290 Transactions. — Geology. 



Locality: Pakawau (Canterburv Museum ; Otago Museum). 

 [Ex Coll. X.Z. Geol. Surv. ; Hector.^ 



On the piece of rock from Pakavrau (shown in fig. 13) lie 

 fragments of twigs pell-mell in different directions ; these twigs 

 have belonged most probably to the same tree, and must have 

 been projecting. The leaves on the branch-fragment (fig. IJ:) 

 are the largest and most distinct ; one recognises their firm 

 leathery texture and the mid-ners-e which runs to the top of 

 the leai. In the specimen named, as well as in the other 

 specimens of branches before me, the leaves appear in close 

 juxtaposition, projecting, but seldom straight : they are mostly 

 somewhat sickle-shaped, curved, linear, pointed, 2mm.-3-5mm. 

 wide and 15mm.-25mm. long ; they are at the base short and 

 narrowing, and flat at the edge. 



Beside the fragments of branches shown in fig. 13, I saw 

 remains of fruits, which are small ellipsoidal charred impres- 

 sions, which originate from berry-Hke fruits, which latter 

 belong without doubt to the same plant as the branches : 

 their similarity in shape and size to the fruits of Podocarpus 

 is at once apparent. Fig. 15 shows such a fruit. 



In accordance with the facts enumerated, it would not be 

 a fault altogether to classify these remains with the genus 

 Podocarpus. From this, however, I am prevented by the 

 circumstance that Unger has described a fossil wood from New 

 Zealand which, as regards its construction, is midway between 

 PodocarpKS and Dacrydium, and which has probably belonged 

 to a special defunct genus, which Unger named Podocarpium 

 ("Voyage of the Austrian Frigate ' Xovara,' "' vol. i., part 

 ii., page 13: pi. v., fig. la-c). I beheve I must ascribe to 

 this genus all those species of the New Zealand Chalk flora 

 which resemble Podocarpus or Dacrydium. 



Podocarpium cnpressiimm, sp. nov. 

 Plate XXX., fig. 11. 



P. ramis gracilibus elomjatis,joliis parris hasi decurrentibiis, 

 ramulorum juniorian distichis, patulis liiiearihus acuminatis ; 

 seniorum hretioribus adpressis lanceolaiis ; nervo mediano dis- 

 tincto. 



Localities : Pakawan, Wangapeka, Nelson ; Grej^ Eiver, 

 ^'estland (Canterbury Museum), [^x Coll. N.Z. Geol. Sur\-. ; 

 Hector."; 



The si>ecimen from Pakawan (fig. 11) shows a small mature 

 branch, wliich is studded x-dxh lanceolate leaves, which aie 

 appressed. At the top of the mature branch are the sprouts 

 of younger branches, also provided with leaves, which are 

 erect, linear, pointed, and arranged in two rows. I associate 

 with this branch another matm-e branch from Grey Pdvef, not 

 shown here, which is covered with similar leaves, which are 



