Hickling . — The Anatomy of Palaeostachy a vera . 377 
ordinary calamites possibly represent a similar tissue. The continuation of 
this tissue in the sporangiophore is referred to below. 
The Bracts. The number of these appendages in each whorl appears 
to have been equal to that of the sporangiophores, or nearly so, certainly 
not double that number as formerly stated. The adjoining Text-Fig. 4 is 
a camera-lucida outline sketch of a section fairly supporting this statement. 
The crushing of the bracts towards the left may account for their appearing 
Fig. 4. Oblique-transverse section, W. 1568, illustrating the fact that the number of bracts, Br., 
is about equal to that of the sporangiophores, Sp. There were eighteen sporangiophores (= pro- 
jections on axis x 2). Camera-lucida outline sketch. 
rather more numerous on that side than theory requires. Text-Fig. 2 may 
also be referred to in this connexion. 
Williamson 1 describes the surface of his first specimen of this cone as 
showing ‘ a series of strongly marked ridges and furrows, the former being 
apparently about twenty in number ’ ; and then adds that each furrow 
appeared to be occupied by one bract. In that cone there were twenty 
sporangiophores. 
The bracts were free, or very slightly connate at the base, first hori- 
zontal, then ascending. The horizontal bases were in contact laterally, 
the ascending portions imbricating, except towards the tip. The general 
form must have been broadly lanceolate, the widest point being near the 
base of the ascending portion, while the apex was probably acuminate, and 
overlapped to a small extent the bracts of the whorl above. The only 
1 Williamson, ’69, p. 249. 
