Fossil Floras of Cape Colony. 13 



•Oolite species probably belongs to the Cyatheaceae, but in view of 

 the frequent occurrence of this type of frond in different genera of 

 recent ferns it is unsafe to assume that the South African type 

 possessed sori and fertile segments like those of the Inferior Oolite 

 •species. 



Plate II., figs. 1, la (343c). 



The apical portion of a frond bearing linear and slightly falcate 

 pinnte with short and broad pinnules and entire apices. The 

 venation is more accurately shown in fig. la ; the enlarged draw- 

 ing also illustrates the incomplete separation of the pinnules as 

 •contrasted with their more complete separation in the lower pinnoe. 



Plate II., figs. 2, %i (344c). 



Similar to fig. 1, but showing more clearly the comparatively stout 

 rachis ; the pinnules represented in fig. %i differ from those shown 

 in fig. la in their more complete separation and in their greater 

 length. The venation is clearly seen in the enlarged pinnules, also 

 the shorter and almost deltoid form of the basal pinnule on the 

 lower side of the pinna. 



Plate II., fig. 3 (364c). 



The specimen, of which a small piece is represented in the figure, 

 consists of fairly large portions of fronds similar to that drawn in 

 fig. 4. Fig. 3 illustrates the attachment of a pinna to the rachis, 

 also the longer type of pinnule — 4-5 mm. — characteristic of the 

 lower branches of a frond. 



Plate II., figs. 4, 4fl, 4/j (342c). 



The rachis has a length of 7 cm., and the longest pinna 

 4-5 cm. This specimen shows very clearly the characteristic habit 

 of the frond ; the stout rachis giving off opposite or alternate pinnae 

 of linear acuminate form with falcate segments, most of which have 

 entire margins (fig. 4a), while others (fig. 46) in the lower part of 

 the leaf show signs of an incipient subdivision of the lamina into 

 rounded lobes — a condition exhibited in a more pronounced form 

 in fig. 6. 



On the same piece of rock is an impression of a piece of 

 Benstedtia, and on the reverse side a portion of the rachis of 

 Zamites recta shown in pi. iii., fig. 1. 



