142 ON THE FOSSIL FLOKA OF THE COAL DEPOSITS OF AUSTRALIA, 



rarely stipitate anther-cells, each opening in two valves, the upper 

 imbricate and exposed part of the scales hardened and often much 

 thickened, the apex truncate or more less produced into an 

 incurved or recurved point or lanceolate appendix. Female cones 

 consisting of numerous scales, imbricate at least when young, 

 either with one pendulous ovule (or carpel) on each side of the 

 thickened and hardened apex, or with three or more erect ovules 

 (or carpels) in marginal notches below the flattened acuminate, 

 and usually dentate or pinnatifid apex. Fruiting-cone enlarged, 

 and either remaining imbricate with two pendulous seeds to each 

 scale, or the scales with marginal seeds spreading as the central 

 shoot is developed within the cone. Seeds naked (or nuts) with a 

 thick or hard outer coating or integument, and a fleshy albumen, 

 in a central cavity of which the straight embryo is suspended by a 

 long folded cord. Cotyledons two, undivided. Palm-like plants, 

 with a thick globose, and underground or erect and cylindrical 

 woody stem, simple or rarely slightly branched, marked with the 

 scars or bases of the old leaves. Leaves forming a crown at the apex 

 of the stem, once or twice pinnate. Cones sessile or very shortly 

 pedunculate, within the crown of leaves. 



The Order extends over tropical America, sub-tropical and 

 southern Africa, and tropical Asia Of the three Australian 

 genera, one is also in Asia and Africa, the other two are endemic. 

 The theoretical significance of the outer coating of the ovules and 

 seeds, whether carpellary or seminal, is, as in the Conifers, still 

 the subject of contention. 



Zamites. Brongniart. 



(As amended by Schimper including Zamia and Zamites of 

 Brongniart in part and Crossozamia of Powell)* 



Leaves very variable in size and shape, either ovate -oblong 

 acuminate, or oblong or linear and oblong acuminate ; all regu 

 gularly pinnate. Pinn?e more or less horizontal and inserted 

 perpendicularly into the rachis, lanceolate, linear lanceolate, 



* MateYiaux pour servir a la Flore fossile des Terres-Jurassiques de la 

 France. Par. M. Powell, 1849. 



