352 MR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE 



I. Cordaites. — Leaves simple, sessile, entire, lanceolate, rounded at the summit, spathu- 

 late, obovate or elliptical, generally very large, 20 to 90 centimetres long, coriaceous ; 

 veins parallel, fine, equal or unequal, and running throughout the whole length of the 

 leaf. 



II. Dorycordaites . — Leaves lanceolate, very slender, 40 to 50 centimetres long ; veins 

 equal, very numerous and distinct, and running throughout the whole length of the leaf; 

 apex of leaf always terminating in a point (not rounded as in Group I.). 



III. Poacordaites. — Leaves narrow, linear, entire, long — as much as 40 centimetres — 

 obtuse at the summit ; veins almost equal, and running the whole length of the leaf. 



IV. Scutocordaites. — Leaves inserted on semicircular cushions, rounded and con- 

 tracted at base, and finally dividing into numerous narrow, rigid, erect, thong-like 

 segments ; veins strong, prominent, and separated by fine parallel striae. 



The Cordaites attained arborescent dimensions. Their trunks were erect and bore 

 much-branched heads. The centre of the stem was occupied by a chambered pith, the fossil 

 casts of which form the well-known fossils named Artisia, Sternberg ( = Sternbergia, 

 Artis). The wood of one species at least was described as Pinites — the Pinites 

 Brandlingi of Witham. # The supposed coniferous stems of the carboniferous formation 

 are probably all referable to the Cordaitese. Though these plants possess some characters 

 comparable to recent Conifers, and others comparable to the Cycadacese, the distinctive 

 characters possessed by themselves preclude their being classed with either of these 

 groups. 



Cordaites, Unger. 



Cordaites principalis, Germar, sp. 



(Plate II. figs. 8 and 8a; Plate IV. figs. 16 and 17.) 



Cordaites principalis, Geinitz (irijpart). Vers. d. Steinkf. in Sachsen, p. 41, pi. xxi. figs. 1, 2. 



Cordaites principalis, Gb'pp., Foss. Fl. d. Perm. Form., p. 159, pi. xxii. figs. 6-9. 



Cordaites principalis, Heer, Flora foss. Helv., Lief i. p. 55, pi. i. figs. 1, 12-16. 



Cordaites principalis, Weiss, Aus. d. Steink., p. 19, pi. xx. fig. 114. 



Cordaites principalis, Schenk. in Eichthofen's China, vol. iv. pp. 213, 228, pi. xxx. figs. 11, 12; pi. xliv. 



figs. 3, 3a. 

 Cordaites principalis, Sterzel, Flora d. Rothl. in Nordic. Sachsen, p. 32, pi. iii. figs. 6-9 ; (pi. iv. figs. 1-3?). 

 Cordaites principalis, Zeiller, Flore foss. d. hassin houil. d. Valen., p. 629, pi. xciii. fig. 3; pi. xciv. fi<, r . 1. 

 Flahellaria principalis, Germar, Vers. v. Wettin u. Ldbejun, p. 55, pi. xxiii. 

 Flabellaria principialis, Roehl, Foss. Flora d. Steinlc.-Form. Westph., p. 163, pi. xx. figs. 1, 2. 

 Pycnophyllum principale, Schimper, Traite d. pal'eont. veget., vol. ii. p. 191. 

 Knorria taxina, L. and H. (stem), Fossil Flora, vol. ii. pi. xcv. 



Description. — Ramification of branches lateral and irregular (?) ; leaves spirally de- 

 veloped, close together on the upper part of the branches, more distant below, very long, 



* See Grand' Eury, Flore Carbon, d. Depart, de la Loire, p. 261, and Kidston, Proc. Roy. Phys. Soc. Kdin., vol. x. 

 p. 248, 1891. 



