314 Dr. Scott. On Fossil Plants from Palceozoic Bocks. 



" On the Structure and Affinities of Fossil Plants from the 

 Paleozoic Eocks. V. On a New Type of Sphenophyllaceous 

 Cone (Sphenophyllum fertile) from the Lower Coal-measures." 

 By D. H. SCOTT, M.A., Ph.D., F.E.S. Honorary Keeper of the 

 Jodrell Laboratory, Eoyal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Eeceived 

 November 22, Eead December 1, 1904. 

 (Abstract.) 



The class Sphenophyllales, of which the fossil described is a new 

 representative, shows on the one hand clear affinities with the Equise- 

 tales, while on the other it approaches the Lycopods ; some botanists 

 have endeavoured to trace a relation to the Ferns. The nearest allies 

 among recent plants are probably the Psilotacese, which some writers 

 have even proposed to include in the Sphenophyllales. 



The new strobilus appears to find its natural place in the type- 

 genus Sphenophyllum, as at present constituted, but it possesses peculiar 

 features of considerable importance, which may probably ultimately 

 justify generic separation. The specimen, of which a number of 

 transverse and longitudinal sections have been prepared by Mr. Lomax, 

 is from one of the calcareous nodules of the Lower Coal-Measures of 

 Lancashire, and was found at Shore Littleborough, a locality rich in 

 petrified remains, now being opened up by the enterprise of the owner, 

 Mr. W. H. Sutcliffe. 



The close affinity of the strobilus with Sphenophyllum is shown by 

 the anatomy of the axis, which has the solid triarch wood characteristic of 

 that genus, and by the fact that the whorled sporophylls are divided 

 into dorsal and ventral lobes, as in all other known fructifications of 

 this class. But, whereas, in all the forms hitherto described, the lower 

 or dorsal lobes are sterile, forming a system of protective bracts, while 

 the ventral lobes alone bear the sporangia ; in the new cone, dorsal and 

 ventral lobes are alike fertile, and no sterile bracts are differentiated. 

 On this ground the name Sphenophyllum fertile is proposed for the new 

 species. 



Each lobe of the sporophyll divided palmately into several segments, 

 the sporangiophores, each of which consisted of a slender pedicel, 

 terminating in a large peltate lamina, on which two pendulous sporangia 

 were borne. In the bi-sporangiate character of the sporangiophores, 

 and in other details of structure, Sphenophyllum fertile approaches the 

 Bowmanites Romeri of Count Solms-Laubach, while in the form and 

 segmentation of the sporophylls there is a considerable resemblance to 

 the Lower Carboniferous genus Cheirostrobus. 



The wall of the sporangium has a rather complex structure, the most 

 interesting feature in which is the well-defined small-celled stomium, 

 marking the line of longitudinal dehiscence. 



