166 Dr. D. H. Scott. On the Structure and 



" On the Structure and Affinities of Fossil Plants from the 

 Palaeozoic Rocks. II. On Spencerites, a new Genus of 

 Lycopodiaceous Cones from the Coal-measures, founded on 

 the Lepiclodendron Spenceri of Williamson." By D. H. 

 Scott, M.A.. Ph.D., F.R.S., Hon. Keeper of the Jodrell 

 Laboratory, Royal Gardens, Kew. Received November 2, 

 — Read November 18, 1897. 



(Abstract.) 



The fossils which form the subject of the present paper are 

 Cryptogamic strobili, showing evident Lycopodiaceous affinities, but 

 differing in important points from other fructifications of that family, 

 so that it appears necessary to establish a new genus for their recep- 

 tion. 



Two species are described, one of which {Spencerites insignis) is 

 already known to us from the investigations of Williamson, who 

 named it first Lepidostrohus insignis, and afterwards Lepidodenclron 

 Spenceri* while the other {Spencerites majusculus) is new. 



In one of his latest publications, Williamson pointed out that it 

 might ultimately be necessary to make his Lepidodendron Spenceri the 

 type of a new genus.f The separation thus suggested is now carried 

 out, on the basis of a renewed investigation of the structure of this 

 fossil. 



Spencerites insignis is a pedunculate strobilus ; the vegetative 

 organs are not as yet identified. The specimens are calcined, and 

 their structure admirably preserved. 



The anatomy of the axis is of a simple Lycopodiaceous type, but 

 differs in details (such as the course of the leaf-trace bundles) from 

 that of the axis of Lepidostrohus. The peduncle bears sterile bracts, 

 similar to the sporophylls of the cone itself ; the latter are arranged 

 spirally, or in some cases in alternating verticils. 



The individual sporophylls are of peltate form, consisting of a 

 short cylindrical pedicel, expanding into a relatively large lamina. 

 The sporangia are approximately spherical bodies ; unlike those of 

 Lepidostrohus, they are quite free from the pedicel, and are attached 

 by a narrow base to the upper surface of the lamina, where it begins 

 to expand. 



The details of the sporangial wall are quite different from those of 

 Lepidostrohus, and the spores are also characteristic. In size they 

 are intermediate between the microspores and macrospores of 



* Williamson, " Organization of the Fossil Plants of the Coal-measures," Parts 

 IX, X, XVI, and XIX, 4 Phil. Trans.,' 1878, 1880, 1889, and 1893. 

 f General Index, Part II, 1893, p. 24. 



