Fossil Plants. 



29 



Carpolithus trilocularis.* Specific character and descrip- 

 tion. — -An oblong, ovate nut, divided longitudinally into three equal 

 divisions, by strongly marked, elevated ridges, running from the 

 base to the tip ; base truncated, and profoundly impressed with the 

 cicatrix of the stem ; tip rather pointed ; surface smooth ; length 

 one inch and four lines ; diameter ten lines. 



Observations. — Some of the specimens are flattened, others re- 

 tain their original rotundity ; found in the sand rock at Mariner's 

 Mills, intermixed with casts of various species of plants ; amongst 

 which were Sigillaria, Calamites columnare, Calamites dubia, with 

 several species of arborescent ferns. This nut is probably the fruit 

 of some antediluvian Palm. We obtained a number of specimens, 

 several of which were detached from the rock, while we were pres- 

 ent. Drawings of two specimens are given at fig. 4. 



Fig. 4. 



Syringodendron Kirtlandius. Specijic Character. — Stem 

 swelled at intervals ; surface finely striated, and covered with alter- 

 nate grooves and double linear dot-like impressions, arranged longi- 

 tudinally. 



* On examining the shell of the recent cocoa nut, I find its surface marked with 

 prominent ridges, dividing the disk into three equal divisions, similar to the Car- 

 polithus trilocularis. This fact is an additional proof of these fossil nuts being the 

 fruit of some ancient Palm tree. 



