Li] CYCADOCARPIDIFM 449 



Schuster 1 has published photographs of some examples of Podo- 

 zamites distans in which the base of the axis is invested by small 

 imbricate scales and in connexion with it are two other clusters 

 of similar scales, probably unexpanded buds. In 1900 I expressed 

 the opinion that Podozamites is probably a Conifer 2 , the supposed 

 pinnate fronds (fig. 811) being foliage-shoots like those of recent 

 species of Agathis. The most important recent contribution to our 

 knowledge of Podozamites is due to Nathorst : in 1911 he published 

 additional facts 3 with regard to some seed-bearing organs from the 

 Rhaetic of Scania for which he proposed the generic name Cycado- 

 carpidium in 1886 and in 1902 4 more fully described the type-species 

 C. Erdmanni. Until the publication of Nathorst's more recent 

 paper Cycadocarpidium was known only as detached sporophylls 

 found in beds containing Podozamites leaves. The following de- 

 scription is abridged from Nathorst's account. 



Cycadocarpidium Erdmanni is represented by ovate sporophylls 

 consisting of a sterile portion 9 mm. long and at most 6 mm. broad 

 with 4 5 simple veins, tapering to a short and slender pedicel on 

 each side of which is an oval seed (fig. 812, A D) with an obliquely 

 placed triangular lamina compared by Nathorst with a cupule and 

 interpreted by Schuster as a leaflet. A specimen figured by Nathorst 

 shows several sporophylls attached to a common axis, and supports 

 his view that the seed-bearing organs were borne as imbricate 

 carpellary scales. Fig. 812, A is drawn from Nathorst's restoration 

 of a cone-like cluster of sporophylts. Another type of sporophyll, 

 Cycadocarpidium Swabii, is distinguished by the larger dimensions 

 of the lamina, 4-1 cm. long and 16 mm. broad, with 10 veins: in 

 this type the two small seeds are apparently without any appen- 

 dages (fig. 812, C, D). A third species, C. redivivum, is founded 

 on small detached leaves and bud-like clusters previously as- 

 signed to Podozamites distans. These are now recognised as small 

 Cycadocarpidium sporophylls. There is a strong probability that 

 Cycadocarpidium was borne on a Podozamites shoot ; in form and 

 venation the sterile lamina of the sporophylls agrees with the 

 leaves of Podozamites and the two organs are constantly associated 

 in the Scanian beds. Zeiller records C. Erdmanni in Rhaetic 



1 Schuster (II 4 ). 2 Seward (00) B. p. 242. 



3 Nathorst (II 4 ). 4 Ibid. (02) p. 8, PI. I. figs. 5, 6. 



S. iv 29 



