128 THE FLORA OF THE AMBOY CLAYS. 
sometimes contracted to form an outline not unlike the flowers under con- 
sideration. These, however, seem to consist of a continuous sheet of what, 
to have been preserved, must have been coriaceous material. This is 
striated longitudinally and is divided into distinet organs. The receptacle 
upon which each form of flower rests is essentially the same. It is a cone, 
of which the point below connects with the stem and the flattened base 
formed the floor of the flower. The resemblance of our fossils to those 
which haye been called by Heer Williamsonia cretacea is so close that there 
can be no doubt of their generic identity. Professor Heer’s fossils are 
described in Flora Fossilis Arctica, Vol. VI, p. 59, and figured on Pls. XII 
and XIII. The form of the flower cup in Professor Heer’s species is much 
the same as that of ours, except that it is more swollen, less cylindrical and 
regular, and at the same time has a crenulated margin and is striated longi- 
tudinally, as though composed of compacted petals, while in our fossil the 
surface is essentially smooth. The pedicel, however, of Professor Heer’s 
species is very different from ours; it is no broader at the top, but contracts 
much less rapidly, and descends to a thick, fleshy, scaled stem. 
Professor Heer discusses at considerable length the relations of his 
fossils, recognizing their resemblance to several species of Williamsonia 
that have been described, and indicating their connection by taking the 
generic name; yet he does not accept the conclusion of Professor Williamson 
and others that it is the florescence of a cycad, but accepts the suggestion 
of Dr. Nathorst that it should be regarded rather as a parasite belonging to 
the order Balanophorez. But the recent discovery by Dr. Nathorst of a 
species of Williamsonia on the same stem with the leaves of Anomozamites 
places the subject in a new light and will probably compel us to return to 
the original suggestion of Williamson. 
ProropHyLLUM oBpovatuM Newb. n. sp. 
Pl. XXXVIII, fig. 4. 
Leaf oval in outline, 10° to 12° in length by 7°™ or 8™ broad, con. 
tracted at the base, the blade surrounding the petiole in a margin about 
12™" in width, margins entire; nerves delicate, pinnately arranged above, 
radiate at base, camptodrome. 
