42 DESCRIPTION OF FOSSIL TREES DISCOVERED 



We are now enabled to describe the tissue of this singular plant. 

 The portion which I possess consists of a compressed, tapering body, 

 several inches in length, rounded at the extremity, and resembling the ter- 

 mination of a stem or branch. It is slightly striated longitudinally, has no 

 appearance of processes or the insertion of leaves, and is transversely fissured 

 at intervals, so as to bear considerable resemblance to a calamite ; but whether 

 these fissures are indications of articulations, I am unable to say. There is 

 a regular pith. The tissue between the pith and the surface is composed 

 of elongated cellules or woody fibre, remarkable for their extreme regularity, 

 being disposed precisely like those of our recent Coniferse, but without indi- 

 cations of concentric circles. There are medullary rays, which are ex- 

 tremely sparse, and remarkable for their small size. Their transverse sec- 

 tion presents an elliptical form. Lastly, the walls of the elongated cellules 

 are marked all round with very regular, close, horizontal lines. 



This is the first instance detected of a fossil plant affording such a tex- 

 ture. Whatever, therefore, may be the family to which the plant in ques- 

 tion may be ultimately referred, it is necessary to institute a provisory 

 genus for its reception. The transverse lines of the elongated cellules 

 affording the most remarkable character under the microscope, the generic 

 name Anabathra (signifying the steps of a ladder) may be selected ; and 

 the plant being distinguished for the great beauty and regularity of its 

 tissue, the specific name pulcherrhna may answer as well as any other. 

 We have now examined the following species of fossil plants : 



Pinites Withami, Lindl. and Hutt., with which 



Pinites medullaris of the same authors seems to be identical ; 



Pitus antiqua, 



Pitus primeeva, and 



Anabathra pulcherrima. 



