria var. meridionalis ZAHLB. from the European species. ASAHINA showed, by a CaCl reaction, the presence of gyrophore acid in the species Lobaria pulmonaria HOFFM. living in Japan, and Lobaria meridionalis Wainio of the Philippines, while the European species failed to show the reaction (1936, p. 567). With regard to the remains found so seldom in the Tertiary and the extremely remote localities (Europe, North America), one can hardly assert whether they have been cosmopolitans in the Tertiary or already distinct. The growth of the recent lichen thalli is generally slow. If they had still lived in abundance in Ipolytainóc, then there must have been extremely favourable conditions in the Tertiary in that locality. Lichens are the most indifferent plants against dry climates, but a frequent and regular seasonal humidity favours their development. At higher altitudes, in wet-cold or wet-temperate areas they abound in forms and species, — but are limited to rather insignificant forms in the tropics. In Ipolytarnóc, the impressions of the lichen remains fail to indicate any greater richness as to forms or species — all finds can be relegated to a single species — hence their life presupposes a hot climate and their presence high temperatures. Lichens may completely desiccate periodically, to revive again in humid conditions. Thus lichen species accustomed to periodical dryness could cover large surfaces with their extensive, flat thalli. One might deduce from the very frequent occurrence of Lobaria jablonszkyi in Ipolytarnóc that it was either bound to wet soils, or was adapted to periodical dryness, i.e., it got moisture at frequent and regular intervals. Aside of humidity, a warm or mild climate must have been further contributing factors to assure its flourishing state in great masses and over extensive areas. The frequent occurrence in Ipolytarnóc of Lobaria jablonszkyi proves moreover that this lichen must have been autochthonous in that region, hence they could not have drifted from far to the site of its petrification under discussion. Woodwardia praeradicans BERRY (Plate I, Figs. 1—5). Description : Of several impressions, the length of the longest rachis fragment is 9 cm, with the mid-veins of the pinnules arising from it suboppositely on both sides. The length of the pinnules is 1—3 cm, their average width 0,7 cm. The pinnules are dentate, basally connate, occasionally attenuate apically

, or slightly blunt; frequently broken away. The rachis is thick, as also the midribs of the pinnules strong. Along and parallel with the midribs, the lateral veins form elongate interspaces. The lateral veins then forme a further, uniseriate, polygonal mesh, decurrent only later into the marginal teeth of the pinnules. The apical pinnule of the rachis is much elongated and dentate. The pinnules found are generally sterile, and there was found only a single specimen together with its counterpart, showing the elongate, distinct, and slightly arched sori (Plate I, Fig. 2) parallel with each other on the two sides of the midrib. Another fertile remains was identified in the materials of the Palóc Museum, Balassagyarmat, North Hungary. The length of a sorus is 3,0 mm, its width 1,0 mm. Remarks : The Ipolytarnóc specimens are well identifiable with UNGER'S species Woodwardites roessnerianus (1847, p. 123, Taf. 37, Fig. 4, and 1852, p. 11, Taf. 4, Fig. 6-8) described from the Tertiary of Radoboj. UNGER compared the fossil fern remains with the recent North American species Woodwardia angustifolia SM., Woodwardia thelypteroides PURSH., and Woodwardia virginica Sw., and the recent Doodia spinulosa WALL., living in Nepal. Later HEER published (1859, p. 29, Taf. 5, and Taf. 6, Fig. 1) very fine specimens, under the name Woodwardia roessneriana (UNG.) HEER, from the sediments of Monod, Rothenturm, and Eriz. HEER had completely identified the Radoboj specimens with the Swiss remains. HEER looked for the recent allies of the species not among those of North America, but 5 Természettudományi Múzeum Évk. 1964. —