24 Sammlungen. 



observed in which the prothallus is pvesent l ). It fills a great part 

 of the functional megaspore, which is almost co-extensive with the 

 sporangial cavity and consists of a large-celled tissue, resembling 

 the prothallus of Isoetes or Selaginella. The peripheral prothallial 

 cells are smaller than ihe rest, but no archegonia could be 

 detected. 



The bodies described in this note resemble true seeds in the 

 possession of a testa or i .tegument, and in the fact that one mega- 

 spore or embryo-sac alone came to perfection ; the seed-like organ 

 was likewise shed entire, and appears to have been indehiscent. 

 In many points of detail, however, the reproduktive bodies in 

 question differ from the seeds of any known Gymnosperms; they 

 afford no proof of the origin of the latter Class from the Lyco- 

 pods. The newly discovered fructification nevertheless shows that 

 certain palaeozoic Lycopods, with strobili at first indistinguishable 

 from Lepidostrobus, crossed the boundary line which we are accu- 

 stomed to draw between Sporophyta and Spermophyta. 



As these fossils appear worthy of generic rank, I propose to 

 found the genus Lepidocarpon for their reception ; it may be briefly 

 characterized as follows : 



Lepidocarpon gen. nov. — Strobilus, with the characters of 

 Lepidostrobus, but microsporangia and megasporangia each sur- 

 rounded by an integument, growing up from the upper surface of 

 the sporophyll. Megasporangium completely enclosed in the inte- 

 gument, except for a slit-like micropyle along the top. A single 

 functional megaspore developed in each megasporangium. Sporo- 

 phyll, together with the integumented megasporangium, detached 

 entire from the strobilus, the whole forming a closed, seed-like, 

 reproductive body. 



It is proposed to name the Coal-measure form Lepidocarpon 

 Lomaxi, and that from Burntisland L. Wildianum. Roth were 

 included by Williamson under bis Cardiocarpon anomalum, 

 which, however, is quite different from the seed so named by 

 Carruthers. 



A füll, illustrated account of these fossils is in preparation, 

 and will shortly be submitted to the Royal Society. 



Botanische Gärten und Institute. 



Flahault, Ch. et Mouillefarine, Relations d'ecbanges a e'tablir entre les 

 nius^es botaniques. (Cougres international de botanique, a l'Exposition 

 universelle de 1900.) 8°. 4 pp. Lons-le-Saunier (imp. Declume) 1900. 



List of seeds ot hardy herbaceous plants and of trees and shrubs. (Royal 

 Gardens, Kew. Bulletin of Miscellaneous Information. Appendix I. 1900.) 

 8°. 40 pp. London 1901. 4 d. 



*) I have since examined a section, cut by Mr. Lomax from one of 

 the Coal-measure epecimens, in which the prothallus is even better preserved 

 — Note, added October 9. 1900. 



