cross*section of our fossil, in its middle layer. These cavities may possibly be accidental ; 

 but they make us doubtful as to the true position of this plant. 



SABIACEAE. 



MELIOSMA EUROPAEA Sp. nov. 

 PI. XI, figs. 19, 20, 21, 24, 25. 



Endocarpium maximum, globosum, superne obtuse carinatum, inferne com* 

 planatum, canaliculatum valdeque involutum, facie interiore ad styli basem 

 calcaratum. 



Endocarp (fig. 19) very large globose, bluntly keeled above, flattened below 

 channelled and strongly infolded; spurred on the inner face at the base of the style. 

 Mesocarp(?) ossified locally and forming a hard spongy plug infolded into the endo* 

 carp (figs. 20, 21), plug large broadly cuneate or sagittate, extending to and sometimes 

 enclosing the spur at the base of the style. 



Length 6 mm., breadth 8 mm. Reuver, Swalmen. 



Our endocarps are somewhat larger than those of Meliosma Veitchiorum (fig. 22), 

 which they greatly resemble. They are less pointed and more globose. We thought at 

 first that the fossil endocarps could be referred to that species ; but the discovery by 

 Mr. Wilson of another closely*allied form, M. Beaniana Rich, and Wils., with endocarps 

 (fig. 23) nearly as large, has caused us to re-examine the evidence. Mr. Wilson has 

 sent us fruits of both these interesting Chinese species. The differences seen in the 

 endocarps are not great, but constant, and we are evidently dealing with three closely* 

 allied species, two of which still live in the mountains of Western China, the third is 

 only known fossil in Limburg. 



In the fossil endocarps the hard plug at the attachment is often diseased, and 

 expands into a discoid spongy mass, at the end of which the abortive endocarp forms 

 a small excrescence. Specimens are found showing every stage of this diseased growth, 

 which was caused by a fungus. The outgrowth is often much larger than a perfect endo* 

 carp ; but it does not enclose the endocarp, and seems only to form at its base. Mr. Massee 

 cannot find any record of such an abnormality in any of the living species of Meliosma. 



We illustrate (figs. 24, 25) two stages of this disease ; but most of these galls are 

 found detached from the endocarps. The fungus which causes this disease has been 

 described and figured by Mr. G. Massee (ante, p. 52). 



SABIACEAE or SIMARUBACEAE. 



GENUS? 

 PI. XI, figs. 26, 27 a, b. 

 A peculiar drupaceous fruit, of which six specimens have been found at Reuver, 

 was thought at first to belong to Sabiaceae ; we now think however that it represents 

 some unknown genus, probably belonging to the Simarubaceae. 



113 



