374 Seward, —The Anatomy of L epi dodendron aculeatmn , Sternb . 
anatomically to L. Harconrtii, and in the form of the leaf-cushions possibly 
identical with L. Pedroannm , Carr. 1 
Description of Specimen . The fossil which forms the subject of the 
following description has long been in the collection of the Cambridge 
Botany School, and several years ago Mr. C. A. Barber, then University 
Demonstrator, had a single transverse section cut. On re-examining the 
specimen and the section I was surprised to find the preservation of the 
tissues much more satisfactory than my recollection of it led me to expect. 
I am unable to give any information as to the history of the fossil ; it was 
undoubtedly obtained from the English Coal-Measures, but there is no 
record of the locality. The general appearance of the calcified tissues 
presents a striking resemblance to that of some sections in the Binney 
Collection in the Sedgwick Museum, Cambridge, obtained from the clay- 
ironstone of the Coal-Measures near Dudley 2 . 
The piece of stem is 6-8 cm. long, and has a diameter of 4-8 x 4-5 cm. 
A thin layer of coal, approximately -5 mm. thick, covers a portion of the 
surface. Part of the surface (PL XXVI, Fig. 1 ; text-fig. 1, A. C) is almost 
intact: the leaf- cushions, 1-5 cm. long, are prolonged both upwards and 
downwards in tapered and slightly curved terminations. A ligular pit may 
be recognized on some of the cushions, as also the position of the leaf-scars, 
but the preservation is not sufficiently good to enable one to make out the 
parichnos-scars. The cushions are flat or slightly depressed ; on each 
a small tubercle (Text-fig. 1, /) forms a conspicuous feature, occurring either 
on the median line or near one edge in the lower third of the cushion region. 
These scars probably mark the position of leaf-traces which the shrinkage 
and depression of the tissues have rendered apparent on the surface of the 
stem. For the most part the surface has suffered partial decortication : 
3 Seward (’99). 
1 Carruthers (’69 2 ), 
