225 
that the proliferations could be progressive deviations, he 
doesnot change his opinions accordingly. 
In this supposition his theory is not sufficiently esta- 
blished, for if this be true, a virescent condition can never 
throw light on the phylogenetical origin; a comparative 
investigation only can do this. 
Now ïit is just in the latter half of the last century 
that new ways are opened for this comparative method 
by the discovery and accurate descriptions of fossil seeds. 
And almost independent of the discussed theories, which 
were founded for the greater part by German botanists, 
the question concerning the origin of the integument has 
been treated in England from a quite different point of 
view on account of discoveries such as Lagenostoma 
Lomaxi, Trigonocarpus à.0. 
It is especially Miss Benson (15) who has given a 
quite new theory, being led to this in comparing the seed 
Lagenostoma Lomaxi with the microsporange T'elangium 
Scotti, which is probably borne as well as Lagenostoma 
by Lyginodendron Oldhamium. 
For the description of Lagenostoma 1 may refer to 
a following chapter of my paper, where the several 
seeds are described separately. Of Telangium Scotti I will 
cite here the diagnose given by Miss Benson herself (p. 162). 
»Fertile and barren pinnae dissimilar; fertile pinnae 
represented by synangia only; synangia borne at the 
entremity of the ultimate ramifications of rachis, composed 
of 6—12 sporangia which taper to the apex and are 
united primarily for almost their whole length to form a 
body which is continued into a sterile base of decreasing 
diameter through which runs longitudinally a single vascular 
strand. Each sporange ultimately becomes almost free 
from the others by septicidal dehiscence and liberates 
large spores from a ventral suture.” 
Everyone, who compares both organs with one another, 
