ens into a tough, pliable, permanent, transparent film. 
This film or ‘‘peel’’ is peeled away from the specimen. 
The dried peel contains a replica of the cellular detail 
which is composed of black or brown carbon from the 
original cellulose. Desired portions are mounted, un- 
stained in the usual cytological method, with balsam in 
xylol. Such preparations may be studied with a magni- 
fication up to 1000 diameters. 
Numerous peels can be made on a single specimen 
without destroying the specimen itself. In this study 
eight peels were made from the holotype. 
In general practice all macrostachyan cones of large 
size and compact whorls are identified with Macrostachya 
infundibuliformis (Brongniart ) Schimper. The species is 
not only poorly defined, but also so broadly interpreted 
that several different species are included in it. Despite 
this confusion it was evident at once that the specimens 
from I[llinois were distinct. The whorls contain 30 to 36 
sterile bracts, whereas Macrostachya infundibuliformis 
contains only 20. In addition, the sporangia contain large 
isospores, whereas M.infundibuliformis is believed to be 
heterosporous. There are other specific differences such 
as the shape of the bracts and the proportions of the cone. 
There is no reason for the establishment of a new generic 
designation, 
Macrostacuya Schimper 
Traité de Paleontologie végétale vol. 1. p. 332. 
1869. 
Macrostachya Thompsonii Darrah sp. nov. 
Cone large, 210 mm. long; whorls 5-7 mm. apart, 
except at apex where they are compact; each whorl is 
composed of 30-86 bracts; there are 50-53 whorls; each 
bract is mucronate with 1, 2, and even 8 teeth. Sporan- 
gia are borne as in Calamostachys. The plant is isospo- 
[ 53 | 
