from the Lanarkshire Coal-field. 489 



and Conifers. During the maturation of the fruit the short 

 stalk, to which the seed is attached, in some cases becomes 

 much elongated, as in Cardiocarpus (Cordaianthus) Lind- 

 leyi, Carruthers, and Cardiocarpus anomalus, Morris, sp. In 

 very few cases have the flowers been found in union with 

 their parent stems, so till we know to which species of 

 Cordaites the isolated inflorescences and fruits belong, it is 

 necessary to apply to them specific names in order that their 

 occurrence may be recorded. The structure of the seeds has 

 been investigated by Brongniart *. 



From the results of the observations of these botanists, who 

 have been successful in securing specimens preserved in silica, 

 in which the most minute details of structure are exhibited, 

 even to the pollen-grains, it appears that Cordaites must be 

 looked upon rather as a group of plants than a genus. In 

 certain structural points Cordaites approaches closely to the 

 Conifers, in other respects to the Cycads ; but taking into 

 account all the structural peculiarities of the plants, their affi- 

 nities appear to be more Cycadaceous than Coniferous. 



I have given but a meagre outline of the organization of 

 these plants, and must refer those who are interested in the 

 subject to the original works of the authors quoted. 



From the fragmentary manner in which Cordaites usually 

 occur, the chief specific characters are derived from the neura- 

 tion of the leaves. 



Cordaites (Eucordaites) principalis, Germar, sp. 



Cordaites principalis, Geinitz, Vers. d. Steinkf. in Saeksen, p. 41, pi. xxi. 



figs. 1-6 (excl. fig. 22). 

 Cordaites principalis, Weiss, Foss. Flora d. Jung. Stk. u.d. Rothl. p. 200. 

 Flabellaria principalis, Germar, Vers. v. Wettin. u. Lobejun, p. 55, 



pi. xxiii. 

 Pycnophyllum principale, Schirnper, Traite" de paleont. ve'ge't. vol. ii. 



p. 191. 



Description. Leaves long, attaining a length of from 12 to 

 18 inches, and sometimes rather over 2 inches wide, narrowed 

 towards the base and again narrowing towards the apex, the 

 extreme point of which is rounded or obtuse ; seven or eight 

 of the stronger nerves in one tenth of an inch, between which 

 are from three to five finer (?) nerves. 



Remarks. In well-preserved specimens there are seen running 

 parallel with and between the strong nerves from three to 

 five fine lines. These are described by Geinitz as vertical 



* Brongniart, ' Recberches sur les graines fossiles silicifides ' (Paris, 

 1881). Also, " Etudes sur les graines fossiles trouvties a l'etat silicifie" 

 dans le terrain houiller de Saint Etienne," Annales des Sciences Nat. 

 botan. 5 e ser. vol. xx. pis. xxi.-xxiii. 



