524 Palaeontoloffie. 



There would seem to be little doubt that these sporangium- 

 like Organs belong to Glossopterls Brownlana, although the evi- 

 dence is in part indirect. These sac-like bodies have never 

 been observed except in close relationship to the scale-leaves 

 of that plant. Further some of the cssociated scale-fronds show 

 what possibly may be interpreted as the scars of attachment of 

 these sporangium-iike bodies, and also portions of the sac-Uke 

 bodies themseives, which have the appearance of being still in 

 continuity. Fignres are given of one of these scale-leaves, and 

 of several of the sporangium-like bodies. 



The sac-like bodies are compared with the sporangia of 

 certain Palaeozoic plants, with which they agree as regards 

 size, shape, and mode of dehiscence. The dosest analogy, 

 however, is found in the microsporangium of the recent Cycads, 

 such as Stangeria, of which an example is figured side by side 

 with one of the sac-like bodies. 



Although the final proof of the sporangial nature of these 

 new Organs — the recognition of spores — is wanting, the 

 provisionai conciusion is arrived at that they are probably of 

 the nature of sporangia and were borne on the scale-fronds. 

 This Suggestion has this merit, that dciinite organs, which in 

 size, shape and structure have been found to be not unlike the 

 sporangia of certain recent and Palaeozoic plants, and are also 

 aggregated into sori , are described for the first time. It is 

 further pointed out that if the conciusion should prove to be 

 correct, it would seern to be impossible to regard Glossopterls 

 as a Fern allied to any recent family of the true Ferns. Even 

 Ihen the true affinities of this plant are by no means clear. 

 Such evidence as there is would tend to remove the genus 

 irom proximity to the recent Ferns, despitc its fern-like habit. 



Arber (Cambridge). 



Scott, D. H. , The Sporangia of Staiiropterls oldhamla, 

 Binnev. (New Phytologistl Vol. IV. p. 114—120. Text 

 figures'l— 2. 1905.) 



In this preliminary note, the fructification attached to the 

 highly ramificd petiole and rachis of a Compound frond, Staii- 

 ropterls oldliamla, better known by W i 1 1 i a m s o n s namc Ra- 

 chlopierls oldhamla, Will, is described. No vegetative leafiets 

 have ever been found in continuity with this rachis; a fact 

 which suggests {hat this frond could only have been a fcrtile 

 one. The sporangia are found attached tcrminally to the fine, 

 ultimate branches of the rachis. The conncction of the branchlet 

 with the sporangium has been made out, the tissues of the one 

 organ passing over quite continuously into those of the other. 

 In form, the sporangium is nearly spherical, in six sporangia 

 measurcd the average dimensions were 740 ^.i X t)40 .«. The 

 outer layer of the sporangium wall is formed of Square or co- 

 lumnar cells about 50 // in height. Nothing of the nature of 

 an annulus has been observed, but on the side opposite the 



