J. Starkie Gardner — Mesozbie Angiosperms. 201 



singular prolongations emerging from the calyx, known as the 

 "proboscis" (really the efferent orifice), which exactly resemble 

 externally the spadices of large Aroideous flowers. 1 Though the 

 calyx and " proboscis " have not been found united in this particular 

 species, the fact that the supposed spadix is calcareous, and is far 

 from uncommon in a purely marine formation, renders it in the 

 highest degree improbable that it could be any portion of the flower 

 of an Aroid such as Xantliosoma. These singular crinoid probosces 

 were however not known when the determination was made. It is 

 a remarkable fact, that up to the present, there are no fossil representa- 

 tives of the Aroidete described, save a single fragment from the 

 Tertiary of Eriz, in Switzerland, named Aronites dubius by Heer, a 

 determination thought by Schimper to be doubtful. Our Eocene 

 Flora, however, contains several important representatives of the 

 group. 



Several quite distinct types of Monocotyledons have been recorded 

 from the Lias, the principal of these being Bambusium liasinum, 

 Heer, 2 a leaf very similar to those mentioned as Ynccites without 

 mid-rib and with two to four fine veins alternating with every more 

 decided one. Stems supposed to have been solid and cylindrical 

 and jointed are said to have been found associated with the leaves. 

 Some other fragments described as Cyperites protogceus, Heer, sup- 

 posed to be a species of Cyperacem, and Zosterites tenuistriatus, 

 Heer, possess no characters whatever on which any opinion should 

 have been expressed, and must certainly be expunged. The stems 

 of Endogenites erosa, so common in the Wealden and Neocomian, are 

 now known to be Cycadeous, and it is probable that the Draccena-like 

 stems from Tilgate Forest and elsewhere, so often referred to by 

 Mantell, are referable to the same group. There are also many 

 Jurassic-Cretaceous fruits which may quite conceivably prove to be 

 angiospermous, and which deserve careful study. 



The remarkably fine stem I have figured is in the possession of 

 Prof. Williamson, who states that it is the Calamites Beanii of 

 Bunbury. 3 Sir Charles, however, remarks on the tumid articula- 

 tions, " the stem being much thicker in those parts than in the 

 intermediate spaces," so that he must have had specimens of 

 Equisetum columnare, which occur abundantly in the same beds, 

 in his mind. In speaking of it Prof. Williamson observes that 

 " so far as external appearances are concerned, it more closely 

 resembles the stem of one of the arborescent Graminece. But 

 such appearances have very little Taxonomic value. Nevertheless, 

 the plant stands out in prominent distinctness from amongst the 

 Ferns, Cycads, and Conifers that grew around it, forcibly suggesting 

 the idea of an arborescent Monocotyledon ; and if such has been 

 its character, its position amongst these older Oolites would make 



1 Although this conclusion seems highly probable, it must be borne in mind that at 

 present we know of no Secondary stalked crinoid with a "proboscis" like Poteriocrinvs 

 or Platycriuus. All the forms with this appendage being of Palaeozoic age. — H. W. 



2 Heer, Flora Helvetise, p. 138, pi. 55. 



3 Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. vol. vii. p. 189, C. giganteus, Bean MS. 



