422 REPORT— 1887. 



Gardenia {?') Wetzleri, Heer. 



Fig. 11. — This fine fruit had not previously been found in the Isle of Wight 

 tertiaries, but is evidently the same as the two or three groups of seeds found at 

 Bovey, though these were unenclosed in any capsule. The base was unfortunately 

 broken before we realised that the object was other than drifted wood, and for this 

 reason we are doubtful whether the thick stem which appears to be leading up to it 

 was really attached or not. The capsule is rounded, subangular, and indehiscent. 

 On removing one side it was found to be ligneous or leathery, and disclosed two rows 

 of black and shining angulated and closely-fitting seeds. On removing some of these 

 a second layer of seeds was disclosed beneath a thin wall, so that the capsule appears 

 to be two-celled with four rows of seeds. 



Figs. 12 to 15 show various views of the seeds unmagnified. I have found no 

 spiral markings on them like those represented as being present on the Bovey 

 seeds. 



These capsules are rare, but have been found in many localities on the Continent 

 in lignite and brown coal, associated with plant-remains characteristic of swamp or 

 marsh floras. I think its reference to Gardenia is probably wide of the mark, but 

 have not yet had time to come to any better conclusion regarding it. It is from the 

 Nelumbium bed. 



Cyjjerites Forhesii, Heer. 



Fig. 16.— These are small asymmetric seeds, slightly and unequally flattened later- 

 ally, keeled on two sides, deeply lined or fun-owed, shortly bearded, and with an 

 adherent foot-stalk. They are represented natural size in fig. 16, while fig. 16a re- 

 presents the edge view, and 16* the flattened side magnified. 



They are enormously abundant in the Nelumbium bed at Hamstead, occurring in 

 sheets or drifted into depressions caused by hollow valves of Unio or other objects 

 settled in the fine mud. 



FulUcuUtes Wehsterl, Brongniart. 



This species even eclipses C. glohulus in abundance, and has been minutely 

 described by Hooker (Q.J.G.S., vol. xi. p. 566), so that we are perfectly acquainted 

 with its structure. It or allied species have also been described by Bronn, Zenker, 

 Brongniart, Ludwig, Unger, and Heer, so that it possesses a wide range and is highly 

 characteristic of European Oligocenes. Notwithstanding this, the greatest diversity 

 of opinion exists as to its true position in the vegetable kingdom. Thus, Heer believed 

 they were Pme seeds ; though he afterwards, in the Flora of Bovey, compared them to 

 seeds of Samyda, a group of tropical shrubs. Ludwig placed them in Hippopkae, the sea 

 Buckthorn of our coasts. Brongniart first considered them to be near to Thalictnim, 

 a genus of HannnoulacefP, and subsequently agreed with Unger in assigning them to 

 the Naiadece. Hooker, however, regarded them as the Sporangia of a cryptogam 

 allied to ferns, and in the view that they are cryptogamic Saporta and I are inclined 

 to coincide. The organism is composed of two valves dehiscing longitudinally, and 

 cannot possibly therefore be a seed, but it might have been a one-seeded bivalved 

 dicotyledonous fruit. The valves are in the great majority found detached ; but 

 when stiU united and uninfiltrated they enclose a membranous sac in which, in one 

 instance. Hooker detected some extremely minute transparent granules which he 

 regarded as spores. Less compressed specimens enclose a cast in pyrites of the 

 interior cavity, which cannot, however, represent the seed, as the membranous sac 

 can be seen within it instead of enveloping it. It may be the membrane of a 

 sporular sac, as interpreted by Hooker, or it might be the proper coat of a seed, as 

 the albumen or kernel rapidly disappears in wet, sometimes leaving the membranous 

 coat, as in the case of the cherry stones quoted by Heer in the Flora of Bovey, p. 58. 

 But any determination, to be acceptable, must ally them to some aquatic, or at least 

 water-loving, social plant, for they are met with in prodigious profusion, almost 

 to the exclusion of everything else, wherever beds have been formed in sluggish 

 shallow freshwater during Oligocene times, whilst they are absent where the spoils of 

 woodland floras are deposited. 



Figs. 17 and 18 are side views of two specimens, natural size. 



Fig 19. — A fruit dehiscing, showing an infiltrated kernel. 



Fig. 20. — A single valve, exposing kernel. 



Fig. 21. Edge view of a small fruit. 



Fig. 22. — A membranous sac removed 



