XXXVIII] BUCKLANDIA 487 



Bucklandia squamosa (Brongniart). 



Sternberg first described this species as Conites Bucldandi 1 

 and regarded it as a cone bearing large imbricate cone-scales; 

 it was named by Brongniart Bucklandia squamosa 2 and Carruthers 3 

 retained this designation. The type-specimen, in the Oxford 

 Museum, from the Stonesfield Slate is 18 cm. long, showing in 

 the lower part a cast of the pith. The surface of the stem is 

 covered with thick imbricate petiole-bases very like those on 

 the stem of a recent Encephalartos. 



Bucklandia (Fittonia) squamata (Carruthers). 



Carruthers 4 founded the genus Fittonia on a single specimen 

 from the Wealden beds of the Isle of Wight, separating it from 

 Bucklandia on the ground of the occurrence on a portion of the 

 stem of large imbricate leaf-bases which are at first reflexed and 

 then ascending ; the stem is also broader and more tuberous than 

 most species of Bucklandia. The type-specimen, in the Museum 

 of the Geological Survey (Jermyn street), bears a close resemblance 

 to a trunk of a recent Encephalartos, but the part of the stem from 

 which the imbricate stumps have fallen is practically identical with 

 a Bucklandia. As in certain recent Cycads the surface-features 

 probably changed with the age of the plant; when the foliage- 

 leaves were first shed a portion of the ascending petiole remained 

 on the stem, and at a later stage this was cut off leaving a clean-cut 

 rhomboidal scar like those on the Bucklandia shown in fig. 576. 

 The difference between Fittonia and Bucklandia may, therefore, 

 be a question of age. While substituting Bucklandia for Fittonia 

 as the generic name the latter designation is added in parentheses 

 to denote the possession of certain features which, though possibly 

 of generic value, are not regarded as sufficiently important morpho- 

 logically to warrant generic recognition. 



The type-specimen of Saporta's species Fittonia insignis 5 , 

 in the Paris Museum, from the Oxfordian of Poitiers, appears 

 hardly distinguishable from F. squamata Can. Another type 

 with broader imbricate petiole stamps is described by Saporta 

 from the Portlandian near Boulogne as Fittonia Rigauxi 6 . 



1 Sternberg (25) A. PI. 30. 2 Brongniart (28) A. p. 128. 



3 Carruthers (70) p. 686. 4 Ibid. (70) p. 690, PI. LVI. 



5 Saporta (75) A. p. 308, Pis. 125, 126. 6 Ibid, p. 322, PI. 127, figs. 13 



