150 



DR ROBERT KIDSTON ON THE 



sporangia and sporophylls have been entirely removed. There are no fragments of bases 

 attached to the axis, which probably would have been the case if they had been forcibly 

 broken off. As the sporangia are perfect and are not mixed with broken individuals, 

 one has some ground for believing that the missing sporophylls and attached sporangia 

 have been shed naturally at maturity. 



Notwithstanding, then, the fragmentary nature of our fossil, the characters it shows, 

 point, I think, beyond all doubt to its being a typical Lepidocarpon. 



The only species with which it is necessary to compare it is Lepidocarpon Lomaxi 

 Scott.* From this the Staffordshire specimen is at once distinguished by the size and 

 form of the sporangia, and a comparison of the characters of this single organ will at 

 once show their specific individuality. 



Lepidocarpon Lomaxi Scott. 

 Sporangium broad at the base and contracting 

 upwards into a point : 



Maximum vertical height 4 - 5 mm. 

 ,, tangential width 2 '5 mm. 

 ,, radial length 6'7 mm. 

 (Measurements from immature cone. Mature 

 cones are larger.) 



Cone after development of integuments : 

 3 cm. diameter at base. 

 2 cm. diameter at top. 



Lepidocarpon Westphalicum Kidston. 

 Sporangium narrow, of about equal width, and 

 only very slightly narrower at its upper margin : 

 Maximum vertical height 2 "5 mm. 

 tangential width 10 mm. 

 ,, radial length 5 - 5. mm. 

 (Measurements from cone apparently mature.) 



Cone after develojmient of integuments : 



1"40 or 1"50 cm. probably about centre of 

 cone. 



The distinction between the two species is therefore very marked. Of the two 

 previously described species, one, Lepidocarpon Wildianum Scott, t is derived from the 

 Calciferous Sandstone Series (Culm), of Petty cur, Fife, and the other, Lepidocarpon 

 Lomaxi, from the Lanarkian Series (Lower Coal Measures) of Lancashire and 

 Yorkshire. 



Lepidocarpon Westphalicum, as indicated by the name I propose for the new 

 species, comes from the Westphalian Series, and so increases our knowledge of the 

 vertical distribution of the genus. ' 



The specimen was collected by Mr H. W. Hughes, F.G.S., by whom it was placed 

 in my hands for description. 



Horizon and Locality. — Ten-foot Lronstone Measures: Clayscroft Openwork, 

 Coseley, near Dudley. 



Cordaitese. 



Cordaites Unger. 



Cordaites borassifolius Sternb., sp. 



1832. Flabellaria borassifolia, Sternb., Kssai flore monde prim,, vol. i. fasc. ii. pp. 31 and 36, pi. xviii. ; 



fasc. iv. p. xxxiv. 

 1845. ,, ., Conla (para), Beitr. z. Flora d. Voncelt, p. 44, pi. xxiv. figs. 1-3 and 8. 



* Phil. Trans., ser. B, vol. cxcix. p. 294, plates, 1901. 

 t Ibid., p. 314, 1901. 



