33G 
THE GEOLOGIST. 
lobes, which they cover as a fringe (PI. xviii. fig. 4) ; but the stem and 
lobes below the nodules very rarely display any spiculse, and often 
present a smooth surface as if abraded. 
In these stone-beds beaded branches often attracted my attention. 
These consisted of small lobes close to each other, and about the size 
of common peas (PL xviii. fig. 3). I have collected many specimens, 
and have come to the conclusion that they are parts of these lobed 
siphouiae ; some of these branches are single, others double or bifur- 
cate — in one instance trifurcate. The beaded portions often pro- 
ceed from a thin cylindrical stem. The accompanying illustrative 
figures in PL xviii. are — Figs. 1 and 2. Lateral branches of siphonia. 
Kg. 5. Node of stem of siphonia. Pig. 6. Branches of small lobes 
with a return, or a furcation. Fig. 7. Beaded branch crossing a 
stem of siphonia, and two other branches or stems. Pig. 8. Sec- 
tion of a small lobe with stem passing through it. Pig. 9. View of 
npper surface of the same lobe, covered with what I believe to be 
spiculse. As to the conjectured mass of spiculse in the last figure, 
I am in doubt whether to consider it as belonging to the siphonia, 
or whether to attribute the formation of those spiculse-like objects 
to crystalline action. Such appearances frequently occur in slabs of 
stone over spaces of many square inches, seemingly not extending to 
any depth, but all arranged parallel to each other, and running as a 
seam through the stone for some distance, and, as far as could be 
perceived, unconnected in any way with any portions of siphonise or 
other sponges. In a considerable number of specimens I have no- 
ticed on the stems and lobes a kind of fringe or border running 
lengthwise, similar to the ridges left upon the surface of plaster models 
by the seams in the moulds. These ridges are generally on opposite 
sides of, and parallel with the stem. 
The hassock beds of this group contain some highly interesting 
remains of fossil plants. In 1839, I discovered an exceedingly in- 
teresting specimen of Draccena — the first specimen of this genus met 
with in the Lower Greensand. It is now in the British Museum, 
and it has been named by M. Konig, Draccena Benstedii* 
A paper was read before the Geological Society, by Dr. Mantell, 
in 1843, descriptive of a fossil cone which I discovered in the hassock 
of this group, and presented by me to that eminent geologist. The 
following extract from the proceedings of that Society may be con- 
veniently added in this place. 
"The vegetable remains from this quarry are referable to the 
acotyledonous, monocotyledonous, and dictyledonous classes. They 
consist of Fuciis Targonii, and some intermediate species of the 
same genus ; of stems, and apparently traces of foliage of endogenous 
trees allied to Draccena, and trunks and branches of coniferae. 
" The wood occurs both in a calcareous and siliceous state. I have 
* Dracaena is a genus of plants of the Order Liliacese. Mr. Konig has neither figured 
nor described the specimen so far as we know ; but the name is taken, in Professor 
Morris's catalogue, apparently from the Museum tablet attached to the specimen. — Ed. 
Geol. 
