468 LEPIDODENDRON. 
dodendron are enumerated in M. Ad. Brongniart's 
Catalogue of fossil plants of the coal formation. 
The internal structure of the Lepidodendron has 
been shewn to be intermediate between Lycopo- 
diaceae and Coniferse,* and the conclusions which 
Prof. Lindley draws from the intermediate con- 
dition of this curious extinct genus of fossil plants, 
are in perfect accordance with the inferences 
which we have had occasion to derive from ana- 
logous conditions in extinct genera of fossil ani- 
mals. " To Botanists, this discovery is of very 
high interest, as it proves that those systematists 
are right, who contend for the possibility of cer- 
tain chasms now existing between the gradations 
of organization, being caused by the extinction 
of genera, or even of whole orders ; the existence 
of which was necessary to complete the har- 
mony which it is beheved originally existed 
in the structure of all parts of the Vegetable 
kingdom. By means of Lepidodendron, a better 
passage is established from Flowering to Flower- 
less Plants, than by either Equisetum or Cycas, 
or any other known genus." Lindleii and Hut- 
tons Fossil Flora, vol. ii. page b^, 
* See annual Report of the Yorkshire Phil. Society for 1832. 
Witham's Fossil Vegetables, 1833, Pi. 12. 13. and Lindley and 
Hutton's Fossil Flora. PI. 98 and 99. 
