726 PROCEEDINGS OF THE SOCIETY. 



The first part discovered was the stem, described in 1866 by Binney, 

 who referred it to the genus Pinites or Dadoxylon, thus recognising its 

 gymnosperrnous affinities, though he compared the structure of its 

 primary wood with that of a Sigillaria. A much more thorough in- 

 vestigation was made by Williamson (1874), who was at first in doubt 

 whether the affinity with Lycopods or Ferns was the stronger. Later 

 on, however (1890), he was able to show that the fern-like petiole, 

 Rachiopteris aspera, belonged to Lyginodendron, and this led to the 

 discovery that the foliage was identical with Sphenopteris Honinghausi, 

 a well-known " Fern-frond." In the meantime the organisation of the 

 stem had become more thoroughly understood, and proved to present 

 a combination of Cycadean with Filicinean characters. Subsequently 

 the fossil described as Kaloxylon HooTceri Will., turned out to be the 

 root of Lyginodendron. Our knowledge of the vegetative organs now 

 seemed to be complete, but as lately as 1902 Mr. Lomax showed that 

 the stem was frequently branched, a fact not observed before. 



The vegetative organisation indicated a position intermediate be- 

 tween Cycads and Ferns, but the fructification was still unknown. In 

 1903 Prof. F. W. Oliver noticed that certain seeds, named Lagenostoma 

 Lomaxi Will., bore glands on their cupules identical with those on the 

 leaf and stem of Lyginodendron. A detailed comparison of structure, 

 supported by evidence from association, left no doubt that this seed 

 was the female fructification of Lyginodendron. Whereas, however, 

 the previous steps in the reconstruction of the plant were based on the 

 direct proof of continuity, this last conclusion rested at present mainly 

 on identity of structure. The reconstruction of the plant was still 

 incomplete, for the male organs had not yet been identified with cer- 

 tainty. The position of Lyginodendron, as a seed-bearing plant, allied 

 at once to Cycads and Ferns, was now established. Finally a picture 

 of the reconstructed plant was exhibited, and its various features 

 explained. 



Interesting models of the seed of Lyginodendron, kindly lent by 

 Prof. F. W. Oliver of University College, were also exhibited. 



Dr. Woodward said that before leaving the Chair he would ask those 

 who were present to give a very hearty vote of thanks to the President 

 for his very interesting and instructive demonstration. He had shown 

 that from the numerous sections of calcareous nodules out of the Halifax 

 coal, he had puzzled out what appeared to be the remains of one and 

 the same plant, and had been able to demonstrate the structure of the 

 root, stem, leaves, and fruit, and to correlate these on good botanical 

 grounds as organically related to one another. This demonstration had 

 been a good object lesson how to use a fragmentary series of remains, 

 and how to identify them under the Microscope in a clear and definite 

 manner. He congratulated Dr. Scott on the great success he had 

 achieved, and felt sure that he would be further rewarded in the efforts 

 he was making in the study of fossil plant-structures under the Micro- 

 scope, both in the Jodrell Laboratory at Kew, and at the British 

 Museum (Natural History). 



The thanks of the Meeting were cordially voted to Dr. Scott for his 

 demonstration. 



