8 Scientific Proceedings, Royal Dublin Society. 



of venation is that found not only in Heterangiam Grievii (S. elecjans), which 

 makes its appearance in the rocks earlier than L. oldhamlnm, but that it 

 is also characteristic of the still earlier forms Archwopteris Ilibennca (Forbes), 

 and Sphenopteris Hookeii^ (Bailey), of tlie Upper Devonian or Yellow Sand- 

 stone beds of Kilkenny. 



In my preliminary examination of the fertile specimen of S. Honinghmm, 

 I thouglit it was sterile, and made rougli notes to that effect. A detailed 

 examination showed, after a time, that it was fertile, as Plate 11., fig. 1, 

 which may serve as a key to Plate I., fig. 1, indicates. At the base 

 of tlie bifurcated rachis there is a highly suggestive star-like group of 

 radiating lobes, reminding one of the cupular lobes of C. Sfai)gen\ The 

 liand-lens will reveal in Plate I., fig. 1, similar groups at various points. 

 The most important is that at b. In continuity with tlie rachis (r), itself 

 in direct connexion with the stem (-s), there is a braiiclied naked rachis 

 on which, at intervals, are groups of radiating lobes wliich agree with those 

 figured in C. Stangen, and now i-egarded as the cupular lobes of tlie 

 Lagenostoma seed. In Plate II , fig. 5, tlie venation of one of tliese lobes is 

 shown, as far as traceable in tlie impression. Plate II., fig. 6, gives a general 

 view of the branching rachis and of one cupular group. In Plate III., fig. 1, 

 the basal part of a portion of tliis group is shown in more detail. In both 

 these figures tliere is recognizable a difference in the character of the 

 individual lobes of a group. Five are more or less alike, oblong-linear in 

 outline with the venation as shown in Plate II., fig. 5 ; but the sixth lobe is 

 broader and its venation different. By its basal venation it would pass 

 well for a pinnule segment. The chief point of interest in the specimen 

 under description is the continuity of the parts and the presence in one 

 case (Plate III., fig. 2) of a seed within the spreading cupular lobes. 

 The impression of the seed shows it to have been of the radiospermie 

 type, 6 ram. long and 2 mm. broad, elliptical or barrel-like in shape, with 

 suggestions of slight longitudinal ridges. In some respects it is not 

 unlike Lagenostoma Kidstoni, Arber, and confirms the view that the seeds 

 in the Li/ginodeiidrecB occurred isolated on the tips of naked branches of 

 the rachis, and not in strobili. In discussing the position of the seed 

 Lagenostoma, Oliver and Scott state that the foliage of Li/gmodendron, 

 shown by Kidston to be Sphenopteris Honinghaim, had been found in the 

 sterile form only. They admit that Stur's attribution of the fertile condition — 

 Calymmatotheca Slangeri — to the allied species S2}henopteris Staugeri may be 

 correct, though actual continuity was wanting. Our specimen is very satis- 



' Nathorst (Ziir Oberdevoniscben Floia d. Baren-Insel, p. 14) in describing Sphenopteris HooJceri, 

 Biiily, as possessing- a distinct midrib, must haye been misled by the figures, 



