FICOIDITES FURCATUS. 



FORKED FICOIDITE. 



Generic Character, 

 Stem with cicatrices; cicatrices distant, depressed, having a tubercle in the 

 centre surrounded by a hollow; tubercles bearing leaves or spines. 



Specific Character. 

 FICOIDITES furcatus. Cicatrices approximate, nearly of equal size; spines 



long, linear, forked. 



° • 



Synonyms. 

 This species of fossil plants has not been found described in any work. 



Description and Locality. 



Stem of nearly equal thickness throughout, rather closely covered with cica- 

 trices, arranged spirally. 



Cicatrices formed of slightly prominent tubercles surrounded by a hollow. 



Tubercles pierced in the centre with a single gland, connecting the spine with 

 the stem. 



Spines, cylindrical? enlarged at the base, forked? forks also enlarged at the 

 base so as to produce a considerable divarication in their direction. 



Found imbedded in the shale of the El-se-car new colliery, near Wentworth, in 

 a horizontal and compressed state. 



Observations. 



The specimen figured in the plate is part of a very well preserved individual of 

 this species; the stem is five feet seven inches in length, and three inches in diameter: 

 some of the spines are one foot eight inches long. No other specimen has been as 

 yet discovered. 



Upon the principles laid down by Dr. Martius, in his paper lately quoted, this 

 species bears indications of being allied to the recent tribes of cacalice or Jicoidecs, 

 and therefore this genus has been established to receive this, and similar plants. 



The fork of the spine is shown at A and B. The hollow in which the tubercle 

 is exhibited of its natural size at C, and the base of the spine with the mode of its 

 insertion is clearly shown at D. 



