DETERMINATION OF FOSSIL PLANTS. 



various shapes — some elongated fusiform, others rhomboidal, 

 others with pointed appendages. The variety of forms is very 



Fig. 5. 



great, but it is possible that this may be partly owing to the 

 effects of frost on the cells. On the spontaneous separation 

 of the bark, the portion below the epiphlocum was seen to 

 consist of distinct plates of a more or less quadrilateral form, 

 with some of the edges concave and others convex, a part in 

 the centre indicating the connection with 

 the leaf, along with which it is detached. 

 In Fig. 6 a leaf is shown with one of these 

 plates attached. 



The appearances presented by the outer 

 and middle bark of Araucaria imbricata bear 

 a marked resemblance to those exhibited by 

 certain fossils included in the genera Sigil- 

 laria and Lepidodendron. The sculpturesque 

 markings on the stems of these fossil plants 

 indicate their alliance to the ferns and 

 lycopods of the present epoch. But it 

 is evident, frmn these markings, that much 

 caution is required in making this deter- 

 mination. Other points of structure must 

 be examined before a proper decision can be formed. When, 

 Fig. 6. Leaf of Araucaria with a portion of bark. 



Fi£c. 6. 



