OF THE FOSSIL PLANTS OF THE COAL-MEASTJBES. 
Figs. 63 to 68 represent a second consecutive series of sections of another example of 
Lagenostoma ovoides, of which fig. 67 is the central one. This specimen exhibits some 
new features. Fig. 63 is the most peripheral section. Here we see the testa ( a ) evi- 
dently deprived of some of its outer portions ; hence the apparent reduction of its 
thickness. The specimen was almost wholly detached from its matrix before I became 
aware of its nature ; hence part of the testa was left adherent to the stone. In this 
example also the perispermic membrane has either disappeared altogether, or it is in 
close contact with the surrounding nucular membrane f. At e the section has passed 
nearly in the plane of several folds of the canopy. Fig. 64, e, shows two of the folds of 
the canopy intersected longitudinally, whilst a third intermediate one has been crossed 
tangentially, forming the central loop in the section. In fig. 65 the central fold of the 
canopy ( e' ) has been divided close to the micropyle, bringing into view, at c, a tangential 
section of the wall of the dilated portion of the lagenostome. In fig. 66 we have nearly 
the same appearance as in fig. 65, only the section has now laid open the cavity of the 
lagenostome (<?). Fig. 67 is, as already stated, the central section of the series, and since 
it shows some instructive features at its upper extremity I have given an enlarged sketch 
of this portion of it in fig. 69. Fig. 68 is also important. It is obvious that the struc- 
tures e , e are the boundary walls of the canopy, whilst at e' we have two intermediate folds 
cut off near the micropyle. At a 1 , a 1 the inner portions of the testa have been detached 
from the outer ones, which latter have adhered to the matrix («). In the centre of the 
seed is a dark-coloured patch which looks like an embryo-sac, but I believe it to be 
merely an effect of mineralization. At i we have an organic thickening of the nucular 
membrane uniting it with the testa a , and projecting from the same part we have the 
cellular mass Jc , which is either a funiculus or a small portion of the foliar or peduncular 
structure upon which the seed has been planted in a sessile manner ; whichever was the 
case we have here clear proof that Lagenostoma ovoides was an orthotropous seed. 
Fig. 69, which represents the upper part of fig. 67, enlarged 80 diameters, exhibits 
the testa (a) split into two layers at a', two folds of the canopy at b, b , and the upper 
part of a third intermediate fold intersected tangentially at V . The latter one hides 
the narrow upper portion of the lagenostome c. In this specimen we have a clear 
demonstration of the composition of the membrane forming the canopy. It consists of 
a single layer of prosenchymatous cells, and other examples show that this is also the 
structure of what I have called the nucular membrane, of which the canopy is but an 
extension. The lagenostome is again seen to be largely occupied by a mass of delicate 
parenchyma. Assuming that the nucular and perispermic membranes are united in 
this specimen, it appears that the base of the lagenostome rests directly upon the upper 
end of the perisperm or nucleus, and that the detachment, through contraction or other 
causes, of the base of the lagenostome from the perispermic membrane in fig. 60 has 
caused the nucular membrane to split up into the multiplied layers seen at f',J" in 
that section. 
Immediately below the right hand side of the base of the lagenostome in fig. 69 there 
MDCCCLXXVII. 2 L 
