Species of ISfoeggeixithiojJsis. 291 



We may now turn to the further examples of Noeggerathiopsis 

 •* leaves. On the specimen illustrated in Plate XIII are two clusters 

 more or less imperfect, but in both instances the leaves, such as they 

 are, radiate from a centre, the latter representing Dana's " soft bud, 

 or vegetable base". In Fig. 1 of this Plate there are seven leaves, 

 or portions thereof, lanceolate-spatlmlate, the terminations of four 

 iu which the apices are preserved, acute, and pointed. The second 

 example on this same block of stone is smaller and much less pet'fect, 

 with portions of six or seven leaves, of which the two most complete 

 have rounded apices. 



The most complete specimen (PL XIII, Fig. 2) is on a separate 

 piece of matrix and displays no less than at least nine leaves or 

 portions. Here there are certainly two in which the apices are 

 obtusely rounded, giving to the leaves a more or less elongately 

 pyriform or clnb-shapod outline. On a continuation of this same 

 piece of matrix is a small third cluster in which five leaves are 

 preserved, all with angular apices, but the apical portions are shorter 

 than in PI. XIIT, Fig. 1. On the reverse of this specimen of shale 

 occurs the fourth cluster, which consists of the remains of four, or 

 perhaps five leaves, also radiate. 



The substance of these leaves is thick, coriaceous, and black in 

 colour, in both examples on the large hand-specimen, whilst the 

 three on the smaller are matrix impressions with the venation 

 apparent. These leaves are petiolate, as described by Arber, and in 

 one of the smaller and less complete examples this petiolate attach- 

 ment is fairly apparent. 



There are now six instances of this radiate arrangement of leaves 

 in Noeggerathiopsis known, and if Arber's illustration is of the same 

 nature (and I have very little doubt it is so), there is then a seventh, 

 vii5. two by Dana, and the four here described in which the leaves 

 are spread out in a circle, radiate from a common centre, and in each 

 instance present what, I believe, is the deceptive appearance of being 

 on the same plane with one another. It is remarkable that, in the 

 six instances, the mode of preservation is precisely the same. 



It is at first difficult to obliterate from one's mind the idea of 

 a verticillate arrangement of these leaves, but if we devote a little 

 consideration to the phyllotaxis of Cordaites, an explanation of tliis 

 radiate arrangement will, I think, be forthcoming, for we must not 

 lose sight of the strong consensus of opinion tliat Cordaites and 

 Noeggerathiopsis, if not identical, are most nearly related, Professor 

 Seward even saying, in 1907 : "I prefer to adopt the generic name 

 Cordaites in preference to that of Noeggerathiopsis on the ground 

 that Noeggerathiopsis is probably not distinct from the widely 

 distributed northern type." ' 



^ Seward, Eec. Geol. Surv. India, xxvi, pt. i, p. 60, 1907. The close 

 affinity of the two genera in question is supported by Zeiller, 1882 (Ann. 

 Mines, Livr. Sept. -Oct. 1882) ; Schenk, 1890 (Zittel's Handb. Pal., Abth. ii, 

 p. 330, footnote) ; Kurtz, lS9i {Eevista Mjiseo de la Plata, y , pp. 130-1, 1894) ; 

 White, 1908 (Com. Estudos Minas Brazil, Relatorio final, 1908, pt. iii, 

 p. 546) ; Krasser, 1909 (Jahrb. Geol. Eeichst. Wien, lix, Heft i, p. 121, 1909) ; 

 Seward, 1907 (Kec. Geol. Surv. India, xxxvi, pt. i, p. 60, 1907) ; Seward, 

 1907 (Trans. Geol. Soc. S. Africa, x, p. 707, 1907). 



