CARBONIFEROUS LYCOPODS AND SPHENOPHYLLS. i / 



ment of the rootlet-scars. Among these may be mentioned 

 Stigmaria stellate, Gopp., 1 where the rootlet-scar is surrounded by 

 a radiating circle of oblong elevations. In Stigmaria reticulate, 

 Gopp., 2 fine irregular lines radiate from the scars. In Stigmaria 

 Eveni, Lx., the scars are very small and close. 3 Many other 

 varieties occur. 



We must now consider the question as to whether Stigmaria 

 should be regarded as a root or a rhizome. 



It must at once be conceded that Stigmaria differs in several 

 important points from any root or rhizome with which we are 

 acquainted in recent botany, and it is not my intention to enter 

 with any detail into the points at issue. These have been fully 

 treated of by Prof. Williamson* and Solms-Laubach. 5 Prof. 

 Williamson regards Stigmaria as a root, while Solms-Laubach 

 treats it as a rhizome. I incline to the latter view. 



The idea that Stigmaria was a rhizome first originated with 

 Goppert, 6 who found near Bochum some rounded and elongated 

 nodules which sometimes divided at the extremities and which 

 showed Stigmarian scars. These Goppert thought were young 

 Stigmaria, which, by subsequent growth, would branch and divide 

 into true Stigmaria, from some point of which might be put up a 

 Sigillarian stem, or they might indefinitely continue their under- 

 ground growth and retain their Stigmarian form. 



These tuber-like bodies, ~ some of the original of which were 

 examined by Solms-Laubach, are, according to that botanist, 

 "shapeless objects, in part slickensided, and can prove nothing." 8 

 Goppert adduces what he believed to give further support to this 



1 Stigmaria ficoides var. steliata, Gopp. Gatt. d. foss. Pflanzen, Lief. 1-2, 

 p. 13, PL X., fig. 12. 1841. 



2 Stigmaria jicoides var. reticulata, Gopp.. ibid., p. 30, PL IX., fig. 11. 



s Lesquereux, Gaol. Survey of Iliin., Vol. II., p. 448, PL XXXIX., fig. 9. 

 1866. 



4 Williamson, Monog. Stigmaria, I.e. 



5 Solms-Laubach, Fossil Botany, p. 261 et seq. 1891, English Edition. 



6 Goppert, "Uber die Stigmaria ficoides," Zeitsch. d. deut. geol. Gesell., 

 Vol. III., p. 278 et seq. 1851. Also "Die fossile Flora der permischen 

 Formation," Palceontogravhica, Vol. XII., p. 187. 1864. 



7 See Goppert, Foss. Flora d. verm. Form., p. 190, PL XXXIV., figs. 

 2-8; PL XXXV., figs. 1-2. 



8 Solms-Laubach, Fossil Botany, p. 292. 



