134 MRS. E. M. REID ON TWO [vol. lxxvi. 



Erica vagans (PL IX, fig. 31). The seeds of this species are 

 globular, stipitate, and reticulate, in the same way as the fossil, 

 some showing coarse reticulations over a smooth surface, others 

 being honeycombed ; the difference seems to depend on the degree 

 of inflation of the seeds. Though closely resembling the seeds 

 of JE. vagans, the fossils are slightly larger, and the reticulations 

 coarser and less numerous. Unfortunately, for lack of living 

 material for comparison, I have been unable to carry the determin- 

 ation farther. 



PRIMULACE.E. 



Primulace^ genus (?) sp. (PL IX, figs. 32 & 33.) 



Seeds small, nearly circular, convex dorsally, sub-pyramidal 

 ventrally ; hilum elongate, ventral ; surface rough, with small close 

 cells, and the impression of an outer coat of large loose cells. 



Diameter ="9 mm. 



The regular form of this seed, its convex dorsal surface and the 

 sub-pyramidal ventral surface, as well as the character of the testa, 

 point to it as belonging to Primulacese, and to some genus which 

 has a globular capsule, few seeds, and these attached to sunken pits 

 in the placenta. Seeds of such genera are pyramidal ventrally ; 

 while dorsally they conform to the curvature of the capsule, and 

 are not distorted at the margins by mutual pressure. An'agallis 

 and Glaux have such capsules and seeds, also Coris and Ceniun- 

 culus. I have been unable to identify the Castle-Eden species. 



GENTIANACE.E. 



Gentiana (Aptera) sp. (PL X, fig. 1.) 



Seeds minute, oval, flattened, shining; attachment basal; surface 

 beautifully reticulate, reticulations darker than the seed, and elon- 

 gate longitudinally. 



Length = 5 mm. ; breadth =2 mm. 



The seeds show the form and character of seeds of Gentiana of 

 the section Aptera. Though many species resemble them I have 

 been unable to find one that exactly agrees. G. cruciata (PL X, 

 fig. 2) is much larger, and its reticulations fewer and coarser. 

 G. olivieri is of the same size, and has reticulations about as coarse ; 

 but they are broader, not elongate as in the fossil. G. macrophylla 

 has reticulations exactly agreeing ; but the seed is much larger. 

 G. atkinsoni has a larger seed and finer reticulations ; but these 

 are only a few out of many species. Most had no seeds that I 

 could examine, and I have, therefore, not assigned to the fossils a 

 specific name. . 



They do not belong to any European species of the section, 

 of which by far the greater number of species are natives of 

 China. 



