Vol. 69.] OUR KNOWLEDGE OP WEALDEN FLORAS. 109 



Pinites ruffordi Sew. — For a description, with illustrations, of 

 this species, founded on petrified wood, see Seward (96 2 ). 



Nageiopsis sp. — The specimens on which Foutaine fouuded his 

 species N. heterophylla are identified by Mr. Berry T as iV. zamioides 

 Font., and the genus is believed by him to be closely allied to the 

 recent Conifer Podocarpus, an opinion which still lacks the support 

 of reproductive shoots. 



Benstedtia. — Dr. Marie Stopes 2 has recently shown that in some 

 of the casts placed by me in this genus the wood consists of 

 tracheids like those of certain Conifers (not Araucarian), and she 

 suggests that Fliche's generic name Coniferocaidon should be sub- 

 stituted for Benstedtia. 



Sewardia saportce (Sew.). — Prof. Zeiller, 3 who, despite my care- 

 less employment in the 'Wealden Flora' of a generic designation 

 (Witliamia) already in existence, instituted the present genus, 

 places this plant among the Cycads. While this may be its true 

 position, we have as yet no means of deciding whether it is a Cycad 

 or a Conifer. 



The recent monograph by Mr. Berry 1 and other contributors 

 published under the auspices of the Geological Survey of Maryland 

 renders unnecessary a comprehensive review of the Wealden floras 

 of the world. In this exceedingly useful and important volume 

 Mr. Berry not only describes several new types of Potomac plants, 

 bat revises the work of previous writers and deals with the 

 geographical distribution and geological sequence of Lower Cre- 

 taceous floras generally. 



The subjoined table (p. Ill) is drawn up with the view of illus- 

 trating the geographical range of some of the more widespread 

 and better-known Wealden plants ; it does not profess to show 

 the range of plants specifically identical with the British types 

 selected, but to express in general terms the range of species 

 believed to be closely allied to, and in some cases specifically 

 identical with, these types. 



In endeavouring to form an opinion as to the degree of re- 

 semblance between one flora, in this case a British flora, and 

 floras of the same or approximately the same age in other regions, 

 the most profitable and feasible pian would seem to be to regard 

 the plants selected for our purpose as representative types equivalent 

 not to single species in the ordinary sense, but, as a rule, to two or 

 more closely-allied types. A few examples may serve to explain 

 the nature of the basis on which the table is compiled. Equisetites 

 lyelli is used in a comprehensive sense, as including Equisetaceous 



1 Berry (10 2 ) p. 191. 



2 Stopes (11). See also Seward (98); id, (03) p. 35 ; Knowlton (11); 

 Stopes (ll 2 ). 3 Zeiller (00) p. 232. 4 Berry (ll 2 ). 



