408 



PODOCAKPINEAE 



[CH. 



a flesiiy base as in certain existing species, but the details are too 

 indistinct to afEord any proof of affinity to Podo- 

 carpus. Gardner also describes a globose wrinkled 

 seed, 16 mm. in diameter, as ? Podocarpus argillae- 

 londinensis^ from the London Clay which bears 

 a close resemblance to the seeds of Podocarpus 

 elata. The specimens from Eocene beds in the 

 Island of Mull described by Gardner^ as Podo- 

 carpus horealis, consisting of small falcate leaves 

 and seed-like bodies, are too imperfect to be 

 determined with accuracy. Fig. 794, G, C' repre- 

 sents a type from Bournemouth described as 

 Podocarpus mcerte which differs from other species 

 in the absence of a definite midrib ; the linear-lanceolate coriaceous 

 leaves, reaching a length of 3 cm., are decurrent and appear to have 

 several parallel veins, a feature characteristic of the section Nageia : 



/iti^ 



Fig. 793. Podocar- 

 pites elegans. Sup- 

 posed fertile shoot. 

 (Specimen in the 

 British Museum 

 figured by Gard- 

 ner.) 



II i 



r^l^' 



A C C B 



Fig. 794. A, H, Sequoiites Tournali {see jp. 353). C, C , Podocarpites iticerta. (From 

 specimens in the British Museum described by J. Starkie Gardner; A, B, V. 524; 

 C,V. 522; nat. size.) 



it is, however, doubtful whether this species should be included in 



a genus implying affinity to Podocarpus. Some leaves figured by 



Schmalhausen* from Oligocene strata in Russia as species of 



Podocarpus are too imperfect to afford any trustworthy evidence 



as to the occurrence of the genus Podocarpites. Ettingshausen* 



1 Gardner (86) p. 52, PI. ix. figs. 35, 36. ^ Ibid. (87) A. PI. xni. figs. 3—11. 



3 Sohmalhausen (83^) PI. xxxii. « Ettingshausen (86) PI. vm. figs. 25—27. 



