On the Fructification of Sphenophyllum trichomatosum. 61 
or the other fork buried in the matrix, and here is the 
Asterophyllites trichomatosus, Stur; but this latter “species” 
merely results from imperfect preservation, through the leat 
being cleft or only partially exhibited, and on similar speci- 
mens to this has been founded the theory, that a single 
species of Calamite might bear both Asterophyllites (Calamo- 
cladus) and Sphenophyllum as its foliage. The differences of 
internal structure of the stems and of the arrangement of the 
sporangia in the cones, in Calamites and Sphenophyllum, is 
entirely ignored, and their union proposed upon evidence 
which will not stand being looked into. 
In regard to the systematic position of Sphenophyllum, 
there is, I believe, no recent order in which it can be enrolled. 
It differs from the Hqwisetacew in its solid axis and the 
structure of the cone; from the Lycopods in its noded and 
ribbed stems with verticillate leaves; and with the Rhizocarps 
it appears to have little or nothing in common. 
The Sphenophylli form a peculiar group of plants, which, 
though standing close to the Lycopods, cannot be included 
with them, but must be placed in a class by themselves—the 
Sphenophyllee. This view is that which is generally adopted. 
Before closing these notes, I would wish to refer to an 
opinion, which has often been vaguely expressed, that the 
Sphenophyllee were aquatic. This view appears to rest on the 
dimorphic condition of the leaves of certain species of Spheno- 
phyllum. To mention a common example, the leaves in typical 
Sphenophyllum cuneifolium are cuneate-dentate, but in other 
cases they are more or less divided into narrow dichotomous 
segments, and then form the var. saxifragefolium. The 
occurrence of these two forms of leaves in the same species 
has led to the idea that Sphenophyllum grew in such situations 
that at times it was wholly or in part submerged. I do not 
think, from the dimorphic character of the leaves alone, we 
are warranted in accepting such a conclusion, especially as 
we find the saxifragefolium form of leaf associated with the 
fructification of Sphenophyllum cuneifolium, and I do not 
think there can be any doubt as to its fructification having 
been aerial. If, however, one is inclined to adopt the aquatic 
nature of Sphenophyllum, founding his opinion on the 
