SIGILLARIiE OF THE COAL PERIOD. 
427 
Fig. 465. 
In the sea-clifFs of the South Joggins in Nova Scotia, I ex¬ 
amined several erect Sigillarice^ in company with Dr. Daw¬ 
son, and we found that from the lower extremities of the 
trunk they sent out Stigmarice as roots. All the stools of 
the fossil trees dug out by us divided into four parts, and 
these again bifurcated, forming eight roots, which were also 
dichotomous when traceable far enough. The cylindrical 
rootlets formerly regarded as leaves are now shown by more 
perfect specimens to have been attached to the root by fit¬ 
ting into deep cylindrical pits. In the fossil there is rarely 
any trace of the form of these cavities, in consequence of the 
Fi:?'. 466. 
shrinkage of the 
surrounding tis¬ 
sues. Where the 
rootlets 
moved, 
remains 
surface 
Stigmaria 
are re¬ 
nothing 
on the 
of the 
but 
rows of mammil- 
lated tubercles 
(see Figs. 466, 
467), which have 
formed the base 
of each rootlet. 
These protuberances may possibly indicate the place of a 
joint at the lower extremity of the rootlet. Rows of these 
tubercles are arranged spirally round 
each root, which have always a medul¬ 
lary axis and woody system much re¬ 
sembling that of Sigillaria^ the struc¬ 
ture of the vessels being, like it, scalari- 
form. Surface of another individual 
Coniferse.—The coniferous trees of species, showing 
, 1 . . ^ ^ ^ tubercles. (Foss. 
this period are referred to five genera ; Fio. 34 .) 
stigmaria ficoides, Broug. 
lllllnjiii 
i natural size. 
(Foss. Flo. 32.) 
