Zamites (zamitez)

[NL., to the cycads, and considered to be more or le closely allied to the living Zamieæ. The genus Zamites first appears in the Trias, but is especially well developed in the Jura ic; it continued through the Cretaceous, and finally disappeared in the Miocene. There have been about 30 species described. The cycadaceous flora played an important part in the vegetation of Green land and Spitz bergen during the Jura ic epoch, giving an almost tropical aspect to the forests of that region and epoch. Various other genera of cycads allied to Zamites have been established, chiefly, if not entirely, based on the forms of the leaves and their segments. Among these are Glo ozamites, a genus with long elliptical leaves, found in the Lower Cretaceous; and Oto zamites, with small elliptic-lanceolate leaves, divided into several groups in accordance with the very varying form of the segments of the leaf. The latter genus runs through the whole of the Jura ic, as far as the lower division of the Upper or White Jura, when it gives way to the genus Za mites. It has not been observed in the Jura ic rocks of the arctic regions. Ptilophyllum, Ctenophyllum, Pterophyl lum, Ptilozamites, Pterozamites, A no moz a mites, and Sphe nozamites are other genera of cycads more or le allied to Zamites and to one another. zamouse (za-mös'), n. [W. African.] A West African buffalo, or bush-ox, found in Sierra Leone, Bos brachyceros, the short-horned buffalo, having the ears fringed with hair, short horns depre ed at base, and no dewlap. zampogna (tsam-pō'nyä), n. [It.] 1. Same as bagpipe.-2. Same as shawm.