202 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



ances, some of whicli tire 8 to 10 ciu. long and 12 to 18 cm. in diameter at 

 the base, rarely compound, that is, the branches themselves bearing 

 other smaller ones, or two or more arising side by side; branches and all 

 other organs radiate, that is, proceeding in the direction from the cen- 

 ter of the trunk, those of the equatorial zone liorizontal, or making a 

 right angle with the axis, those below descending, and those above 

 ascending; leaf scars arranged in definite rows intersecting one 

 another, somewlTat spiral, but so placed as to simulate meridians and 

 parallels of latitude, the former series, however, rising from left to 

 right and making an angle which varies with the curvature from 50 to 

 100 with the vertical axis, the other series, rising from right to left, 

 varying from horizontal to an angle of 45^; scars varying in shape 

 from subrhombic to nearly true rhombs and in size from 10 by 19 cm. 

 or smaller near the summit to 16 by 22 cm. measured between vertical 

 and lateral angles, which are usually quite sharp, the sides straight, 

 and the whole very deftnito and symmetrical, usually empty to consid- 

 erable depth, but partially filled by the remains of the leaf bases, 

 which occasionally show punctations representing the vascular bun- 

 dles; ramentum walls 2 to 5 mm. thick, wrinkled on their outer edges, 

 often with a distinct median groove, sometimes reduced to thin lamellae 

 with sharp edges, striate within the scars in the direction of the peti- 

 oles; reproductive organs not abundant, the more typical ones mostly 

 in the equatorial zone among the branches which they sometimes 

 resemble, being large with a solid central axis surrounded by relatively 

 large bracfc scars, nearly circular with a diameter of 5 cm., other 

 smaller ones scattered among the leaf scars only slightly disturbing 

 their arrangement, often abortive and reduced to collections of pits in 

 the angles of the walls; armor 6 to 8 cm. thick, irregularly attached to 

 the ligneous axis, which consists of a parenchymatous zone 3 cm. 

 thick, inclosing a^hbrous zone 25 to 35 mm. thick and divided into two 

 to four exogenous rings; medulla 10 cm. in diameter at the base, 

 enlarging upward to more than twice that size, porous in structure, its 

 outer surface marked with longitudinal ridges which are interrupted 

 and alternating, forming the bases of the medullary rays. 



The trunk upon Avhich the above description is almost exclusively 

 based is the one whicli was called No. 3 of the collection obtained from 

 Mr. Cole and is certainly, in my judgment, artistically the most beauti- 

 ful cycadean trunk known. 1 say this deliberately, after having seen 

 the greater part of all thus far discovered in all countries, and where I 

 have not actually seen the specimens themselves I have, in almost all 

 cases, seen artistic models, or at least excellent photographs or draw- 

 ings. The specific name is therefore fully justified. 



The characters of the internal structure and the medulla are derived 

 from the large decayed area at the base on one side, Avhich well exposes 

 them, leaving the other side still perfect. The total weight of this 

 specimen is 85.73 kg. 



