CARBONIFEEOtTS LTCOPODS AND SPHENOPHTLLS. 55 



with a bifurcation or branch bearing foliage which permits of 

 this being determined. 



I have only seen one such specimen of Lepidophloios acerosus, 

 L. and H. sp., from Abersychan, near Pontypool, South Wales, 

 which is preserved in the Bristol Museum. This I have already 

 figured.^ It represents the termination of a branch with the 

 foliage attached, and shows that the leaf-cushions are directed 

 upwards. This is probably the normal position in all species, for 

 on all the small branches of Lepidophloios Scoticiis they are also 

 directed upwards, whereas on all the larger and older stems of 

 this plant they are directed downwards. 



On Lepidophloios laricinus, on the older stems the cushions 

 are directed downwards, as is proved by figures given by Golden- 

 berg. - It must, however, be borne in mind that even here the 

 leaf-scar morphologically occupies the top of the cushion, and its 

 present position evidently results from a subsequent deflection of 

 the cushion. 



Lepidophloios Scoticns, Kidston, is the species which I liave 

 had the most opportunity of studying, as it is comparatively 

 plentiful in the oil-shales and associated rocks of the Calciferous 

 Sandstone Series of Midlothian. I have, therefore, had many 

 opportunities of examining specimens of this species in various 

 conditions of age and preservation. 



The cushions are generally rounded, and very rarely keeled; 

 in fact, the only specimen I possess which shows a distinct keel 

 is one from the oil-shales, Bathgate, Linlithgowshire, which I 

 received from Mr. Dunlop (No. 2404). This specimen is very 

 interesting in being the only one I have seen from the Carbon- 

 iferous Limestone Series, and the prominent keel on the cushion 

 made me at first liesitate in identifying it as Lepidophloios 

 Scoticiis, though I now believe it is referable to that species. 

 The fossil is about 4 inches long and 2h inches wide, and shows 

 within this small space the alteration in direction of the leaf- 

 cushions. It is impossible to determine which is the upper end 

 of the specimen, for at one end the leaf-cushions are directed 



^ Trans. Boy. Soc. Edin., Vol., XXXVII., Part hi. (No. 25), p. 558, 

 PI. I., fig. 1. 1S93. 



- Goldenberg, Flora sarcep. Joss., Lief. I., p. 22, PI. III., fig. 14; and 

 Lief. III., p. 30, PI. XVI., fig. 6. 



