part 2] PREGLACTAL FLORAS FROM CASTLE EDE>*. 135 



LABIATE. 



Ajuga decumbens Thunberg. (PI. X, tig. 3.) 



Length =: 1*8 to 2 mm. ; breadth = P4 to 1*5 mm. 



Two perfect nutlets and parts of others belong to the genus 

 Ajuga, of which the nutlets, in general character, are very similar 

 in different species. In size the nutlets agree with A. reptans ; but 

 the venation is much finer and more complicated. An examination 

 of the species in the Kew Herbarium shows venation of the kind in 

 A. decumbens (PI. X, fig. 4), a plant recorded from China, Japan, 

 and the Himalaya. It is only the Japanese specimens that show 

 the fine venation ; in those from China and the Himalaya it is 

 coarse, but the Japanese specimens are consistent in this respect. 



SlDEEJTIS Sp. (PI. X, fig. 5.) 



Nutlets broadly oval, tumid, with a wedge-shaped base ; dorsal 

 face convex ; ventral face convex above, angled below ; outer coat 

 of irregular cells forming a rough, almost tubercled, surface ; inner 

 coat smooth, but pitted with deep square or oblong pits, rather far 

 apart and arranged in longitudinal rows. 



Length=P25 mm. ; breadth = '9 mm. 



Three nuts. Two show the outer coat ; the third, which has the 

 same characters otherwise, is without this coat. Very frequently 

 Labiates lose the outer coat during fossilization. 



The shape and other characters resemble those of certain species 

 of Sideritis, but I have been unable to identify the species. 

 Sideritis is a large genus principally inhabiting the Mediterranean 

 regions and Central Europe, though one species (S. ciliata) is found 

 in Japan. Unfortunately, I have been unable to examine this 

 Japanese species. 



Prunella vulgaris Linnseus. (PI. X, fig. 6.) 



Length =1 to l - 4 mm. ; breadth = - 6 to -8 mm. 



Five nuts of Prunella agree in every way with those of the 

 living species P. vulgaris, except that they are somewhat small. 

 The smaller nuts of Prunella are usually about as large as the 

 largest Castle-Eden specimens ; the fossils therefore only just lie 

 within the lower limit of variation, but the agreement is otherwise 

 so exact, that I think they should be referred to the species. 



Melissa elegans, sp. nov. (PL X, fig. 7.) 



Endocarpium elongato-obovatum, cicatrice basi-ventrali elongato- 

 ovata, extra striis longitudinalibis moniliformibus tenuibus apice 

 rete efficientibus ornatum. 



Nutlets elongate-obovate ; dorsal face convex, with a shallow 

 elongate median depression ; ventral face rounded above, angled 

 below ; attachment elongate-ovate, subtriangular, basi-ventral ; 

 surface marked by fine longitudinal beaded striations, which towards 



Q. J. C. S. No" 302. l 



