330 STUDIES IN FOSSIL BOTANY 



derived from M. Renault's observations on the French 

 specimens. The fine branches of the rachis had a 

 simpler anatomical structure than the main petiole ; 

 they bore broad, lobed pinnules, with prominent veins, 

 which branched repeatedly by dichotomy. The tissue 

 of the lamina appears to have been fleshy ; on the one 



Fig. 123. — Botryopteris forensis. Group of sporangia, tit, m, inserted on rachis, j\ 

 /, pedicel of sporangium ; «, wall of sporangia ; p, nuiltiseriate annul us. The uppermost 

 sporangium is in nearly transverse section ; Jr, stomium, or place of dehiscence. X 35. 

 From Renault. 



surface numerous stomata were present, while the other 

 bore the characteristic equisetiform hairs ; it is on the 

 latter feature that the identification of the leaf is based. 

 M. Renault regards the stomatiferous surface of the 

 leaf as the upper one, and supposes that the leaves of 

 Botryopteris floated on the surface of the water, while 

 other aerial leaves were borne by the same plant. These 

 conclusions must be considered as highly hypothetical. 



