14 LTCOPODITES. 



Lycopodites lanceolatus (Brodie). 

 (PI. II. Figs. 2 and 3.) 



1845. Naiadita lanceolata, Brodie, Fossil Insects, p. 93. 



Naiadea aeumin/ita, Buckman, in Murchison's Geol. Cheltenliam, p. 6. 

 1850. N. lanceolata, Buckman, Quart. Journ. Geol. See. yoI. vi. p. 415, 



fig. 2. 

 1888. N. lanceolata, Prestwich's Geology, p. 168, pi. Lxxvia. 

 1900. Naiadites acitminatus, "Wickes, Proc. Geol. Assoc, vol. xvi. pt. 7, 



p. 422. 



Plant slender and moss-like in habit. The axis, wliich is 

 delicate and thread-like, bears numerous linear acuminate or 

 narrow ovate leaves reaching a length of approximately 5 mm. 

 Under a low magnifying power the thia lamina of the leaves is 

 seen to be made up of a layer of polygonal or rectangular cells 

 arranged in parallel vertical series ; there is no trace of a midrib 

 and no stomata. The sporangia are more or less spherical and 

 short-stalked, the larger ones being about 0-75 mm. in diameter ; 

 they are situated at the bases of the leaves, and contain numerous 

 tetrads of spores. The spores measure 0-08 mm. in diameter. 



In a Notice on the discovery of the remains of Insects in the 

 Lias of Gloucestershire, published in 1842, Mr. Brodie mentions 

 the occurrence of numerous small plants in certain beds at 

 Wainlode Cliff, on the Severn, some of which he compares with 

 mosses. The same author, in his work on Fossil Insects, proposed 

 the name Naiadita lanceolata for one of the plants fi'om the Insect 

 Limestone, the generic name being chosen as the result of 

 Professor Lindley's determination of the leaves as being those 

 of a Monocotyledon. 



Brodie mentions that the best specimens of Naiadita were 

 found in abundance on the "Wells road, near Bristol. No complete 

 diagnosis accompanies the reference to the species. In Murchison's 

 Geology of Cheltenham, the genus Naiadea is thus defined: — 

 " Parallel veined endogenous plants, having the appearance of 

 aquatics; leaves varying somewhat in form on the same plant, 

 and presenting in their character a close affinity to the recent 

 family Naiadacese." ' 



1 Murchison (45), p. 93. 



