116 On a neio Species o/Lycopodites, Goldenherg. 



cannot be well made out. The leaves shown on the sides of 

 the stem are ovate acuminate, with a very distinct middle 

 nerve (fig. 2). 



An interesting point in the fossil is the occurrence of a ver- 

 tical row of curiously formed leaves (?), entirely different from 

 those just described. One of these (a, fig. 1) is shown en- 

 larged at fig. 3. This curious structure has very much the 

 appearance of a sporangium ; but the occurrence of a terminal 

 cone and of sporangia situated in the axils of the leaves of the 

 same species, is altogether vmknown in any Lycopod, either 

 fossil or recent. 



The most perfect of these curious structures (whether leaves 

 or sporangia) appears to have three inflations (fig. 3) ; but 

 I am rather inclined to think that this appearance has been 

 caused by its being pressed against the stem, and that we have 

 imder consideration a leaf and not a sporangium. In this case 

 we have merely a dimorphic condition of leaves, such as occurs 

 in those fossils already described by Goldenberg and Geinitz, 

 and is common in the recent genus SeJaginella. In this 

 example, in no case are they exhibited so clearly that one can 

 positively afiirm they are leaves ; but I believe this to be 

 their true nature notwithstanding their sporangium-like form. 

 In the enlarged sketcli (fig. 3) the dark dentate margin 

 has no connexion with the supposed leaf, but only a small 

 broken piece of carbonaceous matter, which probably represents 

 the cortex. 



The leaves appear to have been arranged in whorls of 6 or 

 8, as shown by the cicatrices on the enlarged portion of the 

 stem (fig. 4). 



My thanks are due to Mr. T. Stock, Edinburgh, who has 

 submitted this fossil to me for examination and description, 

 and after whom I have pleasure in naming it. 



I believe the opinion generally current regards the genus 

 Lepidodendron as the ancestor of our herbaceous Lycopods ; 

 but I am rather inclined to believe that the genus Lepido- 

 dendron has entirely disappeared, and that our recent Lyco- 

 pods are the descendants of Goldenberg's Lycopodites. 



Horizon. Calcil'erous Sandstone series (Culm of Stur). 



All the species of Lycopodites^ Goldenberg, previously de- 

 scribed have been derived from the Coal-measures; hence 

 the discovery of the genus so far down in the Carboniferous 

 formation is of considerable interest. 



Locality. Glencartholm, Eskdale, Dumfries. 



