1903.] ^ructifacaionofNemopteushQtQYophyll^Srongniart. 487 



" On the Fructification of Neuropteris heterophylla, Brongniart." 

 By ROBERT KIDSTON, F.R.S., L. and R, F.GLS. Eeceived 

 November 17, Eead December 3, 1903. 



(Abstract.) 



This paper contains a description of three small specimens of 

 Neuropteris heterophylla, Brongt., each of which shows a fragment of 

 a terminal portion of a pinna bearing a large Khabdocarpous seed, 

 about 3 cm. long and from I'lO 1'40 cm. wide. Their general form 

 is oblong, but they taper from the centre into a micropylar point. 

 To the fragments of the stems is attached one in one case two 

 pinnules, identical in form and nervation to those of Neuropteris 

 Jteterophylla, Brongt. One of the specimens also shows a subtending 

 bract-like leaf. 



These specimens further show that the example previously described 

 by the writer as the fructification of Neuropteris heterophylla, which also 

 bore characteristic barren pinnules of that species, must be the " male 

 inflorescence" of the plant, though the structure of the bodies sup- 

 ported on the naked dichotomous branchlets cannot be clearly made 

 out. Neuropteris heterophylla is, therefore, a typical member of the 

 Cycadofilices. 



The specimens bearing the "seeds" came from the middle coal 

 measures of the South Staffordshire coal field and are preserved in 

 small ironstone nodules. They were communicated to the writer for 

 examination by Mr. H. W. Hughes, F.G.S., Dudley. 



