XL VII J SEQUOIITES 353 



in many cases be identified with Sequoia with absolute certainty. 

 Differences are pointed out by authors in their description of species 

 between the leaves of such recent forms as Taxus baccata and 

 Sequoia sempervirens, but an examination of actual specimens re- 

 veals the inadequacy of such fine distinctions as are sometimes 

 quoted. Our knowledge of the cones is confined to external 

 characters and these afford a more substantial basis than the 

 foliage-shoots on which to form an opinion with regard to the 

 striking similarity between the Tertiary and existing species. 

 Sequoiites Langsdorfii is recorded by Gardner 1 from the Eocene beds 

 in Mull, but the identification rests on sterile branches bearing 

 linear-lanceolate decurrent leaves 6 9mm. long; the main axis 

 of a branched specimen bears scale-like leaves appressed to the 

 stem except at the distal end of the lamina and, as in the recent 

 species, scale-leaves occur at the base of each lateral shoot. The 

 species is recorded also from Styria 2 , from Miocene beds in Greece 3 

 where it is represented by foliage- shoots and cones, from Italy 4 , 

 Germany, and other European localities. A very similar form, 

 originally named by Brongniart 5 Taxites Tournali, is described by 

 Gardner 6 from the Middle Bagshot^beds of Bournemouth and with 

 it he unites S. Hardti Heer foundeofon material from Bovey Tracey. 

 S. Tournali is characterised by the association of distichous (fig. 794, 

 A, B, p. 408) and smaller appressed leaves like those of Sequoia 

 gigantea, an association also met with in S. sempervirens. S. Tour- 

 nali is recorded by Saporta 7 who figures branches and cones from 

 Eocene strata in Provence. Laurent 8 figures fragmentary speci- 

 mens, which he refers to S. Langsdorfii, from the Aquitanian series 

 in the Puy-de-D6me. 



Sequoiites Langsdorfii is very abundant in Arctic Miocene rocks: 

 Nathorst 9 speaks of numerous branches in Tertiary clays in Elles- 

 mere Land in a remarkable state of preservation so that they could 

 be washed out and isolated like dried specimens in a herbarium. 

 A peculiarity of the Ellesmere specimens is the occurrence of very 



1 Gardner (86) p. 41, PI. x. fig. 1. 2 Ettingshausen (57) PL i. fig. 3. 



3 Unger (47) PL n. figs. 1723. Saporta (68) refers 8. Langsdorfii as figured by 

 Unger to S. Tournali. 



4 Squinabol (92) p. 26, Pis. xv., xvi. 5 Brongniart (28) A. p. 108. 

 6 Gardner (86) p. 40. 7 Saporta (65 2 ) PL n. fig. 1. 

 8 Laurent (12) p. 65. 9 Nathorst (IP) p. 225. 



s. iv 23 



