52 



BRITISH EOCENE FLORA. 



PODOCARPUS ARGILLiE-LONDINENSIS, Sp. nOV. PI. IX, figS. 35 aild 36. 



London Clay, Sheppey. 



Pruit compressed, globose, nearly as long (sixteen millimetres) as wide (fifteen milli- 

 metres), deeply and finely wrinkled ; apex small, not central, slightly produced and 

 recurved ; basal-scar a small pit, subcentral, and inclining to the same side as the apex. 

 The external wrinkled coat of the fossil represents the desiccated integument, while the 

 next layer, probably the bony shell of the seed, is somewhat rough and pitted, and the nut, 

 visible inside, is smooth. 



This fruit very strikingly resembles that of P. data of Queensland, (fig. 21, 22, p. 48) 

 the determination resting entirely, in fact, upon the exceedingly strong likeness which the 

 two bear to each other. It is very rare at Sheppey, the specimen sent to me by Mr. 

 Shrubsolc, P.G.S., being unique. 



PoDOCARPUS (?) INCERTA, Sp. UOV. PI. II, figS. 1 — 5. 



Middle Bagshot, Bournemouth. 



Poliage distichous, opposite, or alternate ; leaflets long, linear-lanceolate, bluntly 

 pointed, parallel-sided, constricted at the base, and thence decurrent on the stem, the 

 largest measuring three centimetres in length by five millimetres in breadth, with five 

 parallel veins and inconspicuous midrib. As in many other Coniferse the leaflets are 

 occasionally abortive, and in addition to those expanded in two rows the stems are clothed 

 with narrow, decurrent, scale-like leaflets. In texture and venation the leaflets somewhat 

 resemble those of Cycads, but their arrangement shows the species to be undoubtedly 

 coniferous. The foliage is more like that of some of the Podocarps than of any other 

 species of existing genera, but it possesses no character which would altogether preclude 

 its reference to other Tribes of the ConiferjE. 



It is the largest of all the Yew-like Eocene foliage, and is easily distinguishable by its 

 fine parallel venation, with an absence of midrib, smooth or glossy surface, and blunt 

 terminations. It is confined to the " Gleichenia-beds at Bournemouth, where it is 

 relatively rare. 



Tribe V.— ARAUCARIE^. 



The genera recognised in Bentham and Hooker's ' Genera Plantarum ' are Cuming- 

 hamia, Agathis, Araucaria, and 8ciadopitgs. They are distinguished by their cones, 

 composed of exceedingly numerous spirally imbricated scales, and wingless or marginally- 



