CARBONIFEROUS LYCOPODS AND SPHENOPHYLLS. 65 



the presence of a ligule situated in a small pit formed by the free 

 distal extremity of the sporangium and the limb of the bract. 



In a second communication he enters fully into the structure 

 of Lepidostrobus Oldhamius, Williamson, of which he notes and 

 describes several varieties. 1 The various structures of the axis, 

 vascular bundles of the sporophylls, and parichnos are here 

 correlated to similar structures in the Lepidodendron stem. The 

 paper is one which demands the careful study of Paheobotanists. 2 



The genus Fleminyites, Carr., 3 was founded on a misconception 

 of the true structure of the specimen which formed the type of 

 the genus — F/emingites gracilis. The macrospores were mistaken 

 for sporangia. The specimen is a typical Lepidostrobus. 



Macrospores, associated with microspores, occur in great 

 quantity in many coals, and form in some cases a considerable 

 proportion of the whole mass. 4 A small spore forms from 30 to 

 40 per cent, of Tasmanite, a bituminous shale from the River 

 Mersey, Tasmania. 



VI. Lepidophyllum, Brongniart, 1828. 

 1828. Lepidophyllum, Brongniart, Prodrome, p. 87. 



Under this name are placed the isolated leaves of Lepido- 

 dendron, and of probably other Lycopods which, when separated 

 from the stem, cannot be definitely referred to their parent 

 species. 



They are linear, lanceolate, or subtriangular in form, with 

 entire margins and a single nerve. Many specimens which have 

 been placed under this name are the bracts of cones and really 

 fall to be included in the genus Lepidostrobus. 



It is almost impossible to distinguish between Lycopod leaves 

 and bracts, for a bract with the basal portion removed cannot be 

 distinguished from a leaf. 



1 Trans. Linn. Soc. London, 2nd Ser. Bot., Vol. V., Part xi., pp. 357- 

 377, Pis. XXXYl.-VIIL 1899. 



2 See also Schimper, Traiie d. paltont. veget., Vol. II., p. 59 seq., 1S70 ; 

 Vol. III., pp. 544-516, 1S74. Solnis-Laubach, Fossil Botany, p. 232, 

 1891. Renault, Cours d. botan.foss., Vol. II., 1SS2, p. 31 seq. 



3 Carruthers, Geol. Mag., Vol. II., No. XVI., Oct., 1865. 



4 See Huxley "On the Formation of Coal, ;; Contemporary lievietv. Vol. 

 XV., p. 618. 1S70. 



