TRIASSIC FLORA OF BALD HILL. 
(JemiS' -ScHizoNFFRA, 8c]iini{)er and Miigeot, 1844. 
Hchizoneura microphylla s]). nov. 
Plate X., tios. 1-3, 5, 7, 8, 10-12. Idate XL, 13, 14, 17, 18. 
Plate X 1 1 ., fto-. 35. Plate X 1 1 1 ., figs. 43, 48. 
Description - Steins long, straight, moderately slender ; surface 
fluted ; pith-casts strongly grooved. Jointed at distant intervals. 
Leaflets apparently forming a loose sheath and numbering about 
7 to 10, small, acicnlate or pointed ovate, sometimes with blunt 
apices and traces of fission. Bases of leaves inserted in depressions 
at the nodes. Nodal diaphragms present, resembling those of 
Equisetites, but radially grooved to the centre. Vestiges of 
diaphragms seen attached to the stems in the fossils, jirobably 
representing in some cases the junction of branches. 
Evidence of Fruitinfj Cone.- In 1003 Mr. 11. Ktheridge, jun., 
figures a specimen of Echizoneura from the Ppper Coal Measures of 
New South Wales, having on the end of the leaf-bearing axis 
two strobils, 2 to 2 '5 cm. long. As Newell Arber remarks,"'^® 
“ the ])reservation is not sufficiently good to afford any details 
as to the morphological structure of the cone.” 
In this present instance we are more fortunate, since the smlace 
of the cone is beautifully preserved, showing a polygonal cellular 
strmture, probably the bases of sporo])hylls, which ap|)arently 
having shrunken, have been resolvecl into a series of subangulate 
areas, each with a central pit. To the sides of the fruit are attached 
sharply pointed uninerved, bracteate sporophylls, and these were 
in all' probability disposed over the surface and ivere detached 
before fossilization. The grooved pith-cast of the stem to wdiich 
the fruit is joined, leaves no doubt as to the relationship of this 
cone to Echizoneura microphyUa. This cone measures 6mm. in 
length : the width of the base of the body of the fruit being 2nnn., 
whilst the total width of the cone with the bracts measures 7. 5 mm. 
Leaves.— T \\q leaflets of the whorl are seen in figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8, 
11, 12, 13 and 17. In figs. 1, 3, 8, 11 and 12 they are slender, 
aciculate to acutely pointed, or calamitean , whilst in 13 and 1 1 
they are distinctly truncated. It is quite possible, however, that 
these latter may eventually be proved to belong to another species, 
especially since the venation is more distinctly parallel than in 
the other aciculate forms. The probable number of leaflets to 
the whorl in this species is about 5. In fig. 17 the nodal diaphragm 
forms an interesting feature betiveen the only two leaves of the 
whorl preserved. Figs. 2 and 14 evidently represent the a ctual 
Etheridge, B.. jun., 1903, p. 234, pis. XlWlil. and XLTX. 
23 Arber, igo.l, jn 9. 
[ J 
