or little-known Fossil Lycopods. 363 



4. Lepidodendron Peachii, Kidston, n. sp. 

 (PI. XL fig. 6.) 



Description. Leaf-scars rhomboidal, the boundary lines of 

 the upper part of the leaf-scar convex, those of the lower part 

 concave, lateral angles prominent. Vascular impression 

 slightly above the middle, rhomboidal, transversely elongated ; 

 from its lateral angles extends a raised line to the centre of 

 the lateral angles of the leaf-scar, dividing the " field " into 

 an upper and a lower portion. The upper part of the leaf-scar 

 is slightly more elevated than the lower portion, which causes 

 it to rise above the vascular impression in a hood-like manner. 

 Vascular-bundle cicatricules three, punctiform. 



Remarks. The figure shows on each side of the main stem 

 the remains of a small branch ; these are so much narrower 

 than the stem which bears them that they give the fossil an 

 appearance as if it possessed a lateral ramification, but these 

 small branches are evidently the result of an unequally deve- 

 loped dichotomy. On a specimen of this plant from JNewsham 

 the same characteristic is exhibited. 



On none of the few examples of Lepidodendron Peachii 

 which I have seen, are the two little oval depressions shown, 

 which in well-preserved Lepidodendroid leaf-scars are usually 

 exhibited, one on each side of the median line immediately 

 below the vascular impression ; but their absence may be due 

 to imperfect preservation. 



Lepidodendron Peachii has a slight resemblance to Lepido- 

 dendron Rhodeanum, Sternberg ; but in Lepidodendron Peachii 

 the lateral angles are more prominent and the upper extre- 

 mity of the scar much more rounded. The vascular impres- 

 sion is also more central and its angles more prominent. 



The point, however, which at once separates this species 

 from Lepidodendron Rhodeanum is the elevation of the upper 

 portion of the leaf-scar. This is seen in profile at tig. (j b. 

 This peculiar inflation imparts to the leaf -scar a characteristic 

 appearance, which at once distinguishes Lepidodendron 

 Peachn from any other species of Lepidodendron with which 

 1 am acquainted. 



Lepidodendron Peachii is also related to Lepidodendron rninu- 

 tum, Sauveur*, and Lepidodendron Andrewsii, Lesquereuxf. 



The figure given by Sauveur of his Lepidodendron minu- 

 tum shows a fragment of a stem rather less than 2 inches long 



* Sauveur, ' Vegetaux fossiles d. terr. houil. de la Belgique,' pi. lxi. 

 fig. 3 (1848). 



t Lesquereux, ' Coal Flora of Pennsyl.' p. 389, pi. lxiv. fig. 6 (1880). 



