292 



Br. H. Woodicarcl — Australian Mesozoic Plants. 



is preserved, cut down to near the base (see woodcut), tlie segments 

 spreading on either side of the central one, and being three in num- 

 ber on the side preserved. The digitations are linear, with a thick 

 mid -rib passing up the centre of each segment. 



The cuneate base runs down 

 into a slender petiole. By its 

 side are the fragments of two 

 leaves or leaflets, which agree 

 in having a strong central rib 

 and have a close resemblance 

 to fragments of the leaflets of 

 the living genus Cycas, but if 

 they are connected with the 

 palmate leaf, we must look 

 for other affinities, for that 

 leaf would not fit into any form 

 of leaf known among the 

 Cycadecs. 



The form of the palmate 

 leaf at once suggests the leaf 

 of a Salishuria, but the single 

 median rib in each segment, 

 though found in many Coni- 



ferce, as for instance in Podocarpus, is very different from the 

 numerous slender dichotomous veins found in Salishuria, and in the 

 fossil forms which have been referred to this genus. 



We do not venture to suggest, on the materials before us, any 

 definite position for this fossil.' 



Mount Babbage ^ and Leigh's Creek are about 130 miles apart ; 

 both localities are mapped as Mesozoic by Mr. Brown. Probably 

 the specimens here noticed may be of Lower Cretaceous age ; ^ but 

 more evidence is wanting before a decided judgment can be pro- 

 nounced upon them as to their geological age, and more specimens 

 are needed to determine their affinities. 



Leaf from Mount Adams. 



Fig. 1. 



2 

 „ 3. 

 ,, 4. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE VII. 



Portion of cast of stem of Mantellia ? Babbagensis, H. "Woodw. (nat. 



size), from Mount Babbage, South Australia. 

 The same, end view. 

 Some bracts of Cycad enlarged. 

 Mantellia inclusa (half nat. size), Carruthers. Trans. Linn. Soc. 



vol. xxvi. tab. 63, fig. 3, p. 703. Original from Potton Sands, 



Cambridgeshire. (York Museum.) 

 Bracts of Mantellia intermedia (half nat. size). 



^ Twenty-two specimens sent in from Gammon range are inorganic concretions. 

 Some have been cut open with the circular saw, but they yield no information to 

 repay the investigator. The matrix looks like a Pala3ozoic rock. 



2 And ? Mount Adams. 



^ 'Jhe late Mr. Charles Moore, F.G.S., in his paper on Australian Mesozoic 

 Geology and Palseontology (Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc. 1870, vol. xxvi. pp. 226-261, 

 pi. x.-xviii.), speaks of Cretaceous beds, but his paper does not aid our present inquiry. 



