160 DESCRIPTIVE CAT A LOG I 1 



1896. BemteMia sp., Seward, Ann. 13ot., vol. 10, pp. L>19, 220, 



pi. xiv, fig. 3. 

 1911. Ref. " Conifcrocaulon Btntfod&f Stopes, Geol. Mag., dec. 5, 



vol. 8, p. 59, text-fig-. 

 1911. Jifnstedtta Jienstedi, Knowlton, Geol. Mag 1 ., dec. 5, vol. 8, 



p. 468. 



No dictf/nosis of this form can be given, for, as I have demon- 

 strated (1911, 1911 A), the specimens do not represent a true or 

 recognisable species. 



HORIZON. Kentish Hag, Lower Grcensand. 



LOCALITY. Ignanodon Quarry, near Maidstone. 



TYPE OP THK FORM. Xos. 1764, also 1765, 8:i57, and V. !K">72, 

 parts of same trunk : British Museum (Xat. Hist.). 



FINDER. W. H. Benstcd, Esq. 



DESCRIPTION. This fossil, if it had not early received t.lio 

 sensational name of the " Dragon-Tree," would probably have 

 remained unnoticed, for its real nature is commonplace. Tho 

 principal specimen is in several portions, which are scattered, 

 part, being in the British Museum, part in Maidstone, and part 

 in Paris. There are also other fragments which, while they 

 may not be part of the same axis, must have belonged to the 

 same or a similar tree. 



The portion of the original trunk now in the British Museum 

 is about 62 cm. long and has a diameter of 13-15 cm. x 9 cm., 

 and is broken into five parts, and one of these, more massive 

 than the rest, is partly embedded in the hard matrix of tin 1 . 

 Kentish Rag. This specimen is flattened and has a central 

 cavity which is large and irregular, and in which fragmentary and 

 powdery remains of secondary wood can be seen. At the other 

 end of the trunk the hollow centre closes up, being filled with 

 fragmentary wood interspersed through the matrix. This part 

 of the trunk is illustrated in PI. XIII, fig. 1. All the specimens 

 composing this " species " are horizontally ribbed rather 

 irregularly, as can be seen in Pis. XIII & XIV, and also in 

 text-fig. 46, which is taken from Mackie's original description 

 of the plant. Lying in and between these horizontal corru- 

 gations are small circular and oval papilhc which have been 

 variously described (see Seward, 1896 B). A possible and 

 simple interpretation of them is that they are the curved ends 

 of casts of small borings, a view which PI. XI 11, fig. 2, seems to 



