56 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OP GLASGOW. 



upwards and at the other extremity downwards. This specimen 

 shows, independent of other and satisfactory evidence, that the 

 direction of the cushion is not even of specific value, much less of 

 generic importance, though in the past the direction of the leaf- 

 cushion was the distinguishing character between Lomatophloios 

 and Lepidophloios. When preparing my Memoir on the British 

 species of the genus Lepidophloios I unfortunately did not 

 possess this specimen. 



The leaf-cushions are directed upwards on all the young 

 branches of Lepidophloios Scoticus I have examined on which the 

 direction of the branch could be determined, and these were 

 either stalked cones or bifurcated branchlets. On the other 

 hand, on all the larger specimens whose direction could be de- 

 termined by the presence of branches or bifurcations, they are 

 directed downwards, and above I have referred to a specimen 

 showing the transition in the direction of the cushions taking 

 place. It is therefore certain that in Lepidophloios Scoticus the 

 originally upward-directed leaf-cushions become subsequently 

 deflexed. 1 



The fossils known as Halonia, L. and H., are the fruiting 

 branches of Lepidophloios. All the British species possessed 

 such fruiting branches; hence, unless the Halonia condition 

 shows the leaf -scales, it is impossible to determine the species to 

 which it belongs. The name "Halonia" is, therefore, frequently 

 employed to indicate a fruiting branch of a specifically undeter- 

 mined Lepidophloios. 



That Halonia is the fruiting branch of Lepidophloios has been 

 proved beyond all doubt, as several specimens have been 

 described and figured showing the characteristic Lepidophloios 

 leaf -scar and scale on stems bearing Halonial tubercles. These 

 Halonial tubercles are arranged in spiral series of always a 

 greater number than two. 2 In decorticated specimens the 



1 See Trans. Boy. Soc. Edin., I.e. PI. L, fig. 3; PI. II., fig. 6. 



2 Mr. James Lomax, in a paper entitled " Kecent Investigations on 

 Plants of the Coal Measures," published in the Trans. Manchester Geol. 

 Soc, Part ix., Vol. XXVI. , 1899, gives on PI. V., fig. 22, and PI. VI., 

 fig. 23, a specimen which he describes as "A new Halonia-like form of 

 Lepidodendron fuliginosum of Williamson." This specimen I cannot 

 accept as belonging to Lepidophloios 'uliginosus, Will, sp., and is clearly 



