1881.] ^o7 [Lesquereux. 



rock will have but one-third his usual income from that chair. It is im- 

 portant that we keep him in Philadelphia. I therefore recommend an ap- 

 propriation of |330 for a course of fourteen lectures in the Park. 



The year 1880 was most abundant in tree seed, and they were gathered 

 in quantities much greater than ever before and in more varieties. We 

 have planted the Hardy Catalpa in large quantity and have the seed for 

 planting this spring ; also the seeds of the White Cedar, both very valua- 

 ble for enduring wood. 



Eli K. Price, Ghairman, §t. 



It was, on motion, 

 Resolved, That $330 be appropriated for the Michaux lectures. 



On motion it was resolved that the whole subject of 

 stereotyping and printing separately the publications of the 

 Society for convenience in meeting such requests as that of 

 Mr. Barber, in his letter of the 4th inst., be referred to the 

 Committee on Publication, with the Treasurer, to report. 



IN'ew nominations ISTos. 928 to 931 were read. 



And the meeting was adjourned. 



On a Cours de Botanique Fossile by Prof. M. B. Renault. 

 By Leo Lesquereux. 



{Bead before the American PMlosopMoal Society, February 18, 1881.) 



In this course of lectures given by Prof. Renault in the museum of 

 natural history of Paris, the author gives very interesting details on the 

 results he has obtained from anatomical analysis of silicified specimens of 

 fossil plants. The volume recently published exposes the characters of a 

 single group, the Cicadecs, which the celebrated phyto-paleontologist has 

 followed in all their subdivisions and modifications from the present age 

 to the Devonian. These researches throw some new light on the nature 

 or internal structure of some plants of the coal measures, especially the Cor- 

 daites, the Sigillarice and Stigmarice. 



Prof. Renault divides the Gicadece, from the structure of the wood, 

 trunks and leaves, in five groups or families, which from a difference in 

 the essential characters of the wood he subdivides in two sections, A. B. 



The plants are composed of vascular vessels forming two juxtaposed 

 woody parts inversely increasing the one toward the centre (centripetal), 

 the other toward the outside (centrifugal). This double increase is going 

 on in both the leaves and the stems. To section A are referable the 

 Oicadece, the Zamice, the Cicadoxylce, and the Gordaites, to B the Poroxylce 

 and the Sigillarice with the Stigmarice. 



The Gordaites and the Sigillarice being now well known from American 



