278 TrausactioJis. — Geology. 



the species described. As the tertiary nerves of the fossil 

 leaf mentioned by Unger, and depicted at the place mentioned,, 

 are not preserved, a more searching comparison and establish- 

 ment of the distinguishing characteristics must be left to a 

 future occasion ; meantime the difference of these species maj^ 

 be accepted as probable. 



Ebenace^. 

 Diospyros novse-zeelandiae, sp. nov. 



Plate XXVIII., figs. 4, An. 



D. foliis subcoriaceis, lanceolato-ohlongis, utiinqiic anguH- 

 tatis, integerriinis ; nervationc caviptodroma, nervo primario 

 ralido, recto excurrente ; nervis sccundariis sub 55°-65" orienti- 

 hns, tenuibus flcxnosis ramosisqiie ; nervis tertiariis e latere 

 oxferno secnndarionim stib angtilis acutis excuntibus. 



Locality : Shag Point (Canterbury Museumj. \Ex ColL 

 N.Z. Geol. Surv., Eep. 1872; v. Haast, I.e.] 



To judge from the impression of the edge of the fossil on 

 the rock, the texture is rather more leathery than herbaceous. 

 The lanceolate leaf narrows more towards the base than 

 towards the point; the edge is not serrate. The nervation 

 shows a straight, strong, prominent primary nerve, from which 

 proceed fine winding secondary nerves at somewhat acute 

 angles ; in the middle of the leaf the distance of the second- 

 ary nerves from each other is ]cm. The tertiary nerves are 

 delicate, and joined at oblique angles ; they are only visible in 

 a few places on the fossil [vide enlargement of the nervation, 

 fig. 4a). 



The fossil leaf show^s, as regards form and nervation, the- 

 greatest agreement with those of Diospyriis lotoidcs, Ung. 

 (Syll. Foss. Plant, iii., pi. x., figs. 1-12), from which it is, 

 however, distinguished by a somewhat firmer texture and 

 more delicate secondary nerves. With reference to the fine- 

 ness of the latter, the fossil described agrees better with the 

 leaf of D. sagoriana, Ett., with which it also agrees in shape 

 and texture ; but the latter has a different arrangement of the 

 secondarv nerves. 



DIALYPI']TAL^. 



Aealiaceze. 

 Aralia tasmani, sp. nov. 



Plate XXVIII., figs. 13, 13a, 14. 

 A. foliis coriaceis longe petiolatis, i^ahnatim 3-5 lobatis, 

 lobis lobatis vel irregularitcr grosse dentatis, basi coarctatis^^ 

 7narginc integerrimo vel irrcgulariter dentatis; nervationc 

 actinodroma, nervis 2')'i'iniariis 3-5, firmis prominentibus, medio 

 ralidiore; nervis seciindariis sub anguUs 8CP-40° oricntibits, pro^ 

 ininsntibiia, rectis, plerumqne craspedodromis ; nervis tertiariis 



