Mesozoic Cuiil Strata.^ rAL^ONTOLOGY OF VICTOUIA. [/'/u«b. 



Pl.ATK VIII., FltiS. 1, 2, AND 5. 



ZAMITES (PODOZAMITES) BARKLYI (McCoy). 



[Genus ZAMITES (Brono.). (Class Exogena ; sub-class Monochlamydea ; § 2 Gymno- 

 spermse. Order Cycadacea.) 



Gen. CAor.— Leaves pinnate ; pinnae or leaflets distichous, entire, or denticulate, approxi- 

 mate subimbricate pointed ; base sub-constricted and attached by its whole width, or dilated, 

 or aurioulate, or cordate, and adhering only by the midrib, occasionally thickened. Veins fine, 

 equal, all parallel, or rarely slightly divergent, and doubtfully dichotomous in some. 



The species, with very approximate imbricating leaflets, with cordate base attached by the 

 middle, form Morris' genus Ptilophyllum and Otozamiles of Braun. The remaining species, with 

 only slightly contracted base, attached by its whole width, are Podozamites of Brauu. The 

 slight longitudinal thickening, like a midrib or plication, seen in some species is quite distinct 

 from the true veining or neuration which overlies it. The fruit is strobiliform, oval, pendun- 

 culated, with large, spirally-arranged, imbricating scales. Stem cylindrical, sometimes as broad 

 as long ; no distinct axis ; cicatrices rhomboidal. 



Sub-yen — Podozamites. — Base of pinnje constricted ; nerves sub-parallel, converging at 

 apex i not conspicuously branched.] 



Description. — Fronds from IJ to 2i inches wide; racliis thick (about \\ 

 lines wide) ; pinnules close set, narrow linear, elliptically pointed at the distal end 

 (about 1 inch 5 lines long-, and 1 line wide in var. gracilis, and 1 inch 3 lines long-, 

 and 1| lines wide in var. latior), abruptly contracted to the base, the narrowed 

 lowest portion of which is obliquely inserted in two very slightly alternate or 

 nearly opposite rows; basal portion, with about 10 or 12 narrow, equal, rounded, 

 longitudinal ridges, which usually become obsolete towards the distal half, on 

 which often only 3 large ridges or undulations can be seen ; the surface has about 

 50 to 70 longitudinal stria; in the width of a pinnule. The bases of the pinnules 

 are nearly opposite, and, from their narrowness, seem rather widely separated, 

 though only far enough apart to allow the edges of the broader portion to nearly 

 touch the adjoining edges of the next ones. 



Dedicated to Sir Henry Barkly, formerly Governor of Victoria, 

 in commemoration of the lively interest he has taken for some 

 years in one of the nicest and most chfRcult questions of critical 

 Palasontology with which Australian geologists have had to deal, 

 and which continues to excite the doulits and frequent discussions 

 of European, Indian, and American geologists — namely, wdiether 

 the fossil flora associated with the coal of Newcastle, N. S. Wales, 

 Tasmania, and the neighhorhood of Melhourne, be Mesozoic or 

 Palaeozoic — a question which I believe to be now set at rest by the 

 contiiuied discovery of Mesozoic forms, and the continued absence 

 of the characteristic Palaeozoic genera. The three species of Zamia- 

 like plants now made known were among the specimens sent to 

 me by ]\fr. Daintree (formerly of the Geological Survey of 

 Victoria, now Agent-General for Queensland), from one of the 

 shafts sunk liy his party at Bellarine, Ijetween Queenscliff and 



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