234 STUDIES IN FOSSIL BOTANY 



Lycopodiaceae. Mr. Kidston, in his memoir above 

 cited, has made further important additions to our 

 knowledge of these strobili, for in certain new forms of 

 Sigillariostrobus, which he has described, from the 



Coal-measures of York- 

 shire, he has been able 

 to demonstrate the form 

 and position of the spor- 

 angia, and to obtain at 

 least indications of the 

 presence of microspores 

 in some of them. The 

 sporangia were observed 

 in longitudinal section on 

 the fractured surface of a 

 specimen which had been 

 split down the middle ; 

 for it must be remem- 

 bered that in no case 

 has an undoubted cone 

 of Sigillaria been found 

 with the tissues actually 

 petrified. The sporangia 

 prove to have been oval 

 bodies with their long 

 axis directed radially, 

 and were seated each on 

 the horizontal pedicel of the sporophyll, to which the 

 sporangium was to all appearance attached along the 

 whole of its lower surface (Fig. 96, B). The sporangial 

 membrane also appears, so far as the state of preserva- 

 tion allows us to judge, to have been continuous with 



Fig. 96. — A. Sigillariostrobus rhombibract- 

 catus, Kidston. Part of cone, showing 

 the pedicel (/) with sterile bracts, sp, 

 sporophylls ; ax t axis exposed, showing 

 scars of sporophylls. $ nat. size. B and 

 C. 6\ ciliaius, Kidston. B. Part of axis 

 (ax) with sporophylls (sp) and megaspor- 

 angia (sm) seen in radial fracture. X 3. 

 C. Echinulate megaspores. * about 7. 

 All after Kidston. 



