1867.] TATE— SOTJTH-AFEICAN FOSSILS. 147 



7. In addition to the above -emimerated species there are asso- 

 ciated with them portions of a Coniferous stem closely allied to 

 AtJirotaxites Indicus, Oldham, of the Eajmahal coal-series ; parts of 

 stems, presenting longitudinal tuberculated ridges, probably Cyca- 

 daceous ; and ovules of Palceozamia, and the under surface of the 

 base of a cone, perhaps of the same. 



b. General JRemarJcs on the Fossil Plants from Geelhouthoom. 



The plant-bearing beds of Geelhouthoom are (according to the 

 observations of Bain and others) younger than the ''Karoo Series," 

 or "Dicynodon strata," the flora of which is described above 

 (p. 140 ) ; but they are inferior in position to those strata on the 

 Sunday's River (the "Trigonia-beds") that yield marine fossils of un- 

 doubted Jurassic age. Accepting the conclusions arrived at respecting 

 the age of the beds newer and older than the plant-bearing strata of 

 Geelhouthoom, any evidence that an examination of these plants 

 may afford as to the Jurassic aspect of this flora will be very valuable 

 as a confirmation of its age, already inferred from the stratigraphical 

 position of the beds themselves. That the flora does bear evidence 

 of such a .Jurassic relationship, I will proceed to point out. 



The specimens collected by Dr. Eubidge in 1845, at the Sunday's 

 Biver (Geelhouthoom), were examined by Prof. Morris*, who gave 

 as his opinion that they " are essentially ' Secondary ' in character, 

 from the preponderance of the remains of Cycadece, and probably re- 

 present a Triassic or a Jurassic flora." The same plants were exlii- 

 bited at the Ipswich Meeting of the British Association (1851), on 

 which occasion Dr. Harvey stated that " the species of Pecojyteris, 

 Neiiropteris, and Sjplienojpteris chiefly resemble those of the coal of 

 Australia, whilst the presence of Zamia in abundance impresses an 

 Oolitic aspect on the flora "f. 



Though the collection of these plants has been greatly increased 

 by the further liberality of Dr. Atherstone and Dr. Eubidge, yet the 

 views advanced by Prof. Morris are still apphcable ; but Dr. Harvey's 

 statement must be accepted with some limitation. 



The collection, though rich in individuals, is poor in species, and 

 has yielded the following : — 



4 species of Palceozamia. 



1 „ AtJirotaxites. 



1 „ Cychj)teris. 



1 ,, Sjphenojyteris. 



1 „ Asjplenites. 



3 „ Pecopteris. 



^ British Assoc. Eep. 1851, Trans. Sect. p. 68. 

 _ t [Trans. Geol. Soc. 2nd ser. vol. vii. p. 227, note. There was for some time con- 

 siderable doubt respecting the real localities of the Fossil Plants referred to in 

 the foot-notes at p. 185 & p. 227, vol. vii. Trans. Geol. Soc. 2nd ser. The same 

 specimens are alluded to in these two notes. Most of them came from Geelhout- 

 hoom ; but some were from the Karoo Beds at Jackal's Kop, on the eastern side 

 of the Stormberg (Quart. Journ. Geol. Sec. vol. xii. p. 237) ; and these latter do 

 not appear among those that ultimately came into the possession of the Society, 

 and which Professor Morris examined.— T. B. J.] 



