PROM THE RICHMOND RIVEE, N.S.W. 239 



layers are much softer than the other portions, and they are 

 found to be composed almost exclusively of the casts of vege- 

 table tissue ; the fern fronds and stems are especially well pre- 

 served. Also scattered irregularly through these layers and the 

 solid substance of the mineral, the remains of certain fruits and 

 seeds are met with. 



These latter were submitted to the Baron von Miiller, C.M.Gr., 

 M.D., F.R.S., the highest authority upon Australian Botany, 

 who at once pronounced them to belong to a new genus ; I 

 now beg to append his description, and at the same time to 

 tender to him my best thanks for his ever ready assistance in all 

 questions relating to botanical matters. 



Description of Fossil Fruits in Siliceous Deposit, JRicJimond River. 

 By the Baron Von, Midler, M.D., G.M.G., F.B.S. 



LiVEESIDGEA. 



Fruit divided into four (or perhaps more) turgid lobes ; each 

 division outward free and dorsally rounded, the cells filled with 

 a plicate substance. 



Placentas parietal. Seeds several (or perhaps many) im- 

 bedded in the folds of the inner substance, turgid-oval towards 

 the one extremity, thence gradually attenuated to the almost 

 pungent point of attachment. Testa thin and pale ; nucleus 

 very smooth and shining ; chalaza somewhat lateral, close to the 

 turgid extremity of the seed, rather large, orbicular- oval. 



Liversidgea occyspora. 



Diameter of fruit f to nearly 1 inch. Seeds from 2 to 3 lines 

 long, the inner portion homogeneous from infiltration of silicic 

 acid, with no trace of original cotyledonar division, hence the 

 embryo probably minute, within a copious and equable albumen. 



In tracing the affinity of this vegetable relic, we are reminded 

 as well of the aurantiaceous tribe of Butacece as of Guttiferce, 

 from both of which the exterior placentation would already 

 separate it, while by this the alliance to Capparidece and Bixacecd 

 is indicated, but from the material hitherto obtained the precise 

 ordinal position of this new generic type dedicated to the learned 

 discoverer cannot yet be affirmed. 



The form of the seed is remarkable, and gave rise to the 

 specific name. 



There is one impression of a leaf with these fruits, and this leaf 

 probably belongs to the plant the fruits of which are now 

 described. 



See plate, figures I to Y. Figures W to IX represent the 

 ferns accompanying the fossil fruits. 



