(r. It. Wieland — Williamsonian Tribe. 



455 



ration, would at once result in the formation of the " pyriform 

 axes" figured by Williamson and so puzzling in his day. In 

 addition to the suggested early dehiscence of the seed-stem 

 zone, its preservation as a weak zone easily split off during 

 erosion may also account for some of the axes figured by 

 Saporta. 



However this may be, in the present case the finely outlined 

 form suggested that the strobilus was a complete one at the 

 time of fossilization, and it was hoped that a longitudinal sec- 



Fig. 12. 



Fig. 12. Williamsonia gigas. x 1/2. Bract whorl (left), and ovulate 

 strobilus to the right, showing interseminal scales near base with the stro- 

 bilar axis or receptacle on which is seated the seed-stem series. The original 

 is a most instructive specimen. (Yale — James Yates Collection.) 



tion might reveal inner features. But on sawing through the 

 fruit longitudinally, and smoothing the surface of the saw cuts, 

 all directly visible traces of the internal structure outside the 

 conical receptacle were found curiously absent. 



So too in the case of the huge bud shown in fig. 9 a saw 

 cut only disclosed some lesser apical detail. In both instances 

 it seems that aside from the condition of the fruit at the time 

 of fossilization, the indication of tissue zones has been partly 

 determined by the course of erosion and weathering from the 

 matrix. Curiously enough, the parenchyma ground tissue of 

 the receptacle is well enough conserved to plainly show the 

 gum canals. Whence the seed zone may be restored with all 

 confidence as has been done in outline in fig. 8D ; and it would 

 be likewise exact to represent the apical region as a long and 

 finally spreading top of sterile scales. In fact it is marvelous to 

 find first one and then another feature conserved until, not for- 

 getting the supposed Pandanus of Buckland, it is clear that had 

 all the evidence been rigidly put together, a fair reconstruction 

 of the entire fruit and form of fructification could have been 

 made long before the later discovery of the silicified specimens. 



