FOSSIL FLORA OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FIELDS. 149 



The cone is seen natural size at figs. 1 and 2. Fig. 1 shows a surface view of the 

 fossil, and fig. 2 an end view to show the elevation of the cone above the surface of 

 the stone. 



Several enlargements of the specimen are given, under different directions of 

 lighting, to exhibit the structure as fully as possible. 



On Plate XIII. fig. 3 the specimen is enlarged 2 times to give a general idea of the 

 fossil, for owing to its small size this is not well exhibited at fig. 1. At fig. 4 it is 

 enlarged 4 times to bring out more clearly the details of structure. 



The sporangiophores have disappeared, unless some indistinct remains below the 

 sporangia may represent them ; but the sporangia are very clearly seen, arranged round 

 the axis in steep spirals. They are compressed laterally, but this is not the result of 

 external pressure, as the cone is uncompressed. Between the sporangia are seen the 

 remains of the integuments, whose ruptured margins are seen between the sporangia, 

 fig. 6, i. The scars left on the axis by the removal of the bracts are fusiform, with 

 a central point. They are well seen on the axis, immediately above and below the 

 sporangia, on fig. 4, x. They have very much the character of an imperfectly preserved 

 Lepidodendroid leaf scar. They are also seen on fig. 6. The sporangia are slightly 

 narrowed towards the top, fig. 4, 5, 6, sp. A good side view of the sporangia is seen at 

 fig. 5, sp. The light strikes the specimen here in a different direction from that 

 employed in photographing fig. 4. The base of the sporangium is seen to have a slight 

 keel, probably indicating the line along which it was attached to the sporophyll. It 

 will be noticed that there is a slight crack at the distal end of this sporangium, 

 fig. 5, sp, but this is evidently an accidental occurrence. Another of the sporangia has 

 had a piece broken off, and one can see into the now empty cavity, and the fracture 

 shows that the sporangium wall must have been of considerable thickness. Fig. 6, sp'. 



The central portion of the cone has been enlarged about 8 times at fig. 6, with 

 the object of showing more clearly the remains of the integuments. The sporangia are 

 seen to be arranged in steep spirals, in which only four sporangia in each spiral now 

 remain. The cone had probably reached the condition of maturity, as the integuments 

 of the sporangia seem to have been fully developed, and their remains are seen at the 

 places lettered, as well as at other parts of the fossil. A fragment of an integument 

 stands out at i, and the other part is seen on the left, % . A small piece of the integu- 

 ment of the neighbouring sporangium is also preserved, and at several places the remains 

 of the integuments of contiguous sporangia are seen as two delicate structures, more or 

 less following the contour of the sporangia. This can be observed at several places, 

 especially at fig. 6, i' and i". The presence of these structures shows that the cone is 

 not an ordinary Lepidostrobus, because in that genus the sporangia are naked. On the 

 other hand, the structures just mentioned are identical in position and structure, as far 

 as they show, with the integument in Lepidocarpon . The thick wall of the sporangium, 

 which is seen on fig. 6, sp, though much importance cannot be placed on this, is also a 

 character of Lepidocarpon. There is still the further circumstance that the missing 



