Lintuean Society. 235 



those forms which at present exist only in a fossil state ; their axis 

 is studded with the persistent adherent bases of the leaves, resem- 

 bling the lozenge-shaped marks on the stem of the fossil genus 

 above-mentioned, and the ramification frequently presents a dichoto- 

 mous appearance, which arises from the non-development of one of 

 the lateral branches, the normal arrangement in this genus being a 

 primary axis with two opposite lateral ones. The bases of the leaves 

 of Lycopodiacece being so completely continuous with the axis would 

 not present such marks as those mentioned, and the author is there- 

 fore inclined to consider Lepidodendron as allied rather to Coniferce 

 than to that family, and the present interesting genus appears to 

 present us with an evident link of connexion. The scales, as they 

 are usually termed, of the male spike of Conifera, the author regards 

 as the anthers, although usually presenting a foliaceous character, 

 a portion only of the subcutaneous cellular tissue being converted 

 into pollen. It is generally the under surface of the modified leaf or 

 anther that becomes polliniferous, the upper surface remaining most 

 frequently unchanged. These polliniferous thecse are analogous to 

 the subdivisions of the anthers in Rhizophorece, Laurinea, &c, and 

 are in all cases unilocular, being destitute of any septum, and their 

 line of dehiscence is various, being sometimes in the direction of the 

 axis, and sometimes contrary to it. I ought to except Athrotaxis 

 and Pinus, in both of which the scales differ but little from the ordi- 

 nary condition of the anthers of other plants. The author's opinion 

 of the scales being simple, and not originating from the confluence 

 of several anthers, is founded upon their resemblance to the bractes, 

 from their nervation, which is entirely that of a simple leaf, exhi- 

 biting no traces of composition. The wood of Athrotaxis presents 

 nothing unusual in its structure, but resembles that of Cryptomeria, 

 except that the dots are fewer. 

 The following are the characters of the two species of this genus ; 



1. A. selaginoides, foliis lanceolatis acuminatis laxe 5-fariam imbricatis, 

 squamis antheriferis acutis. 



2. A. cupressoides, foliis ovatis obtusis adpresse 4-fariam imbricatis, 

 squamis antheriferis ellipticis obtusis. 



The author is indebted to Dr. Lindley for the opportunity of gi- 

 ving descriptions of both species of this interesting genus, the speci- 

 mens from which they were taken being contained in his rich herba- 

 rium, and had been sent to him by Mr. Gunn, a medical gentle- 

 man and a zealous botanist, who is settled at Launceston in Van 

 Diemen's Land. 



