Fossil Hackberry Seeds From the Loess at Natchez, Mississippi

Abstract

The loess deposits in the vicinity of Natchez, Mississippi, have received much attention from geologists over the years, and are well known to paleontologists as the source of an abundant and varied terrestrial snail fauna (Shimek, 1902; Vestal, 1942; Russell, 1955; Snowden and Priddy, 1968; Kolb, 1976). With the exception of the casts and molds of roots, well-preserved plant remains from the southern loess are essentially unknown. The purpose of our note is to describe a rare occurrence of fossil seeds from loess deposits near Natchez, and to comment on the mode of preservation of the seeds.