300 



Genus TAXITES, Brongniart. 



[Prodrome, p. 108, 1828.] 



In speaking of this generic name Brongniart points out its 

 artificial character, and calls attention to the fact that several 

 other recent Conifers agree very closely with the Yew in the 

 form of the vegetative shoots. 1 In the absence of any evidence 

 as to the character of the flowers, we may conveniently retain 

 Brongniart' s genus for the fragments described by Lcckenby from 

 the Inferior Oolite of East Yorkshire. 



Taxites zamioid.es (Lcckenby, ex Bean MS.). 



[Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xx. p. 77, pi. viii. fig. 1, 1864.] 



(PL X. Fig. 5.) 



1864. Cycadites zamioides, Leckeuby, Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. xx. p. 77, 



pi. viii. fig. 1. 

 1870. Cycadites zamioides, Schimper, Trait, pal. veg. vol. ii. p. 178. 

 1875. Cycadites zamioides, Phillips, Geol. Yorks. p. 228, lign. 58. 



Taxites laxus,, ibid. p. 231, pi. vii. fig. 24, ligu. 64. 

 1879. ? Taxites planus, Feistmantel, Pal. Ind. vol. i. p. 31, pis. xiii.-xv. 

 1885. Cycadites zamioides, Zigno, Flor. foss. Oolit. vol. ii. p. 139. 



1889. Cf. Cephalotaxopsis ramosa, Fontaine, Potomac Flora, pis. cvi.-cviii. 



1890. Cycadites zamioides, Schenk, in Zittel, pp. 217, 287, 326. 

 Taxites laxus, ibid. p. 270. 



1892. Cycadites zamioides, Fox-Strangways, Tab. Foss. p. 138. 

 Taxites laxus, ibid. p. 141. 



Type-specimen. The specimen figured by Leckenby is in the 

 "Woodwardian Museum, Cambridge (No. 286). The vegetative 

 shoots resemble those of Taxus baccata, Sequoia sempervirens, and 

 other recent species ; they consist of a slender axis bearing narrow 

 linear leaves, traversed by a single median vein. The leaves are 

 spirally disposed and more or less closely set. Flowers unknown. 



The fragment to which Phillips gave the name Taxites laxus 

 is in all probability specifically identical with Cycadites zamioides, 

 Leek. The spiral disposition of the leaves, as well as the small 



1 Bronguiart (28 2 ), p. 75. 



