MB. 8. G. SHATTOCK ON SCARS OF DAMMARA ROBUSTA. 441 
spiculatis, glumis scariosis fere ad medium connatis ad carinas 
eximie et secus nervos minute ciliatis oblongis mucronatis, glu- 
mella glumis breviore obtusa fere ad basin aristata, arista glumis 
duplo longiore. 
Hab. in humidis inter Quréyah et El-Kufr ditionis Auranitis 
(Haurán) ad basin Jebel-Quléb (Alsadami). 
A plant with aspect of A. utriculatus, but immediately distin- 
guishable by its involucre. The species is intermediate between 
Alopecurus and Cornucopia. 
Culms 6 inches high ; panicles 6-9 lines long, 4-5 broad. 
On the Scars occurring on the Stom of Dammara robusta, C. 
Moore. By SawvEL G.SnmarTock. (Communicated, with a 
Supplementary Note, by W. T. TurseLroN Dyer, C.M.G., 
M.A., F.R.S., &c.) 
[Read 3rd November, 1887.] 
(Prare XVII.) 
Some time ago the stem of a specimen of Dammara robusta 
grown in the Royal Gardens, Kew, was placed in my hands by 
Mr. Thiselton Dyer, with the object of describing and figuring 
the scars which occur on the trunk of this conifer, partly on 
account of the intrinsic interest attaching to the disarticulation 
of branches generally, partly because similar scars may perhaps 
be found on fossil forms, and it is in some measure by a study of 
existing scars that the significance of those occurring in fossil 
or in extinct forms can be elucidated. 
Schimper in bis work on fossil plants, ‘ Traité de paléontologie 
végétale’ (vol. ii. p. 255), includes two forms of Dammarites, 
diagnosed, however, only by the cones; these forms are met with 
only in the Cretaceous Epoch and after the complete disap- 
pearance of Lepidodendroid trees; and he includes also, on the 
authority of Saporta *, Populus tremula, and species of Oak (which 
present similar branch-scars); these, diagnosed by leaf-remains, 
occur, however, at no more distant period than the Pliocene, 
when Dicotyledons are largely represented. 
The importance of every mark among the scanty data usually 
forthcoming in determinin g the habit or class of fossil trees may 
serve as an apology, therefore, for the present notice of Dammara 
robusta. 
** Le monde des Plantes avant Yapparition de l'homme. 1879. 
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