68 LYCOPODITES. 



Genus LYCOPODITES, Brongniart. 

 - [Prodrome, p. 83, 1828.] 



Herbaceous or small arborescent plants, agreeing in habit with 

 recent species of Lycopodium and Selaginella, with branched stems 

 bearing small leaves, either all of the same form or dimorphic, 

 disposed spirally or in rows. Sporangia in the axil or on the 

 upper face of a leaf, or borne on leaves forming a terminal strobilus. 1 



The generic name Lycopodites was proposed by Brongniart in 

 1828 for plants with pinnate branches bearing leaves disposed 

 spirally or in two opposite rows, which on falling did not leave 

 a well-marked or definite leaf - scar. The only Inferior Oolite 

 species (Lycopodites Williamsoni] included by Brongniart in his 

 genus is now recognized as a Conifer, most of the species being of 

 Palaeozoic age. While some of the specimens placed in Lycopodites 

 are in all probability small twigs of Lepidodendron, there are a few 

 species which must be retained in Brongniart' s genus as differing 

 in certain respects from Lepidodendron. 



It is usually the case that the specimens described as species of 

 Lycopodites have the form of delicate twigs bearing small crowded 

 leaves, but with one or two exceptions there are no indications 

 of the sporophylls, nor is there any evidence as to anatomical 

 characters. The meagre nature of the material makes it impossible 

 to decide in some instances whether Selaginella or Lycopodium is 

 the most nearly allied genus, and it is safer, therefore, to use 

 Brongniart' s generic name in a comprehensive sense as including 

 fossils, which may belong either to the heterosporous Selaginellacea3 

 or to the homosporous Lycopodiacese. 



Lycopodites falcatus, Lindley & Hutton. 



[Fossil Flora, vol. i. pi. Ixi. 1831.] 



1831. Lycopodites falcatus, Lindley & Hutton, Foss. Flor. vol. i. pi. Ixi. 



1838. Muscites falcatus, Sternberg, Flor. Vorwelt, fasc. vii. p. 38. 



1848. Lycopodites falcatus, Bronn, Ind. Pal. p. 681. 



1849. Lycopodites falcatus, Brongniart, Tableau, p. 105. 



1 Cf. Kidston (85), p. 561. 



