SPERMATOPHYTA 



6l 



The stem in most forms was thick and short and closely 

 covered with an armor of persistent leaf-bases (Fig. ig). 

 Among these leaf-bases were wedged numerous small 



Fig. ig. — A fossil cycad, Cycadeoidea marylandica Fontaine ( X i), from the 

 Potomac formation (Comanchean) of Maryland. At the time of fossilization it 

 was about to blossom. Nearly thirty flower buds (/". b) show here between the old 

 leaf-bases. The wonderful preservation of some of the flower buds embedded in 

 these ancient fossilized trunks is seen in Figs 21, 22. 



a fructification. The stem 

 of large cycas-like leaves 



branches, each terminating in 



usually bore at top a crown 



(Fig. 20). 



■ As in general appearance, so likewise in the anatomy of the 



