164 ON THE FOSSIL FLORA OF THE COAL DEPOSITS OF AUSTRALIA, 



By the side of one of the specimens, there is the end of a 

 branchlet, which for a part of its course has crowded narrow 

 leaves, much longer than the others. There is also a fragment 

 whose leaves are broad and acuminated. Number of leaves visible 

 in a branchlet, 25 mill., long, 16. Average length 5 mill., width 

 2 to 2£ mill. The narrow long leaves referred to, are 10 mill, long 

 by 1 mill. wide. 



From Ballinore coal field, Talbragar near Dubbo, where it 

 appears to be abundant. 



With the branches and stems are associated certain remains, 

 which I regard as the male amenta, of which a figure is given at 

 PI. 6, figs. 7, 8. They are distichous spikes, with closely set 

 scale-like bracts in pairs, lying closely together and projecting in a 

 long thin scale, like the glume of wheat, within this there is a scale 

 with four distinct projections like a comb, within these may have 

 been situate the anthers. In Goeppert's Foss. Flor., d. Perm. 

 Form., pi. 49, fig. 13, there is a figure of what has been regarded 

 as the male amentum of Walchia 2>iniformis, Sternberg, in which 

 these peculiar teeth on the scale are given on the summit of the 

 figure. 



CUNNINGHAMITES. Presl. 



These Conifers are distinguished by their general resemblance to 

 the genus Cunnhighamia, P. Brown, a genus only known by one 

 living species, which is the common native fir of China. It is 

 thus described : Leaves lanceolate, quite entire, flat, sessile, spread- 

 ing, rigid, pungent, bent downwards, one inch and a half long, 

 and disposed all round the branches and stems except on the old 

 lateral ones where they are arranged in two rows. Branches 

 generally in whorls, lower ones horizontal, but those near the top 

 ascending. Branchlets opposite in two rows and spreading. Male 

 catkins, terminal in clusters, cylindrical and near an inch long. 

 Cones globular, three or four together, but sometimes solitary, 

 sessile, drooping, smooth, and about the size of a walnut. Scales 

 ovate, tapering to a sharp point, leathery, sharply denticulated on 

 the margins, thin and free at the points. 





