Sequoia Couttsiae, Heer, at Hordle, Hants : A Study of 
the Characters which serve to distinguish Sequoia 
from Athrotaxis. 
BY 
M. E. J. CHANDLER, 
Late Harkness Scholar , Newnham College , Cambridge . 
With five Figures in the Text. 
I N a note published recently 1 1 drew attention to the fact that the Conifer 
remains of the Lower Headon Beds of Hordle (Hordwell), Hants, which 
Mr. Starkie Gardner had referred to Athrotaxis , 2 must now be placed in 
the genus Sequoia. 
This conclusion was based on the study of leaves, cones, and seeds, the 
relationship of these organs being proved by the discovery of one cone 
attached to its twig, and of another still bearing seeds. The material 
examined was collected from the Hordle ‘ Leaf-Bed ’, 3 where it is very 
abundant. 
A comparison of the Hordle and Bovey Tracey specimens has shown 
that, though in error as to the generic name, Mr. Starkie Gardner was right 
in classing the Bovey and Hordle fossils as the same species, for the two 
plants are identical in character. Hence the excellent specific description 
of Heer 4 renders superfluous further reference to the macroscopic characters, 
except in regard to certain points not mentioned by him. These will be 
dealt with as occasion requires in treating of the different plant organs. 
To the earlier descriptions of the twigs there is nothing new to add, 
their condition 'being such as to render section-cutting unprofitable 
labour. 
Microscopic study of the leaves shows that stomata occur on both 
1 Ann. Bot., vol. xxxv, No. cxxxix, July 1921. 
2 Starkie Gardner : Monograph of Palaeontographical Soc. The Eocene Flora, vol. ii, 1883-6, 
p. 90, PI. X, Figs. 6-9. 
3 Bed 10 of Tawney and Keeping: Quart. Journ. Geol. Soc., vol. xxxiv (1883), p. 566. On 
the Section at Hordwell Cliffs. 
4 Heer: Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., Part III, 1862. On the Lignite Formation of Bovey Tracey, 
Devonshire, p. 33, Plates VIII, IX, X. 
[Annals of Botany, Vol. XXXVI. No. CXLIII. July, 192a.] 
