8G 



BRITISH EOCENE FLORA. 



The axis does not penetrate the cone, and all the scales are directed upward and diverge 

 at acute angles from a single point, but it is prolonged inferiorly into a sort of footstalk, 

 which occasionally seems obscurely scarred. 



In no specimen known to me from Ballypalady, out of nearly 100, are cones attached 

 to the foliage, though they are always found in singular proximity (PL XX, figs. 3, 4, 6, 8, 

 13). The cones bear a strong resemblance to those of Thuya, and, if they could be united 

 to the imbricated Cypress foliage, such species as Th. gigantea and Th. orientalis would be 

 apparently reproduced. But if such were the case, the Cypress foliage would have to do 

 duty for two sets of cones belonging to different genera, 

 while the lax foliage would have to be assigned to some 

 Conifer with fruit so inconspicuous as to have escaped 

 notice, such as some of the Dacrgdia or Juniper recurva. 

 The cones, however, are composed of many more scales 

 than are met with in Thuya, and for many reasons I 

 think we may dismiss such a determination and accept 

 the view that the cones and foliage described are actually 

 the product of the same plant. In this case their reference 

 to Thuya becomes impossible, for though a few Thuya and 

 Cupressi occasionally bear a lax foliage, it is either of 

 different type or confined to the seedling stage of growth. 1 

 Our choice is in fact practically narrowed to Crgptomeria? 

 In comparing our cones with those of the existing 

 Cryptomeria several important differences are observable. 

 The base of the cone is much broader in the living 

 species, the form more pyramidal, the basal scales directed 

 downwards, and the fringed margin more regular and 

 deeply indented. On roasting some of the cones in 

 plaster, so as to reproduce to some extent the condition of 

 the fossils, the resemblance is greatly increased, for the 

 umbonal spine leaves a similarly cleanly-cut transverse 

 scar in nearly the same position across the scale, which 

 is also seen to be similarly furrowed and of the same 

 outline, except that the scar in the fossil is a little lower 

 down. The foliage is shorter and denser, and inclined in 

 places to become more imbricated than in C.japonica. 

 The divergence between the fossil and its living representative is more accentuated 



1 Th. Occident alis, Cupressus nuthaensis, C. funebris, C. fastigiata, Widdringtonia cupressoides, 

 and W. juniper oides, occasionally bear foliage of both kinds. 



2 Since the above was in type, foliage ivith cones attached from Glenarm have amply confirmed the 

 determination. 



Fig. 34. — Cryptomeria japonica 

 (Veitch's • Manual of the Conif'erse '). 



