PLANTS. 7 
another zone of a similar but denser tissue: the whole inclosed by a cuticle of 
radiately-disposed parenchyma. Bundles of spiral or striated vessels pass off from the 
outside of the (?) medullary sheath into the leaves, the collective bases of which, in the 
form of lozenge-shaped prominences, cover the stem in quincuncial order. 
Bothrodendron, Lepidodendron, and some other forms, characterise the group. 
Genus Lepidodendron, Sternberg. 
Dagnosis.—“ Stems dichotomous, covered near their extremities by simple, linear, 
or lanceolate leaves, inserted upon rhomboidal areolz ; lower part of the stems leafless; 
areole (longer than broad) marked near their upper part by a minute scar, which is 
broader than long, and has three angles, of which the two lateral are acute, the lewer 
obtuse ; the latter sometimes wanting.” 
The late investigations of Dr. Jos. Hooker on the fructification of Lepidodendron have 
completely demonstrated its lycopodal character,’ which had been rendered extremely 
probable by the previous researches of Lindley, Brongniart, and Morris, particularly by 
the latter, who, several years since, described and figured the tripartite spores of this 
genus, discovered by Mr. J. Prestwich in the coal formation of Coal Brook Dale.s 
Although the fructification of Lepidodendron agrees very closely with that of Lycopodium, 
the character of its tissues removes the genus not only from the latter, but favours 
both genera, being placed in distinct ordinal groups. 
Lepidodendrons, in their foliage and external appearance, evidently bore a striking 
resemblance to some of our recent coniferous plants; but these are the only points of 
agreement, as their tissues and fructification place them in a much lower division of 
the vegetable kingdom. They may be said to have been gigantic Lycopodales, 
rivalling in stature and simulating in appearance some of the Conifers of existing 
forests. 
LEPIDODENDRON (?) 
LEPIDODENDRON, King. Catalogue, p. 5, 1848. 
— Howse. T. N. F. C. vol. i, p. 264, 1848. 
Specimens of Lepidodendron are occasionally. found in the Lower New Red Sand- 
stone Quarry, between Westoe and South Shields. There is one in the Newcastle 
Museum from this locality; but it is so imperfect as to render the making out of its 
specific character an impossibility. 
1 Fossil Flora, vol. i. 
2 «Remarks on the Structure and Affinities of some Lepidostrobi,’”’ by Dr. Jos. Hooker, F.R.S., &c., 
inserted in the ‘Memoirs of the Geological Survey of Great Britain,’ &c. vol. ii, part ii, 1848. 
3 Transactions of the Geological Society of London, 2d series, vol. v, pl. xxxviii, figs. 8, 9, 10. 
