LEPIDODENDRON 159 



outwards, opening just above the scar, where the leaf 

 itself was inserted (see Fig. 63). The print on the 

 casts corresponds to the mouth of the ligular cavity. 



The presence of a ligule in Lepidodendreae is an 

 interesting discovery, indicating affinity with Selaginella 

 or Isoetes, rather than with Lycopodium, among recent 

 members of the order. There are a few other facts 

 which point in the same direction, but it is not likely 



Fig. 63. — Lepidophlrios, sp. Radial section of a leaf-base from the same specimen as 

 Fig. 62. v.b., vascular bundle of leaf ; lg, ligule, seated in a deep pit, communicating 

 by a canal with the upper surface. X ro. Will. Coll. rg6o. (G. T. G.) 



that the relation to any recent genus was at all a close 

 one. 



The structure of the free part of the leaf was 

 thoroughly worked out by M. Renault : in a species (L. 

 esnostense) from the Lower Carboniferous rocks (Culm) 

 of France ; certain leaves, associated with, and probably 

 belonging to the British form L. Hickii, Watson, agree in 

 several respects with the French specimens, while leaves 

 of other British Lepidodendreae are also similar. In 



1 Flore fossile d'Autun et d'Epinac, Part ii. p. 178, Plate xxxiv. 

 Figs. 4-8. 



