256 DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE 



Sequoia, and other genera which the fossil to some extent 

 resembles, the radial sequence of cells consists of three soft cells 

 between each fibre zone, and of these the central cell is 

 parenchymatous and is as large in transverse section as the 

 sieve-tubes on either side of it (see Moeller, 1 882, p. 1 5, rig. 2 ; 

 p. 32, fig. 15, etc.). In the fossil, however, these cells appear 

 to be represented by the small cells which are not regularly 

 but only intermittently distinguishable at the corners of the 

 sieve-tubes (text-fig. 73). Their peculiar position, their narrow 

 and elongated shape, and the blackened contents are all highly 

 suggestive of companion cell*. They suggest, indeed, a.n interest- 

 ing possibility: is our present fossil one which has taken a step 

 toward angiospermic structures in this respect, while remaining 

 otherwise gymnospermic ? 



It may, however, only be due to age and the consequent 

 collapse of the parenchyma-cells, for, as Mr. L. A. Boodle kindly 

 showed me in Ta.rodiinn (tittichnw, where normally there are 

 three cells between each narrow fibre and the next on the same 

 radius, the old state of the bark shows the crushing and sometimes 

 the complete collapse of the parenchyma between the sieve-tubes. 



Without unduly expanding the present preliminary account, 

 detailed comparison with the various species cannot be attempted, 

 and it may suffice to say that the new fossil is in the main 

 similar to the phloems of some Cupressinean, Taxinean. and 

 Taxodinean genera; but the behaviour of its corks, and the 

 consequent giant size it attained, seem to bo a peculiarity not 

 matched among recent plants. 



V. 13230. Type-specimen. The remains of the block, now in 

 three pieces, from which the sections have been cut. 

 Externally the dark, coarse, granular matrix conceals 

 the plant-tissue. On the cut faces, particularly in the 

 longitudinal face, the "woody" texture is very 

 apparent. 



V. 13230 a. Figured, PI. XXIII, figs. 1 & 2; and text-figs. 

 73 & 74. [Also, for Sequoia gigawteoidet, sp. nov., 

 PI. II ; text-fig. 16.] Transverse section showing the 

 tissues as described ; the granular matrix encloses the 

 tissue on one side, and the fragments of other debris, 



