OF LOWER GREENSAND PLANTS. 



leaf-bases attached to trunks apparently of the same diameter. 

 Were these differences due to secondary growth of the stein, 

 and consequent stretching of the leaf-bases, they would only 

 become apparent in trunks which differed in size much more 

 than do C. Tatesii and C. luzzardensis. 



Both species to some extent resemble the living Cycads more 

 closely than other described fossils, and G. buzza.rdensis in 

 particular is very suggestive of affinity with such a form as 

 Cycas circinalis. In his original account of the genus Cyca- 

 deoidea, Buckland (1828 A) noted the likeness to the trunk- 

 anatomy of Cycads in his C. micro pJtytta, which, with its two 

 wood-rings, reminded him of the living Cycas revoluta. Cycas 

 circinalis, as Buckland figured, has a large number of woody 

 cylinders, and in this respect is paralleled by C. buzzardensis. 



While it is impossible to do more than theorise in the absence 

 of fructifications, these two species undoubtedly offer tangible 

 points of comparison with true Cycads, not only in their internal 

 anatomy, but also in their long, straight, and slender axes, 

 which contrast with the characteristic JEfonn#tto-axes and are 

 like Cycas-tmnks. It is curious that while the Cycadophyta, 

 represented by the Bennett ties-types, are so prevalent in the 

 Mesozoic, true Cycads are almost unknown, and have long been 

 sought in the Secondary rocks. It is not impossible that these 

 two species are true representatives of the family. 



V. 6598. Type-specimen. Figured, text-fig. 98, A & B, and 

 text-fig. 100, B. The specimen is broken into two 

 segments, the larger of which is figured in text- 

 fig. 98, A. Together the two pieces reach a length of 

 13 cm. Part of the pith is preserved, and on one side 

 is weathered out so as to show its characteristic 

 surface-markings. Both in the broken and in the 

 cut surface of the axis the wood-rings, four in number, 

 can be clearly seen. The leaf-bases are worn away 

 from one side, but when the two parts of the specimen 

 are fitted together, about ten fairly well-preserved 

 leaf-bases can be seen. 



V. 6598 a. Transverse section from the cut surface of the 

 smaller part of the type. This is very opaque. The 

 pith and the four wood-rings can be seen clearly with 



