188 FOSSIL PLANTS. 



7th Family. CHAEACE^, OB CHAEA FAMILY. 



Char a, gyrogonites, of Lamarck. Fruit oval, or spheroi- 

 dal ; consisting of five valves, twisted spirally, a small open- 

 ing at each extremity; stems friable, jointed, composed of 

 straight tubes, arranged in a cylinder. 



Five species in the tertiary formations.* 



FlG. 125. FOSSIL SEED-VESSELS OF CHAR.fi. 



(Sir C. Lyell.) 



Fig. 1. Chara medicaginula ; a section showing the nut within the pericarp 

 2. Chara tuber culata ; the pericarp. 

 3. Portion of a spiral valve, magnified. 

 4 aud 5. The natural size of figs. 1 and 2. 



8th Family. LYCOPODIACEJE, OE CLUB-MOSSES. 



Lycopoditesfi lycopodiolithus, and walchia, of Sternberg. 

 Branches pinnated ; leaves inserted all round the stem in 

 two opposite rows, not leaving clean and well-defined scars. 



Ten species in the coal formation. 



One species in the sandstone of the lias. 



One species in the inferior oolite. 



One species in the marl below the chalk. 



The accompanying figure (126) delineates L. Williamsonis, 

 together with a cone and magnified leaflet, of Lindley and 

 Hutton, PL 93. 



Selaginites. Stems dichotomous, not presenting regular 

 elevations at the base of the leaves, even near the lower end 

 of the stems. Leaves often persistent, enlarged at their base. 



Two species in the coal formation. 



Lepidodendron, from XCTTIS, a scale, and 8ev8pov, a tree, 

 sagenaria, of Sternberg. Stems dichotomous, covered near 

 their extremities by simple linear or lanceolate leaves, in- 



* Pict. Atlas, pi. Ixii., figs. 23, 24. f Pict. Atlas, pi. vi., figs. 27 to 29. 



