12 E. A. N. Arher—The Triassic FJant Yiiccites. 



In this conclusion I was in agreement with Professor Seward, who 

 iiad recently attributed to the same genus some very similar fossils 

 from the Stonesfield Slate of Oxfordshire, Avhich he described under 

 the name Zamites megaphijllus (Phillips).^ In referring Schimper & 

 Mougeot's specimens from the Bunter, and the examples collected from 

 the English Keuper, to this genus, it was found necessary, for reasons 

 fully explained in my former paper,- to change also the specific name, 

 and the term Zamites grandis, sp. nov., was instituted for their 

 reception. 



Quite recently, however, Mr. AYills has brought to light a further 

 specimen from Bromsgrove, of great interest as showing the bases of 

 several leaves still attached to an axis. From this example there 

 ■appears to be no doubt that these fossils were not the detached leaflets 

 of a pinnate frond of Cycadophytean affinity, but leaves spirally arranged 

 on a stem or shoot. 



This exceptional specimen will be fully described by Mr. Wills in 

 his forthcoming memoir on the Keuper rocks of Bromsgrove. It may 

 suffice to state that it shows a flattened axis, some H cm. hmg, on 

 which portions of some nine leaves are seen spirally arranged, their 

 bases, in three or four instances, being in continuity with the stem or 

 branch. 



It is, however, proposed to discuss here the affinities of this fossil, 

 which can no longer be regarded as a member of the Cycadophyta. 



In the first place, it is unfortunate that this recent discovery, 

 while of great interest, hardly sheds any definite- light on the 

 question of affinity. The fructification of this plant is still 

 unknown, and, until it has been correlated with the leafy shoot, all 

 conclusions must, at the best, be of a provisional nature. As compared 

 with Upper Palajozoic plants, the Bunter and Keuper fossils recall 

 very vividly the leaves of Cordaites. Compter,' in describing similar, 

 if not identical, specimens from the Lower Keuper of East Thiiringia, 

 attributed them to this genus under the name Cordaites heuperianus, 

 sp. nov. Zeiller ' has supported this conclusion, and has drawn 

 attention to the fact that the occurrence of Artisia { Sternberg iayiike 

 -pith-casts in the Lias, as recorded by Lignier,^ lends probability to 

 this view. Further support is also afforded by the refiection that if 

 the Bromsgrove specimens had been obtained^ from Palaeozoic rocks 

 they would undoubtedly have been referred to the genus Cordaites. 



On the other hand, it is now apparent that plants of similar habit 

 to those under discussion from the Bunter and Keuper are not 

 uncommon in the Mesozoie rocks. I have recently examined, by 

 the kindness of Professor Sollas, one of the type-specimens^ from 

 the Stonesfield Slate of Zamites megaphyllus (Phillips), refigured by 

 ■Professor Seward," in which some of the leaves are still attached to 



1 See Arbor, ibid., p. 117. - See Arber, ibid., p. 11.5. 



■* Compter, Zeit«ch. Naturwiss. Leipzig, 1894, vol. IxviL (ser. v vol v) vi •^'>5 

 pi. iv, fig. 9. \ > /. 1 • - ) 



* Zeiller, Elem. de Pfdeobotanique, 1900, p. 213. 

 . * Lignier, Mem. Soc. Lian. Normandie, 1895, vol. xviii, p. 13,), pi. vii, fig. 13. 

 " •^*^- 748 ^'^ '^'^^ Oxford University Museum. 

 " Seward, Jurassic Flora, vol. ii (Brit. Mus. Cat.), 1904, p. 114, text-fig. 11. 



