02 



FOSSIL PLANTS. 



The Macrospores in all the specimens appear to be of large size, when compared with 

 those found in Lepidostrobus Dabadianus ; but it must be borne in mind that the former 

 have been much compressed, and even flattened out, while the latter retain their original 

 form. This will, to a certain extent, account for the apparent difference in size. No 

 doubt there might be various sizes of both Microspores and Macrospores in the plants 

 then existing ; and, indeed, we could scarcely expect to find thera all of one size. In the 

 flora of the Carboniferous epoch, Cones having Sporangia with two kinds of spores appear 

 to have constituted a more marked character of the period than has been hitherto 

 supposed. 



In the calcareous nodules found in the Lower Brooksbottom Seam of Coal, as well as 

 that of the Upper Foot Coal, plenty of detached Macrospores are to be met with, and 

 in a few instances in or near a Sporangium. There are also numerous traces of Micro- 

 spores to be found in the same nodules, when the slices have been ground down fine 

 enough ; but this is not very easily done, for the paraffine-like matter of which the spores 

 are composed is apt to tear away in the operation of grinding. With all this allowance, 

 however, it must be admitted that in neither of these seams of coal are Macrospores to 

 be met with in anything like the quantity in which they are found in the " spUnt " and 

 " brown cannel" coals of Scotland. 



