128 M. Grand'Eury on Galamites and Aster ophylUtes. 



at their articulations exactly like certain Galamites — so much 

 so that all, even to the slenderest, appear to have emitted 

 whorls of branches, whilst the branches oi Aster ophyllites only 

 gave origin to distichous ramifications, and this, moreover, 

 unsymmetrically. I have even seen the apex of a Calamite 

 with its articulated branch-shoots as destitute of leaves as the 

 stem. 



On the other hand, I have ascertained, from several most 

 instructive specimens, that the stems which are surrounded 

 and surmounted by branches of Asterophyllites resemble the 

 latter in all points, have leaves or leaf-scars, and in general 

 only a vague and distant resemblance to the Galamites. 



From tliis, therefore, we may conclude that the arborescent 

 Asterophyllites sprang, not from Galamites, but from leaf- 

 bearing stems organized like themselves. 



These stems are not rare, and I have already found several 

 of them. Hipimrites longifolms^ Lindl., is evidently a fine and 

 complete example, and Galamites Goejiperti^ Ettingsh., is an- 

 other, deprived of its leaves. They form a group which may 

 be characterized as follows : — 



Stems articulate, very certainly hollow and septate, of herbaceous 

 nature, not always regularly striate. Leaves caducous, attached to 

 a cincture of articular protuberances situated above the line of arti- 

 ctJation, and not in relation to the strioe or indistinct ribs situated 

 below, erect or raised, linear, flat ; they appear smooth or traversed 

 by few and distinct or by numerous, very fine, equal and parallel 

 nervures. Caducous branches of Asterophyllites inserted all round 

 and essentially above the articulations, in the axil of the leafy whorls, 

 leaving by their fall large discoidal scars situated completely above, 

 and not opposite to the articulations. 



I do not wish to assert here that all the arborescent Astero- 

 phyllites originate from similar stems, although their leaves 

 are generally striated by fine, equal and parallel nervures. I 

 have even good reasons for the opposite opinion ; for I know 

 of stems, analogous to Galamites varians^ Sternb., which ap- 

 pear to have had leaves inserted at the end of the ribs ; and I 

 have seen an Asterophyllite which was to be referred to large 

 stems invaginated at their articulations by leaves joined toge- 

 ther at the base, as in the genus PhyUotheca^ and ito which, on 

 account of this peculiarity, I give the name oi Phyllotheca 

 stephanensis. 



