OF THE FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE COAL-MEASURES. 
55 
marking the position of a midrib. Following this circle round to t t, we now 
see that the bracts have become independent of each other, proving that the section 
has intersected the specimen at a higher point to the left of the figure than to the 
right hand. At t" we discover a third range of bracts, ascending from a yet lower node, 
but intersected at a point where this range is still separated from those of the inter- 
mediate node by the outermost circle of the sporangia (V), which occupy the intermediate 
internodal space ; at the upper part of the figure (t t ) these two series of bracts (t, t' 
& t ") come into contact, because at this point they both project beyond the outermost 
verticils of sporangia. Such are the general features of this fruit ; but, for the purpose 
of exact comparison with the stems of Asterophyllites, each point must be examined 
somewhat more in detail. The central bundle of vessels which appears to represent 
the central triangle in the axis of Asterojghyllites consist wholly of vessels. Their 
state of conservation does not show clearly whether they were barred or reticulate, but 
several indications suggest that the latter was the case. The greatest diameter of this 
vascular axis is -065, that of the largest of its component vessels being about *0037- 
In my original memoir I stated that “its transverse section may be described as a 
triangle with concave sides and concavely truncated angles ” (loc. cit. p. 30), which 
description, it must be remembered, was published before I had seen any stems of 
Asteropliyllites suggesting the triangular idea. Plate V. fig. 29 is a still more enlarged 
representation of the transverse section of this axis. We see from it that the arrange- 
ment of the vessels in the bundle corresponds exactly with that of the central 
triangles of the stems. They are grouped without any definite order, except that the 
extremities of the three primary angles are occupied by much smaller ones than the 
more central portions. It is very obvious that the two angles, d d , are merely enlarged 
and subdivided representatives of the undivided angle c. I wish to call attention to this 
tendency towards an hexagonal division, from its bearing upon the affinities of Calamo - 
stachys Binneynna. I discover no evidence whatever of any vessels being given off from 
this vascular axis to supply the bractigerous disks ; but the state of carbonization of the 
specimen gives this negative appearance but a limited value. That the circle immediately 
surrounding this vascular axis was composed of delicate cortical parenchyma, may be 
inferred from the almost entire disappearance of the tissue. The layers, g , alone remain 
to represent its innermost portion. The outer bark (7c), on the other hand, is exquisitely 
preserved, and, like that of Aster ophyllites, consists of thick-walled parenchyma, corre- 
sponding in every respect with the structures seen in the outer bark of the stems. At 
each node this outer bark is extended centrifugally into a thick lenticular disk, breaking 
up at its margin into a peripheral series of bracts, t'. These nodal disks were arranged 
in successive verticils about -9 apart. I find it difficult to ascertain the exact number 
of the bracts in each verticil ; but, judging from the size of the primary subdivisions of 
the disk t, compared with the arc of the circle, there appear to have been about 
thirty-two in each verticil. Each bract was thick at its base, becoming thinner and 
more foliaceous towards its extremity. It curved upwards and outwards in a some- 
