FOSSIL FLORA OF THE STAFFORDSHIRE COAL FIELDS. 167 



extremity contracted into a pedicel-like termination. In one of the scales is a narrow 

 depression becoming more pronounced towards the upper end, in the other a 

 corresponding elevation, but not of so great extent as the depression ; thus when the 

 two scales rest on each other at their margins a space is left between them, and though 

 they meet together closely they do not appear to be united ; the upper toothed margins 

 of the two scales also bend inwards towards each other, but also appear to remain free. 

 The two scales thus form a closed, somewhat flattened tubular sporangial-like structure. 

 Within this sporangial body numerous spores are produced, which, in the fossil state, 

 adhere to the inner surface of the two scales. In all cases the sporangia have 

 disappeared from the specimens examined. The microspores are from m 210 to m 222 

 long, oval, smooth, with thick walls, and sometimes show indications of a central 

 longitudinal cleft or line running down one surface of the spore. 



Remarks. — Several specimens of these interesting fossils are figured on PI. XV. to 

 show their varying form and size. Their length varies from 1"40 cm. to about 2 "40 cm. 

 The width also varies in proportion to the length of the scale ; hence some specimens 

 appear much narrower than others. This is seen if figs. 2 and 6 be compared. Their 

 upper margin bears six to eight teeth. These bend inwards along with a small part 

 of the upper end of the scale to meet the corresponding teeth on the other scale ; hence 

 the teeth are not well seen in the photographs, where they are represented in a 

 foreshortened view, but they can be observed on figs. 1 to 4 and the corresponding 

 enlargements of these specimens. As mentioned already, the tip of the whole scale 

 bends inwards as well as the margins ; so when the two scales are in close contact at 

 their upper and lateral margins, which they certainly were, though probably not 

 organically united to each other, a little pocket is formed between them. The fact 

 that the upper margin of the scales had distinct teeth would perhaps indicate that 

 this part, though closely adpressed to the same part of its opposite neighbour, 

 remained free, and probably any union that took place between the scales was only at 

 the base. 



When the small nodules containing these fossils are split — and as far as I know they 

 have hitherto only been found in such at Clayscroft Openwork — many are empty, but 

 a fair proportion contain microspores. These sometimes lie loose as a powder, but 

 when most plentiful they are cemented or held in position on the bract, or perhaps 

 more correctly, the sporangiophylls, by carbonate of lime, and are seen to adhere 

 equally to the inner surface of both the scales forming the fertile structure. This, 

 however, does not necessarily prove that they were originally borne on both surfaces, 

 for the lime in solution, while filling the cavity, would distribute any loose spores 

 throughout its substance ; and when the nodules are split, the lime adhering to both 

 the inner surfaces shows each to be coated with microspores. 



It has already been mentioned that one of the two scales forming the sporangial 

 structure has a deep pocket-like depression in the upper part, and it is, I believe, in 

 this inner and deeper cavity that the microspores are developed, though the pocket 



