102 Annals of the South African Museum. 



lY.—WITTEBEBG SEBIES. 



I DO not propose to enter into a discussion as to the stratigraphy 

 of the Witteberg beds : * the numerous examples of Sjnrophyton which 

 they have afforded do not, in my opinion, supply a clue to their 

 geological age. A small and obscure fragment of a Lepidodendroid 

 plant, which is the only recognisable and undoubted fossil plant 

 included in the collection, would be in accordance with the reference 

 of the series either to the Carboniferous or Devonian period. Con- 

 sidering the relation to the Witteberg series to the rocks containing 

 the species described in Part III. of this Memoir, it would seem 

 probable that they belong rather to the Devonian than to the 

 Carboniferous epoch. 



LEPIDODENDEOID PLANT. 



(53a) A small and obscure impression on a quartzose rock showing 

 crowded and spirally disposed projections. Too small and imperfect 

 to determine. From Eooiberg, Breede Eiver. 



EOOTS (?) 



The quartzose rocks in which the Spirophyton occurs contain also 

 some radially disposed and comparatively deep grooves, which differ 

 from the ridges and grooves of Spiropliyton in being straight and few 

 in number ; they probably represent roots which spread into the 

 sand from a central axis. The preservation is not sufficiently good 

 to enable one to hazard a suggestion as to the nature of the plant to- 

 which they belonged, but they certainly dilfer from the typical Spiro- 

 'pliyton, and should not be included under that head. 



(44a) A large block of quartzite with a funnel-shaped depression on 

 one face, the sides of which are marked by irregular deep grooves 

 which may have been formed by radially disposed roots. 



(45a, 47a, 50a) A smaller specimen showing at one end half of a 

 conical elevation bearing radially arranged grooves ; on the face of 

 rock exposed in a longitudinal section through the apex of the conical 

 elevation one sees indications of a central line or axis, from which 

 iron-stained bands extend through the matrix. This specimen, 



* 8ee Feistniantel (81)) ; Annual Eeport (90). 



