Lepidocarpon . 33 
which our morphological conceptions are based, a large degree of 
coalescence obtains between nucellus and testa. 
Such a series as the above we know to have actually existed, 
though it is perhaps premature to conclude that seed-plants proper 
have passed through a similar progression. The filling up of the 
lacunae in our knowledge of these cones will be awaited with interest. 
That the recognition of these very elementary forms in the evolution 
of seeds must needs iipset present morphological conceptions based 
on a study of recent plants seems evident. And in due course, as 
our knowledge becomes more precise, these conceptions must be 
reformulated. 
As regards the phylogeny and affinities of the Gymnosperms 
Lepidocarpon affords no real support to the view that they were 
derived from Lycopods. “ At present Lepidocarpon stands isolated. 
Its reproductive bodies, as I have endeavoured to show, present 
important analogies with true seeds, but there is nothing to indicate 
affinity with any of the existing groups of Spermaphytes. Those 
who hold to the belief that the Gymnosperms, or part of them 
sprang from Lycopods, may find in the discovery of Lepidocarpon 
some support for their views. In spite of its seed-like organ, 
however, the new genus was a true Lycopod, and shews no indication 
of transition to any other group. The mere fact that these plants 
produced a reproductive body agreeing in many respects with a true 
seed, is no proof that they belonged to the line of descent of any 
of the known types of seed-bearing plants. Lepidocarpon is of 
great interest as demonstrating to us one way in which seeds may 
have originated, but we have no right to assume that it presents to 
us the actual origin of the seeds of Phanerogams. To take an ana¬ 
logous case : Bennettites affords the earliest known instance of an 
angiospermous fructification ; yet botanists are agreed that it has 
no affinity with the Class Angiospermae.The balance of 
probability is in favour of the new genus representing merely a short 
branch of the phylogenetic tree, parallel, perhaps, or even convergent 
with the great spermaphytic phylum, but without genetic connection 
with it.” 
That there has been published almost at the same time as the 
discovery of Lepidocarpon an account 1 of certain N. American 
species of Selaginella in which a somewhat comparable approach is 
1 F. M. Lyon. A Study of the Sporangia and Gawetopkytes of 
Selaginella apus and S. rupestris. 
—Botanical Gazette, vol. xxxii., 1901. 
