PRE-OARBONIPEROUS PLANTS. 



81 



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<7. Suckovii and 0. ci»tii, as figured ia my Acadian Geology, repre- 

 sent the foliage of Calamites. Any one who will take the trouble to 

 compare the figures referred to, will readily comprehend the three generic 

 names as used in this paper, and, as I believe, in strict accordance with 

 the natural affinities of the species. 



With regard to the suggestion of Brongniart that some Asterophylliteg 

 may be leaves and branches of Calamodendron, holding, as he does, and 

 as the writer does, that Calamodendron is essentially distinct from Cala- 

 mites, this does not afiect the question. There is, however, no evidence 

 as yet known to me sufficient to connect the two genera. 



Genus Annularia — Brong. \ . - , •, ' 



82. Annularia laxa, S.N.,— (PL VI, Figs. 64 to 69.)— M.D., Gasp^. 



Stems slender, tortuous, with whorls of eight to twelve leaves at long in 

 tervaU. Leaves long, linear, one-nerved, narrowing toward the 

 point and united at the base by a broad membrane. 



When Sir William Logan explored the Gasp^ Cliffs in 1843, he observed 

 on the surfaces of slabs of sandstone, singular stellar markings of unknown 

 nature. On my first visit to Gaspd I endeavoured to obtain better speci 

 mens, but without success. Last summer, by excavating in some of the 

 beds containing these impressions, and carefully washing the muddy 

 surfaces of the slabs, we succeeded in obtaining specimens which threw 

 some light on the nature of the plant, though its affinities may still be 

 regarded as doubtful. It consists of slender stems, straggling over the 

 surfaces of the beds and usually very obscure. At intervals these are 

 surrounded by a carbonaceous film, from which radiate the leaves. These, 

 when well preserved, have a distinct raised carbonaceous midrib, which 

 must have been of a woody nature, though apparently flexible at the 

 extremity. The margins of the leaves have not left very distinct impressions, 

 and this with the quantity of carbon remaining, and the relief of the ribs, 

 suggests the idea that they may have been thick and fleshy, or perhaps 

 provided with air cells for floating. In some specimens the ends of the 

 leaves are curled in a circinate manner, which may indicate their mode 

 of vernation, but on the other hand may be accidental. 



Brongniart supposes that the typical Annularioe were floating plants, 

 and this would certainly seem to have been the nature of the present 

 species.* 



• My friend Mr. Oarruthers, on examining these specimens, doubts as to the propriety of 

 l^lacing them in the genus Annularia, on the ground that they rather appear to be floating 



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