260 SIGILLARIEAE. 



question of Stigmariae, which cannot be treated here, but must form the 

 subject of the next chapter, I arrive at the result that it is impossible 

 to obtain incontestable proof of either of the two views from purely 

 anatomical sources, but that Williamson's remains the more probable, 

 because the main argument in support of the contrary view is entirely 

 overthrown by the proof of the presence of secondary wood in Lepidoden- 

 dron, which is undoubtedly one of the Archegoniatae. 



It has long since been perceived that the most decisive proof in one or 

 the other direction would be obtained by the discovery of fructifications of 

 Sigillaria, but such a discovery exhibiting the fruit of Sigillaria in direct 

 connection with undubitable scars of the plant long remained a pium 

 desiderinm. Both sides appealed to cases in which the two parts were 

 supposed to occur together, but of these cases there was no sufficient proof. 

 Renault x acknowledging them to be conjectural has never used the 

 fructifications in support of his view, while those who maintain that the 

 group belongs to Gymnosperms, Dawson 2 especially, look for them as 

 a rule among the numerous seeds of the Carboniferous formation, which we 

 have considered in connection with Cordaiteae. Certain spike-like fructi- 

 fications, resembling those of Lepidodendrae, have been described by the 

 representatives of the other view under the name of Sigillariostrobus. 

 Goldenberg 3 especially has figured a number of remains of cones in a very 

 crushed condition, which he ascribes without apparent reason to Sigillariae, 

 and in which groups of macrospores lie between flat leaves with a broad 

 base. Single detached leaves showed a small heap of similar spores at 

 their base on the inner side ; the wall of the sporangium which contained 

 them could not be seen. The three edges of the pyramid were distinctly 

 shown in the single spores. O. Feistmantel 4 also has figured various 

 Sigillariostrobi which had been previously described in different publica- 

 tions, and has drawn up a complete list of the literature. These remains 

 of cones, in other respects apparently in no very good state of preservation, 

 are said to have short obtuse sporangial leaves, on the inner side of which 

 were laid numerous macrospores. As there is no proof that they belonged 

 to Sigillaria, they have but small importance for us, and it will be sufficient 

 to refer the reader for further details concerning them to the original 

 literature. 



The question being in the position which has been now described, it 

 can be understood that Zeiller's 5 latest discovery of cones with long 

 stalks showing the character of the axes of Sigillaria is of the greatest 

 importance. These cones, several in number, come from the mine L'Escapelle, 

 in the coal-field of the department of the Nord, and are preserved in the 



1 Renault (2), vol. i, p. 151, and vol. iii, p. 8. * Dawson (8). 3 Goldenberg (1), t. 10. 



O. Feistmantel (3), p. 251, t. 60. 5 Zeiller (12). 



