506 CYCADOPHYTA [CH. XXXVni 



he regards as male strobili of some Cycadean plant: the cone, 

 as shown in Velenovsky's restoration, is 10 cm. long and 5 cm. 

 in diameter; it bears a close superficial resemblance to a large 

 cone of Zamia and consists of a stout axis bearing contiguous 

 peltate, hexagonal, scales gradually contracted towards the prox- 

 imal end, similar to those of Androstrobus. The evidence on 

 which this species is identified as a male cone rests on the occur- 

 rence of numerous pits on the surface of the scales ; but no spores 

 or sporangia were found and the pits as shown in the published 

 figures do not present the appearance of scars of sporangia. 



The Rhaetic specimen originally named by Nathorst Andro- 

 strobus Scotti and afterwards transferred to the genus Lycostrobus 

 was described in Volume ii.^ 



Androstrobus Nathorst}, Seward. 



The type-specimens were obtained from the Wealden beds 

 of Sussex: they were referred to the genus Androstrobus on 

 evidence which cannot be regarded as decisive^. A fairly stout 

 axis, 6-5 cm. long, bearing spirally disposed sub-triangular scales 

 hexagonal in section and attached to the axis by a broad base; 

 the scales, or sporophylls, are 1 — 1-5 cm. long and gradually 

 tapered towards a pointed or slightly rounded apex. Near the 

 proximal end of some of the sporophylls there are regularly 

 arranged polygonal depressions which may be impressions of 

 microsporangia. The regular disposition of the depressions is 

 a striking feature and in contrast to the less regular reticulum 

 exposed after the removal of the sporangia from the microsporo- 

 phyll of a recent Cycad. An examination of the cuticular mem- 

 brane of the microsporophylls shows that the epidermal cells 

 have thick and straight walls^, characters consistent with the 

 supposed Cycadean afiinity of the strobilus. 



1 Vol. II. p. 88. 2 Seward (95) A. p. UO, PI. ix. figs. 1—4. 



^ I am indebted to Mr W. N. Edwards of the British Museum for the cuticular 

 preparations. 



