XXXIIIj 



CORDAITES 



237 



may be made to Cordaites circularis Grand'Eury 1 from Gard 

 (fig. 468, B) and a smaller leaf from the same locality compared 

 with C. Lacoei (fig. 468, C) Lesq. Cordaites circularis is characterised 

 by the almost orbicular lamina traversed by slightly spreading 

 veins ; it recalls some of the larger Cyclopteris pinnules of Pterido- 

 sperm fronds and is indistinguishable from some leaves assigned 

 to the genus Dolerophyllum 2 . 



FIG. 468. A, Cordaites root-system (Rhizo-Cordaites) ; B, Cordaites circularis 

 leaf; C, Cordaites sp., cf. Cordaites Lacoei; D, Cordaites crassifolin*, upper 

 and lower surface of leaf. (After Grand'Eury.) 



The species C. Lacoei was founded by Lesquereux 3 on some 

 detached specimens 3 12cm. long and 1-5 5cm. broad; it is 

 by no means certain that a specimen referred by Grand'Eury 4 

 with some hesitation to this species is Cordaitean. 



The generic name Scuto-Cordaites was proposed by Renault 5 

 for a specimen from Commentry consisting of a flattened branch 

 bearing a few imperfectly preserved leaves. The surface of the 

 branch shows semicircular leaf-scars on decurrent, spirally disposed 

 leaf-cushions and bears a certain resemblance to a slender stem 



1 Grand'Eury (90) A. p. 325, PL vi. fig. 15. 



2 Schmalhausen (87) PI. v. figs. 79. 



3 Lesquereux (80) A. p. 535, PL Lxxxvn. figs. 2 4. 



4 Grand'Eury, loc. cit. p. 324 ; PL rv. fig. 14. 



5 Renault and Zeiller (88) A. p. 603, PL Lxm. fig. 6. 



