AHAUCAEIOXYION. 65 



In addition to these two forms of Feme, Witham gives drawings 

 of otter specimens of coniferous wood from the WMthy Lias to 

 which, he does not apply specific names. In an important paper 

 published in 1834, Nicol ^ notes the occurrence of three types of 

 coniferous wood in the Whitby Lias, and recognises certain 

 histological characters which demonstrate the Araucarian nature 

 of such specimens. Nicol, like many subsequent writers, states 

 that the wood of existing species of Araucaria is peculiar in the 

 absence of annual rings. This statement, though partially true, 

 is by no means entirely correct, as distinct annual rings do occur 

 in some modern Araucarias. The same author correctly describes 

 the contiguous aiTangement and polygonal form of the bordered 

 pits as an Araucarian characteristic. 



My examination of numerous sections of wood from the 

 neighbourhood of "Whitby and Staithes in the Museum collection 

 has enabled me to recognise two well-marked types, one of which 

 is an undoubted Araucarian type, while the other may be included 

 in Goppert's comprehensive genus Cupressinoxylon. It is probable 

 that more than two species are represented, but the material 

 available is hardly sufficient to warrant the institution of additional 

 specific terms. 



Genus ARAUCARIOXYLON, Kraus. 



[Schimper, Trait, pal. Teg. vol. ii. p. 380, 1872.] 



This generic designation was formerly made use of in the 

 descriptions of wood from Palaeozoic as well as from Mesozoic 

 and Tertiary rocks ; but as the Palaeozoic specimens are in many 

 cases known to belong to Cordaites and other genera which diflEer 

 in important features from true Conifers, it is better to restrict the 

 name Araucarioxylon to fossil wood which we believe to belong 

 to trees closely allied to existing members of the Araucarieae. 

 In thus limiting the use of Arauoarioxyhn I am following the 

 example of Knowlton,- ZeiUer,' Scott,* and other authors.^ 



1 Mcol (34). 



2 Knowlton (89), (90). 



3 Zeiller (00), p. 280. 

 * Scott (99), (02). 



5 PenhaUow (00). 



