778 SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 



convergent toward the tip of the leaf. In spite of their hopeful mega- 

 scopic appearance their microscopic structure is not preserved. 



In one or two instances where the specimens are in a more argillaceous 

 matrix it has been possible to get rather inferior specimens showing the 

 arrangement and outlines of the stomata. These are broadly ovate in 

 shape with very thin guard cells (at least when viewed on the surface). 

 They are arranged in somewhat irregular rows on the ventral surface of 

 the leaf, the number of rows between the two veins being usually four. 

 Aside from the foregoing facts, the preservation is such that no other 

 details can be made out. 



This species is most remarkably similar to the recent Araucaria lidwilli 

 of the Australian region. This resemblance in form, habit, and stomatal 

 characters, reinforced by the occurrence of characteristic Araucarian 

 cone-scales in the same beds at certain localities, renders the identification 

 reasonably conclusive. 



The most nearly related form seems to be Araucarites ovatus described 

 by Hollick 1 from the Cliffwood clays of New Jersey, which differ merely 

 by their larger size, absence of basal characters, and much less pointed 

 tips ; in fact, if the two were found in closer association or if in the abund- 

 ant material any specimens had approached Araucarites ovatus in size I 

 should be disposed to consider them as the variants of a single species. As 

 the case stands, it would seem better to institute a new series, since the 

 leaves in the material from the southern Coastal Plain are sufficiently 

 and uniformly different enough to be readily recognized, and there is the 

 further possibility that the New Jersey species may be more or less closely 

 related to the modern genus Dammara rather than Araucaria. 



A European form, which must surely be considered as a nearly related 

 congener of Araucaria bladenensis, is Saporta's 2 Araucaria toucasi 

 described from the Turonian of Bagnols and the Emscherian of Beausset 

 near Toulon, France. Another similar form is Araucaria macrophylla 

 described by Bozzi 3 from the Emscherian of Italy. 



1 Hollick, Trans. N. Y. Acad. Sci., vol. xvi, p. 128, pi. xii, figs. 3a, 4, 1897. 



2 Saporta, Le Monde des Plantes, p. 198, fig. 27, 1879. 



3 Bozzi, L., Boll. Soc. Geol. Ital., vol. x, 1891, p. 375, pi. xvi, figs. 1, 2. 



