48 PETRIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. CHAP. I. 



of a stem garnished with persistent petioles or leaf-stalks ; 

 it is fifteen inches in length, is perfect at the top, and 

 at the fractured end the internal axis, surrounded by 

 the false bark formed by the confluence and consolidation 

 of the bases of the petioles, is exposed. (See Lign. 16, 

 a). The stem at the lower part is bare, and exhibits the 

 characteristic lattice-like scars. The petioles are for the most 

 part entire ; some of them are abortive, and others which have 

 supported leaves are marked on the summits with vascular 

 pits, indicating that the foliage was shed naturally. 1 



There is a fragment of an internal axis, about six inches in 

 length, that is placed near the large slab, which will interest 

 the botanical observer, and requires a passing notice. This 

 specimen is naturally separated transversely into two por- 

 tions; the lower one is convex on the upper part, and is 

 traversed by fibres, which extend from the outer surface 

 across to the opposite side ; the corresponding face of the 

 other portion is concave, and closely adapted to the convexity, 

 leaving on one side an oval hollow, which denotes the origin 

 of a floral axis or panicle, as is proved by the direction of 

 the fibrous structure. 2 



From the obscure traces of leaves that have been observed 

 in some examples, it seems probable that the foliage resembled 

 that of the Yucca. Small kernels or seed-vessels somewhat 

 resembling those of certain palms, as for example the Areca, 

 are often associated with the stems of Clathrarise, and may 

 have belonged to those plants. The remains of these vege- 

 tables are generally deposited among gravel, or sand, with 

 water-worn bones of reptiles ; and are occasionally imbedded 

 in the fluviatile conglomerate of the Wealden. 



Endogenites Erosa. Case E. The stems thus labelled are 

 also from the Wealden deposits ; they often occur in the 

 layers of lignite which traverse the clay-beds in some parts of 

 Sussex. These stems are from one to eight inches in diame- 

 ter, and five or six feet in length, and of a very irregular 

 shape ; there are no indications of branches. Some are 

 subcylindrical in the middle, and gradually taper to a point 



1 See "Medals of Creation," p. 182 ; "Wonders of Geology/' p. 395; 

 " Geology of the Isle of Wight," p. 292. 



2 Figured in " Medals of Creation," p. 183. 



