2oo STUDIES IN FOSSIL BOTANY 



the usual three prints on the actual scar, with the 

 ligular pit above. On the younger twigs the foliage 

 is sometimes preserved ; the leaves are small, and 

 resemble those of a recent Lycopodium. The smooth 

 character of the stem-surface has suggested A com- 

 parison with a group of the Sigillariae, which we shall 

 consider in the next chapter ; some authors have even 

 united these two genera. 



The stem of Bothrodendron punctatum is commonly 

 found in the Ulodendroid condition, bearing the large, 

 cup-shaped scars described in the last chapter. It has, 

 therefore, been inferred that its cones were in these 

 cases borne on the old wood, but in other species they 

 have been found in connection with small twigs, 

 and it has become very doubtful whether the large 

 Ulodendron scars really had any relation to the cones. 

 The strobili borne on the slender branches in B. 

 minutifolium are identified by Mr. Kidston with a 

 Lepidostrobus described by M. Zeiller under the name 

 of L. Olryi, a small cylindrical cone with verticillate 

 sporophylls. On the whole, there is no reason to 

 doubt the very close affinity of Bothrodendron with 

 Lepidodendron. 



The group is of great antiquity, chiefly occurring 

 in the lower beds of the Carboniferous formation, 

 while one species has been described from the Upper 

 Devonian of Ireland. 



Bothrodendron is thus among the oldest known 

 genera of Lycopods, and it is therefore of much im- 

 portance that its internal structure should be recognised. 

 This has recently been discovered by Mr. J. Lomax, 

 who finds that a stem showing the characteristic 



