G. R. Wieland — Historic Fossil Cycads. 101 



my own point of view. But this line of inquiry is more 

 appropriate to another chapter. Meantime, it seems extraor- 

 dinary that the fossil before us has received such scant notice 

 in texts, and that just as if it had never existed, the correct- 

 ness of Williamson's restoration was so long called in question 

 despite the added authority of Brongniart. 



(4) Anomozamites minor Nathorst. — The accurate descrip- 

 tions of the original types given thirty years since by Nathorst, 

 and more recently in his contribution on Einige Mosozoischen 

 Cycadopkyten, leave little to add here, except by way of 

 emphasis of the great botanical importance of this oldest of 

 known cycadeoids. These specimens, still unfortunately few 

 in number, are not only among the most priceless in the superb 

 collections of fossil plants in the Natural History Museum at 

 Stockholm, but deserve a foremost position amongst all fossil 

 cycadophytes. 



In my American Fossil Cycads I have in unmistakable terms 

 urged the great importance of Anomozamites, which by rea- 

 son of its slender much branched stem, its small blade-like 

 leaves, and its small fruits of Williamsonia type (apparently 

 with 18 microsporophylls), is certainly more suggestive of rela- 

 tionships to primitive Angiosperms, that is to the Magnoliacese 

 as determined independently by both Hallier and myself, than 

 is any other of the better known cycadeoids. Indeed the only 

 possible contestant for this position of primary importance 

 which can so far be suggested is Dictyozamites. Because of 

 its netted veined leaves, we may well suspect that this cycado- 

 phyte, now known to be one of the cosmopolitan forms, may 

 show yet closer approximations to Dicotyls — once we are for- 

 tunate enough to find its fruits. For it need surprise no one 

 if these should for instance exhibit that more primitive bispor- 

 angiate combination of the Cycas-like, or multiovulate carpo- 

 phyll, with reduced microsporophylls. or stamens, which one 

 may safely predict will be yet discovered in considerable 

 variety amongst the cycadeoids.*" 



* With the present additions, the known species of Cycadeoidean amphi- 

 sporangiate flowers now number quite a dozen distributed in five more or 

 less cosmopolitan genera, ranging through the entire Mesozoic, and ante- 

 dating the angiosperms in the most suggestive manner as follows : 



1. Anomozamites minor ; Microsporopl 



2. Cycadella wyomingensis ; " 



3. Cycadeoidea dacotensis ; ' ' 



4. 



a 



etrusca ; 



5. 



ti 



ingens ; 



6. 



" 



Jenneyana ; 



7. 



i i 



Paynei ; 



8. 



l £ 



Reichenbachiana 



9. 



(< 



Superba ; 



10. 



" 



(Species) ; 



11. 



Cycadocephalus Sewardi ; 



12. 



Williamsonia gigas ; 



17 or 18. 

 13 

 18 



13 

 10 or 11. 



—Trias. 



— U. Jura. 



— Wealden. 



— L. Cretaceous (?). 



— Wealden. 

 (< 



16 



i< 



17 or 18. 

 15 or 20. 



ti 



—Trias. 

 — Jura. 



