1 91 9] BASSLER—SPORANGIOPHORIC LEPIDOPHYTE 85 



relation of the Lycopod sporangium to its sporophyll as the result 

 of reduction from more elaborate and intricate forms, but the 

 evidence in support of this view has not been conclusive, although 

 there appears to be very little against it. Although Bower (7) 

 believes that there is a preponderance of evidence in favor of 

 ampUfication from simpler forms in the phyletic development of 

 many of the Lycopods, he prefers to leave the matter "for the 

 present open''; and Lady Isabel Browne (id), after a brief 

 impartial discussion of the question, likewise leaves it so. Scott 

 (27) is inclined favorably to the alternative view, but he states: 

 "Whether the simple relation between the sporangium and the 

 sporophyll, which characterizes the Lycopod series, is native or 

 acquired may be left an open question. The analogy of the 

 Psilotales rather suggests the latter alternative, and all compara- 

 tive morphology teaches how often progress consists in simpli- 

 fication." In 1908 Miss Benson (2) made a very interesting 

 contribution to this subject, in which she says: ''It has been again 

 and again suggested that we have in the lycopodinous ' sporange ' a 

 reduced structure which is homologous with the sporangiophore 

 of the Sphenophyllales, but the evidence in favor of this 'reduction 

 hypothesis' is still very inadequate." 



Scott (28) reminds us that "the ventral pad of Spencentes has 

 been compared to the sporangiophore and the sterile tissue in 

 Mazocarpon also by Miss Benson." but he concludes that "these 

 suggestions are interesting but at present too hypothetical for any 

 conclusion as to affinity to be based on them." It is the isolation 

 of the Lycopods that has made ph}detic hypotheses concerning them 

 so inconclusive. In spite of great structural diversity, the Psilo- 

 tales do after a fashion bridge the great gap between the Lycopods 

 and the other Paleozoic groups, but the peculiar specialization 

 (aberrancy) of this group reduces its value for comparative pur- 

 poses, and in any event, as Scott has said, "it is not wise to rely 

 much on evidence from a recent family in questions of remote 

 ancestry." A distinct new Paleozoic group showing definite 

 affinity with the Lycopods might then well be expected to con- 

 tribute to this difficult problem facts of interest and importance. 

 "Both fusion and septation have occurred in various instances, 



