LEPIDOPHLOIOS, AND ON THE BRITISH SPECIES OF THE GENUS. 539 



1882. Lepidophloios, Renault. Cours d. botan.foss., deux, annee, vol. ii. p. 44. 



Lepidophloios is treated as including Lomatophloios, but in the generic 

 description, as given by Renault, the leaf-cicatrice is placed at the upper angle of 

 the cushion, and he therefore places in Lepidophloios the Lomatophloios crassicaule, 

 Corda. 



In dealing with the latter species (p. 48), he accepts some remarkable views in regard 

 to a dimorphic condition of stem in certain species of Lepidophloios. In addition to the 

 ordinary form {i.e., the species conforming to Lepidophloios, Sternb., and Lomatophloios, 

 Corda), there exists, according to Renault, another condition in which the stem bears 

 large Ulodendroid scars. For this statement there is adduced no evidence except a 

 "restored" figure (his pi. xi. fig. 1). How such a figure has been produced is difficult 

 to understand, and the only explanation one can suggest is, that a piece of 

 Lepidophloios bark must have been superimposed on a Ulodendroid stem ; but 

 it is much to be regretted that the " restored " stem has not been accompanied 

 by the original evidence, for that there has been an error of observation here 

 seems unquestionable. Without further evidence than a figure which is said 

 to have been " restored," one cannot accept the conclusion to which Renault has 

 arrived. 



Renault therefore ascribes to Lepidophloios a condition in which the stems, in some 

 cases, bear Ulodendroid discs, to which were attached caducous bulbils, the other 

 condition being the production of cones at the ends of the smaller branches 

 (p. 48). 



He also takes the liberty of altering the position of the leaf-scars on the scales of the 

 specimen given by Goldenberg on his pi. xvi. fig. 6, which, thus altered, Renault 

 gives on his pi. ix. fig. 1. In Goldenberg' s figure the leaf-scars are at the 

 lower end of the leaf- cushions,* but in Renault's figure they occur at the 

 top ! This figure, which Renault describes as " rectified," is inaccurate and 

 misleading. 



Halonia. Ibid., p. 53. 



The genus Halonia is treated by Renault as containing plants of two distinct classes. 

 Some of these he treats as branches, as Halonia tuberculata, Brongt. Other members 

 of the genus he regards as rhizomes of Lepidodendron, as Halonia regularis. That all 

 Halonia are fruiting branches of Lepidophloios is shown by their possessing leaf-scars 

 equally well formed with those of the branches. There is no data from which to conclude 

 that the so-called Halonia belong to two classes — whatever one Halonia is, so is the 

 other. 



* Morphologically, I believe, the leaf-scars are always at the top of the cushion, but in certain species of 

 Lepidophloios (if not in all at a certain stage of development), the leaf-cushions become deflexed, and then the leaf-scar 

 appears to be at the base — more correctly, is directed downwards. 



