G8G PROFESSOR A. C. SEWARD ON 



Araucarites curvifolius * may well be identical with Schenk's Sphenolepis Sternbergi- 

 ana, while others are specifically identical with Elatides curvifolia. The specimens 

 which I figured in the Wealden Flora as Sphenolepidium Sternbergianum differ in the 

 longer and more scattered leaves from some of the examples referred by Schenk to this 

 species, and may be incorrectly included in his species. The specimen represented in 

 fig. 75, PI. V., while agreeing closely with Elatides curvifolia in habit, differs in the 

 shorter and rather more crowded leaves ; it may, however, be specifically identical, 

 though the occurrence of other specimens in the Miller collection (e.g. his fig. 130, E) 

 and one in Mr Arber's collection with still smaller leaves leads me to adopt a dis- 

 tinguishing specific name. 



The Jurassic plant described by Phillips as Brachyphyllum setosumf and 

 subsequently referred to the genus Cheirolepis J is a similar type. Salfeld's Pagio- 

 phyllum densifolium § and the Rheetic species Brachyphyllum Muensteri figured by 

 Schenk || from Franconia present a striking resemblance to Elatides Stembergiana : 

 other comparable types are Sphenolepidium Choffati Sap. IF from Portugal, Lycopodites 

 tenellus of Eichwald,** and the Indian species Palissya conferta Feist. ft These, and 

 other references which could be given, afford illustrations of the abundance of coniferous 

 twigs of this general form and emphasise the confused state of nomenclature in 

 palaeobotanical literature. 



2. Conifers of Uncertain Affinity. 



Masculostrobus, gen. nov. 

 The provisional designation Conites serves a useful purpose in the case of larger 

 cones, presumably of gymnospermous affinity, which cannot be referred with certainty to 

 a particular genus of Conifers or Cycads ; but in practice this genus is usually applied to 

 strobili which bore seeds. It frequently happens that detached specimens of smaller 

 strobili are met with which afford evidence, either by the presence of microspores or by 

 their habit, of a microsporangial nature. It is for such strobili that I propose the 

 designation Masculostrobus. 



Masculostrobus Zeilleri gen. et sp. nov. (Text-fig. 11, A, a-c.) 

 The specimen represented somewhat diagrammatically in the text-figure consists of an 

 axis, 13 cm. long, which appears to be attached at the base to another branch. The 

 preservation is very imperfect. Numerous small and frequently overlapping branchlets 

 are borne on the larger stem, which seem to consist of a slender axis bearing numerous 

 spirally disposed bracts or sporophylls broader at the lower end and vertical at the 

 distal end. In one place (text-fig. 11, b) the bracts are seen to be triangular in form. 



* Ettinushausen (52). t Phillips (75), p. 229. \ Seward (00), p. 294. 



§ Salfeld (09), pi. v. || Schenk (67), pi. xliii. 1 Saporta (94), p. 53. 



** KiciiwalJ) («8), pi. iv. ft Feistmantel (80), pi. viii. 



