138 
RECORDS OF TIIE AUSTRALIAN MUSEUM. 
venation. There is a distance of twenty millimetres between the 
nodes. PI. xxiv., fig. 7, is on the opposide of the same piece of 
matrix to that on which PI. xxvi., tig. 6, is preserved, and the 
stem of the one is continuous through the shale, and joins that of 
the other, thereby confirming — first, that the two sets of fronds 
in PL xxv., fig. 5, belong to one and the same caudex, and are 
looking in opposite directions by accidental displacement; second, 
that the clusters of fronds, occur at intervals along the caudexes, 
dividing the latter into nodes and internodes with great regularity. 
All the caudexes with fronds attached, as well as sundry small 
fragments scattered over the matrix of the various specimens, 
exhibit the remains of internal structure, but in varied degrees of 
distinctness. From two of the best fragments sections were pre- 
pared by Mr. Charles Merton, Section Cutter to the Geological 
Survey of New South Wales. A general view of one of these, 
enlarged, is shown in PL xxvi., fig. 10, and an enlargement 
of a portion of the latter in fig. 11 of the same plate. A longi- 
tudinal section from another fragment is seen in PL xxviL, tig. 12. 
There is not the slightest shade of a doubt that the portions from 
which these sections are taken are those of caudexes of the same 
plant to which the fronds are attached, and not that of any 
fortuitous intruder. It will be observed that in PL xxvi., fig. 10, 
the centre is occupied by an amorphous mass of opaque material 
surrounded bv a zone of cellular tissue, and two other discontinuous 
zones. The enlarged illustration indicates that this tissue con- 
sisted of radial rows or lines of cells roughly arranged in bundles. 
Further remarks on these sections will be made later on. 
Frond Scars . — The corona, or enlargement, terminating the 
short caudex impression in PL xxvi., fig. 6, bears numerous fronds 
in various states of preservation. On that portion left bare by 
the falling oft* of the latter, are visible triangular frond scars in 
oblique lines indicating a spiral arrangement of the fronds, precisely 
as on the caudex of a living Tree-fern. Each of these scars bears a 
more or less central single pit, indicating the former presence of a 
vascular opening. On the right-hand side of the figure are broken 
stipe bases, with portion of a frond protruding through the matrix 
beyond, whilst on the left-hand are three fronds in a revolute 
condition, the stipes of two being actually attached to the frond 
scars. I do not think a more complete demonstration of the 
relation of these parts, one to the other, could be made. 
Fronds . — The fronds are linear-lanceolate, narrow, entire, de- 
creasing very gradually in size towards their apices, which are 
obtusely pointed. In the young frond (PL xxiv., fig. 3) the 
linear-lanceolate outline gives place to a shorter, broader, and 
sub-pyriform shape. The fronds appear to have been thick and 
fleshy ; the longest observed measured twelve millimetres. The 
proximal end of each is in the form of a broad stipe, articulating 
