OTOZAMITES. 21 9 



1875. Otopteris obtusa, Phillips, Geol. Yorks. lign. 48, p. 222. 



Cf. Otozamifes pterophyUoides, Saporta, Pal. Franc;, p. 157, pis. xxxiv., 



xxxvii., and xxxviii. tip;. 1. 

 Cf. 0. Hennoquei, ibid. pi. c. fig. 1. 

 1881. Otozamitcs vicetinus, Zigno, Flor. foss. Oolit. vol. ii. p. 69, pi. xxxiii. 



figs. 3 and 4. 

 1892. Otozamitcs obtu#ns, Fox-Strangways, Tab. Foss. p. 139. 



Type-specimen. The original of pi. cxxviii. of the Fossil Flora 

 is in the Oxford Museum. 



The Inferior Oolite form differs slightly from the type-specimen 

 of Otozamites obtusus (L. & H.) 1 in the pinna? having slightly 

 more acuminate apices, and in the lower margin of the pinnae being 

 somewhat less abruptly curved upwards. (Cf. the drawing given 

 by Lindlcy & Hutton, and PI. I. Fig. 1 and PL II. Fig. 2 of this 

 Catalogue.) 



The form of Cycadean frond represented by the type-specimen of 

 Otozamites obtusus from the Lias near Axminster, and now in the 

 Oxford Museum, is one which is widely spread in Ithtetic, Lia-- it . 

 and Oolitic strata. There are several fronds described from these 

 horizons by various authors under different specific names, which 

 it is practically impossible to separate from one another by any 

 really distinctive features of taxonomic value. To avoid the 

 danger of artificial distinction, suggested by the application of 

 specific names to fronds which agree with one another in their 

 general form, but differ in slight variations in the form of the 

 pinnae, apices, and other inconstant and unimportant characters, 

 I propose to use the designation Otozamites obtusus in a wide sense, 

 as denoting a type of frond represented by examples hitherto 

 considered as distinct species. The very strong likeness between 

 the 'species' which centre round Otozamites obtusus is well illus- 

 trated by the lists of synonyms given by different authors. There 

 is a want of unanimity in the interpretation of the extremely 

 slight differences which may be detected in comparing the fronds 

 from Rhaetic, Liassic, and Oolitic horizons, demonstrating the 

 absence of any satisfactory distinctive features worthy of specific 

 distinction. The differences between young and old fronds of 



1 There are several good examples of the Lias form, identical with the type- 

 specimen of Lindley & Hutton, in the British Museum; e.g., Nos. 39,059, 

 40,692, 47,045, etc. 



