56 Dr. M. C. Stopes — The Kentish Rag 'Dragon-tree'. 



In his "Wealden Catalogue Seward points out that there is nothing 

 in this fossil to indicate that it had an Angiospermic affinit3 r , and in 

 1896, 1 in a review of the supposed fossil Angiospermes, he amplifies 

 this and gives the plant the non-committal name of Benstedtia. This 

 genus he places among the Cycads, illustrating the likeness hetween 

 the markings on the outside of the fossil and those on the living 

 species of Zamia Skinneri. This superficial similarity is very close, 

 and is well illustrated in his pi. xiv. The particular point on which 

 stress is laid in the comparison is the presence of irregular transverse 

 ridges and grooves, instead of the usual armour-plate of leaf-bases 

 common in Cj'cads. 



Since the Maidstone Benstedtias have been described a few 

 specimens have been found elsewhere. Among the fossils of the 

 Uitenhage Series of South Africa are some which are put by Professor 

 Seward in the genus Benstedtia. In this paper 2 Professor Seward 

 remarks that the casts called Coniferocaulon colymbeceforme by Fliche 

 appear to be identical with Benstedtia. These casts, like our specimens, 

 show no internal structure whatever. 



As Professor Seward remarks (loc. cit., p. 217), since none of the 

 wood structure is retained in the fossils conclusive evidence as to 

 their nature is not to be looked for. He notices the wood-like 

 appearance towards the middle of the largest of the specimens, but 

 observes that it is of purely mineral nature. 



One of the objects of the present paper is to record the fact that 

 I have found true wood remains in these fossils. In the course of my 

 work on Cretaceous plants I have had occasion to re-examine the 

 figured specimens, and have one or two further observations to offer 

 concerning their botanical affinities. 



In the British Museum there are more specimens than have been 

 mentioned by previous writers. One of these lends support to the 

 doubt I feel that in the casts of Benstedtia described by Professor 

 Seward and others we are really dealing with the external features 

 of the plant. The likeness of the external appearance of these 

 casts to those of the true exterior of Zamia Skinneri is without 

 doubt ; but if in the fossil we are not dealing with true external 

 features the comparison ceases to be of any value. No. V. 9572 in 

 the British Museum shows two layers of this supposed exterior super- 

 imposed for a short distance, and with nearly a centimetre of matrix 

 between them. This evidence is, of course, not conclusive, but it 

 suggests that the ' exterior ' represents zones of cortex or bark at 

 various levels in the decorticated stem. 



Close examination of the largest specimen (No. 8357), to which 

 all previous English writers have referred, revealed that there is 

 a remnant of true wood in the axis of the cast. The crystalline 

 matter simulating wood, mentioned by Professor Seward in his 

 account of this specimen, is clearly to be recognized, and is distinct 

 from the true remains of woody tissue. 



1 Annals of Botany, vol. x, pp. 216 et seq., 1896. 



2 " Fossil Floras of Cape Colony " : Ann. S. African Mus., vol. iv, 1903, see 

 pp. 34-6. 



