Telangium ( Calymmatotheca ) showing Structure. 171 
vary as to the homologies of the seed as a whole they agree in regarding 
the integument as a new formation. 
Dr. Lang’s conclusions are based on his own investigation into the 
morphology of the sporangia of Stangeria 1 J and on the results of work by 
Warming and Treub on other genera of Cycadaceae. He points out that 
* with regard to the development considerable correspondence between the 
ovule and the sorus can be traced in the early stages. The differences 
between the development of the sorus of microsporangia and the ovule 
only become pronounced when active growth becomes localized around 
each archesporial group V He therefore homologizes the sorus and the 
ovule at the outset, but looks upon the ovular sorus as monosporangiate 
and the integument c as an annular upgrowth, around the apex of the 
nucellus, of the bulky sporangial wall or, which comes to the same thing, 
of the edge of the receptacle which had kept pace with the single spor- 
angium.’ 
Thus it would appear that owing to the relatively advanced type of 
seed investigated, Dr. Lang could not homologize the upgrowing ‘edge’ 
of the receptacle with sterilized sister-sporangia of the nucellus. He adds 
that his view is only put forward as a provisional statement, which will 
have to be tested ‘ in the light of the evidence obtainable from extinct 
forms.’ It is in the light of these extinct forms that the new theory of the 
integument is now being put forward. 
Whether T. Scotti be ultimately proved to belong to Lyginodendron 
or not, we may well bear in mind that the synangium is a very ancient 
type of fern fructification, for from the Culm onwards we have numerous 
examples of it recorded. Where the individual sporangia are not en- 
tirely coherent they generally form a sorus of bulky sporangia like those 
of the Filicinean class e Simplices ’ suggested by Professor Bower. The 
ancient sporange was very rarely solitary, and we have already undoubted 
evidence in Cycadeoidea of a seed-plant having synangia for its micro- 
sporangial organ. 
Among synangia which are found associated with Cycadofilicinean 
seeds are Hawlea and Scolecopteris 3 . The latter I will shortly describe, as 
I believe a reference to it may make the comparison of seed and synangium 
more clear. 
Scolecopteris is a form-genus including several species of sorus, which 
have been described by a succession of palaeobotanists 4 . It is sufficient 
1 Lang, Annals of Botany, xiv, 1900. 
3 Note the support that these observations give to the soral theory of the seed. 
8 Kidston, ‘ On the Fossil Flora of the Radstock Series of the Somerset and Bristol Coalfield.’ 
Trans. R. S. Edin., 1888. Also, 1 On the Fructification of Carboniferous Ferns,’ Trans. Geol. Soc, 
Glasgow, vol. ix, 1889, Plates II and III. Further announcements bearing on this subject will 
shortly be made by Mr. Kidston. 
4 Strasburger, ‘ Scolecopteris elegans, Zenk.,’ Jenaer Zeitschrift fur Naturw., vol. viii, 1874. 
