

1905.] Lagenostoma, a Type of Pteridospermous Seed. 253 
specimens are fully matnre. It has been shown that in Z. Zomazxi only 
the young seeds are constantly enclosed in a “cupule,” and that they are 
generally naked* when fully developed. The same may have been the rule 
in ZL. Sinclairi, in which case these seeds would be regarded as not having 
reached their full maturity. But of this there is at present no conclusive 
evidence. 
A microscopic examination of these “cupules” has not revealed the 
existence of any large, prominent capitate glands, similar to those which 
form so characteristic a feature of the “cupule” of Z. Zomazxi. But in the 
case of LZ. Sinclairi, the evidence on this pointis of little value. These seeds 
are preserved merely as structureless casts, and even if the preservation 
had been better. than it is, it would be unlikely that delicate emergences 
of this type could be recognised supposing they had existed in the living state. 
(3) Position of the Seed on the Plant. 
Another interesting point in connection with these specimens is found in 
the fact that the great majority of the seeds are still actually attached to the 
axes on which they were borne in the living state (Plate 2, figs. 7, 8, 10, 
and 11). Here there can be no doubt as to the continuity of the seed, 
its “cupule,” and the branched axes. The axis appears to have been of a 
hhighly-compound nature, and the seeds to have terminated the finer 
branches (Plate 2, figs. 7 and 10). The evidence of these specimens 
confirms the conclusion already expressed as the result of the recent 
investigation of Lagenostoma Lomazxt, that the seeds were in all probability 
not borne in a definite strobilus or cone, but that the fructification was a 
lax one.t 
As to the morphological nature of these axes, two views might conceivably 
be held. In the first place, it is possible that they may be the ultimate 
branches of a compound shoot, «e., of the nature of a stem. Some specimens 
of Lygimodeniron have been recently found to have branched repeatedly,t 
and it is, therefore, conceivable that the axes in question may be of this 
nature. 
It is, however, much more probable that the seed-bearing branches are 
modified fronds in which the lamina has been reduced. The irregular nature 
of the branching in these specimens, and the fact that some of the seeds 
terminate short branches, and others are borne at the ends of the longer 
* Oliver and Scott, zbid., p. 224. 
t Oliver and Scott, zbed., p. 229. 
{ Lomax, “On some New Features in Relation to Lyginodendron Oldhamium,” ‘Ann. 
of Bot.,’ vol. 16, p. 601, 1902. 
