FLORA OF THE KOOTANIE FORMATION. 307 



from Zamites arcticus Gopp. Heer describes from the Kome beds of 

 Greenland," a number of specimens of this plant, and from the same beds 

 a smaller form which he calls Z. brevipennis." The latter, except in size, 

 seems to be identical with Z. arcticus and has many features found in the 

 Geyser plant. Indeed, the latter seems to give connecting links between 

 the two, which make them difficult to separate. The Geyser specimens 

 are preserved on a fine-grained shale, which gives details not to be seen 

 on a coarser grained rock. This plant and Nilsonia schaumburgensis 

 are much the most common fossils in the Geyser strata, and they are 

 the plants^most characteristic of them. Heer gives no nerves for Zamites 

 arcticus and Z. brevipennis. The only difference that I can find between 

 them and the Geyser plant is the greater size of the leaflets on some of 

 the leaves of the latter, a point which in such cycads is of little importance. 

 Besides, in the numerous Geyser specimens forms can be found which 

 are similar in size to both Z. arcticus and Z. brevipennis. The descrip- 

 tion that Heer gives of these plants agrees closely with the characters 

 seen in the Geyser plant. Heer himself, in his description of Z. brevipen- 

 nis, gives as the only difference between it and Z. arcticus the smaller 

 size of the leaves of the former and its shorter leaflets. 



The number of imprints found in the Geyser beds and their good 

 preservation enable me to add something to the descriptions gi^-en by 

 Heer. There is some variability in the Geyser forms, some having wider 

 leaflets and some narrower. Some of the leaflets from the same portion 

 of the leaf are decidedly smaller than others, and the length of the leaflets 

 from the middle portion of the leaves is shorter in some specimens than 

 in others. But there, are intermediate sizes that show that all belong 

 to the same plant. Only fragments of leaves are seen, but some of these 

 are 7 cm. long, showing that some at least attained considerable size, 

 for these portions are from the middle part of the leaf and it does not 

 change in width throughout the entire length. The midrib is broad and 

 flat, being mostly hidden by the bases of the leaflets, which are attached 

 upon its upper face. The leaflets diminish in length toward the base 

 of the leaf, which indicates that, as is usual in cycadean leaves, they 

 are supported in this case also by naked petioles. The opposite leaflets 



« Flor. Foss. Arct., Vol. I, p. 82, pi. iii, fig. 14 [this is a copy of Goppert's fig. 9, see synonymy abore]; 

 pi. xliv, flg. 5c. Ibid., Vol. Ill, Pt. II (Kreide-Flora der Arctischen Zone), p. 67, pi. xv, figs. 6, 7. 

 6 Ibid., Vol. Ill, p. 67, pi. XV, figs. 8, 9, 10. 



