﻿Vol. 64.] FOSSIL PLA.NTS FROM SOUTH AFRICA. 101 



generic name is applied to stems with pith-casts of the Tylodendron 

 (SchizodendronJ-iyTpe, and surface-features not unlike those of the 

 specimen shown in PL III, fig. 3. The occurrence of petrified wood 

 in association with pith-casts like that figured by Eichwald demon- 

 strates the Araucarian nature of some at least of these Palaeozoic 

 stems. The stem described by Mougeot ^ as Araucariies vcddajolensis, 

 and more recently by M. Fliche^ from the Permian of the Yosges, alsa 

 offers some resemblance to the African stem. It is not suggested 

 that we have enough evidence before us to warrant the reference of 

 the Aliwal-North fossil to the Araucariese ; my point is that it is 

 more likely to be the impression of a coniferous than of a lycopodi- 

 aceous stem. 



A small piece of pith-cast from Burghersdorp presented to the 

 South African Museum by Dr. Kannemeyer is of the Tylodendron- 

 type, and may belong to a stem like that represented in PL III, 

 fig. 3. 



Genus Strobilites.^ 



Strobilites laxus, sp. nov. (PL Y, fig. 3 & text-fig. 7, p. 102.) 



The specimens here figured were obtained from Burghersdorp Beds, 

 at a locality on the Orange River opposite Aliwal North, in the 

 Orange-Biver Colony. PL Y, fig. 3 (half the natural size) represents 

 an impression of an axis 20 centimetres long; 1*3 cm. broad at the 

 basal end, which is not the actual base of the axis ; and tapering to a 

 breadth of 4 mm. at the apex. Numerous appendages are seen in side- 

 view, attached by a horizontal stalk 5 mm. broad and 1*5 cm. long, 

 which bend upwards distally into a lamina characterized by a rounded 

 upper edge and radially-disposed folds or ridges. It is possible that 

 the distal lamina was prolonged somewhat below the termination of 

 the pedicel; but, so far as can be seen, the spirally-disposed append- 

 ages consist of a horizontal stalk and a more or less semicircular 

 free laminar termination which formed a protective covering to the 

 strobilus. There is no indication of seeds ; these were probably 

 borne on the adaxial side of the distal end of each sporophyll. 

 Spirally-arranged pits on the face of the axis mark the position of 

 vascular strands which supplied the sporophyll, and a clearly-defined 

 groove on some of the stalks (a, fig. 7, p. 102) indicates the course of 

 an outgoing bundle. The specimen represented in PL Y, fig. 3, shows 

 on one side a small piece of an axis with a few sporophylls, like 

 those in text-fig. 7 ; and on the other side (as shown in PL Y, fig. 3) 

 we have a view of the surface of the strobilus. 



As regards the nature of this strobilus, it is probably Gymno- 

 spermous, and a comparison is at once suggested with modern 

 Cycads and Conifers. A partly-dissected cone of a Cycad presents 



1 Mougeot (52) p. 27 & pl. iv. 



2 Fliche (03) pp. 130-32. 



^ This convenient designation is adopted in the sense in which it was used 

 by Schimper & Mougeot in 1844. 



