40 



FOSSIL PLANTS. 



{Lepidostrobus, pi. Ivi, fig. 4), or perhaps several small ones {Flemingites, pi. Ivi, 

 fig. 6). 



" There appear to be both macrospores (pi. Ivi, fig. 5) and microspores in the same 

 sporangium. I have examined at length the structure and afiinities of these fruits, in a 

 paper published in the 'Geological Magazine,' vol. ii, p. 433, to which I must refer, 

 without here dwelling further on the subject. Flemingites, although the sporangia are 

 enormously abundant in some coals, have not yet been found connected with any fossil ; 

 but specimens of Lejndostrohiis attached to branches of Lejndodendron have been described 

 by Dr. Paterson, Brongniart, and others, and I have noticed a fine specimen in the 

 Museum of the Edinburgh Botanic Gardens, and others exist in the British Museum and 

 elsewhere. 



" In tracing the affinities of Lepidodendron, we have the safest guide in the organs of 

 fructification, and fortunately these have been satisfactorily determined. The sporiferous 

 strobilus shows that it is a true cryptogam, and in general appearance and arrangement 

 of parts the strobilus can scarcely be distinguished from that of some living Lycopodia, 

 except in the great difference of size. This affinity is strengthened by the character of 

 the leaves and the structure of the stem. But the possession of both kinds of spores in 

 the same sporangium exhibits stronger affinity to Bhizocarpece than to Lycopodiacece" 



Flemingites. 



§ 14. (J/orm).— Probably ever since the Splint Coals of Scotland have been wrought 

 the small disc-shaped bodies, of a chestnut colour, contained in them must have been 

 observed, but until late years little attention has been devoted to them. They have 

 been found in Cannel and Cherry as well as in Splint Coals, but in nothing like the 

 same quantity. In some of the Fifeshire " Splints," near Methel, they occur in such 

 abundance as to impart to the coal a chestnut tinge. 



In Mr. Prestwich's memoir on the Coalbrookdale Coal-field, Professor Morris noticed 

 these bodies in the following words : ^ — 



" Lycopodites"''^. longibradeatus, n.s. Stem rounded, marked by the cicatrices of the 

 fallen leaves, which are close, lozenge-shaped, and spirally disposed. 



" Fructification in terminal imbricated spikes ; thecal reniform, minutely tuberculated, 

 each attached by its centre to a base of a long, lanceolate, foliaceous bractea. 



" The thecse resemble in shape those of the recent genus Stachyyynandrum ; but as 



' ' Transact. Geol. Soc. London,' 2nd ser., vol. v, part 3 (1840), explanation of plate xxxviii, figs. 8, 9, 

 10, and 11. 



2 Professor Morris, I believe, has since determined this plant to be a true Lepidodendron. 



