Bd. III: 14) 
THE MESOZOIC FLORA. 
91 
specimens, it seems most probable that they all represent portions of pendulous 
branches. The leaves are fairly densely placed in the thicker specimens and conceal 
the axis from view. In the narrowest fragments they are much more distant from 
each other, so that portions of the very slender axis are exposed between them. 
It cannot be decided whether they are placed 
spirally or in two vertical rows. In some 
of the slenderest specimens they are occa- 
sionally seen to be approached to each other 
in pairs (text-fig. 19); but it is not possible 
to make out the mode of arrangement in de- 
tail. The leaves seem to have been inserted 
transversely, and they are mostly directed up- 
wards and more or less adpressed to the axis. 
The small size of the leaves is very remarkable; 
their length is about 2 mm., their breadth 
about 1.5 mm. Yet the leaves are several times 
broader than the axis. The shape of the leaves 
varies somewhat, from rounded to ovate or 
obovate, but they are always bidentate or bi- 
lobed at the upper edge, which is broad, 
rounded or truncate. The insection between 
the lobes is usually fairly broad and shallow, 
and does not exceed hb of the length of the 
f 
I.! 
leaf. The lobes are mostly obtuse, but there 
is a certain amount of variation in this respect. 
No veins have been observed with certainty. 
The type of plant here described is very 
remarkable and its affinities must remain doubt- 
ful. As already mentioned it exhibits a cer- 
tain resemblance, in respect to the shape of 
the scale-like leaves, to the cone of Schizo- 
lepis {S. Follini Nath.). This agreement is 
certainly nothing more than a superficial re- 
semblance, since the present specimens cannot 
be of the nature of cones. Not to mention the fact that no microsporangia or seeds 
are found, the great length and the branching prove sufficiently that this cannot be 
the case. 
It is possible that Schizolepidella may represent sterile branches of a conifer or 
some other gymnosperm; but in that case it forms a remarkable new type, very 
Fig. ig. Schizolepidella gracilis n. sp. — a-c^ nat. 
size; f, enlarged portion of c, Vij g, of e, Vi; 
//, of pi. 9, fig. 21, Vi- 
