SOS UEPORT— 1902. 



determiued. Saplings may undergo foliar repletion in the first yeal', Or seterdl 

 years may elapse before this occurs; mature plants maybe characterised by annual, 

 bi-annual, or incremental periods of leaf production; further, many trees are 

 repeatedly defoliated by the ravages of insects, bats, and fungi. 



Foliar periodicity is the most potent factor in determining the number and 

 significance of the rings of growth, but for the complete interpretation of these a 

 further knowledge of the rate of cambial actiA'ity and the independent effect of a 

 hot dry season is necessary. 



The rate of cambial activity is of especial value in determining the varying 

 significance of the xylem differentiations in slow-growing deciduous or quick- 

 growing evergreen trees. 



SATUHBAY, SEPTEMBER 13. 

 The Section did not meet. 



MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 

 The following Tapers were read : — 



1 . Fossil Nipa Fruits from Belgium, 

 Bij A. C. Sewaud, M.A., F.Ji.S., and'E. N. Ahber, JLA. 



2. The Seed-like Frucfijicaiion of Miadesmin Membranacea (Bertrand), a 

 Lycopodiaceous Plant from the Coal Ifeasures. By Maugaret 

 Benson, D.Sc. 



These interesting forms were first recognised in some Dulesgate slides sent by 

 jMr. Lomax to Professor F. VV. Oliver. Mr. Lomax has during the last year 

 been able to secure many further examples which have confirmed Dr. Scott's 

 suggestion that they were the missing sporophylls of Bertrand's new genus, 

 Miadesmia.^ The foliage leaf beers a ligule in a longitudinal groove with 

 thickened base and sides. In the sporophylls the sporangia are inserted singly in 

 the proximal end of the groove, and are large and pedicellate. 



They lie in a plane parallel to the lamina. In the megasporophyll the sides 

 of the groove are completely coherent above the sporange, and thus form a velum ; 

 while the fimbriated distal part, together witli the lamina, form a micropyle and 

 collecting apparatus. The wall of the megasporange is composed of several 

 layers of isodiametric cells, and encloses a single thin-walled megasporeor embryo 

 sac. The microsporange has no velum, and the Avail is formed of a palisade layer. 

 The author's tlianks are due to iJr. Scott, who with Frofessor Oliver's sanction 

 placed the earlier slides at her disposal. 



3. A jiossible Calymmatotheca Type of Fructification showing Structure. 

 By Margaret Benson, D.Sc. 



In some Dulesgate slides sent to the author in May 1902 there appeared some 

 large sporangia, between 3 and 4 mm. in length and about 1 mm. in width, 

 which are pointed at the apex and tapered somewhat to the base. The Avall 

 is composed of several layers of cells, and is provided with large trncheides. 



' Bertrand, ' Sur line nomelle Centradosniidc' Assoc. Frantj. pour I'Avancem. de la 

 Science, 1894. 



