at the Linnean Society . 69 
convenienttocall Pteridosperms. Their number was increasing every 
day and, according to some estimates, they threatened to deplete 
the true ferns entirely. If the coal-measure ferns were thus turning 
out to be something else—if the much respected ancestor were 
nothing but a sort of ghost and never had a substantial existence— 
then a situation arose which might well engage their attention. 
He trusted that to-night’s discussion might be reassuring. The 
discoveries alluded to did not come as a bolt from the blue. A great 
stride had been made more than ten years before, when examination 
of petrified material shewed that certain palaeozoic fern-like types 
(notably Lyginodendron ) had many of the anatomical characters of 
the Cycads. These had become known as the Cycadofilices, but 
their mode of reproduction, whether “cryptogamic” or spermo- 
phytic, had been entirely unknown. The recognition of the 
Cycadofilices, a transitional group, had pointed to the origin of the 
Gymnosperms from an old Pilicinean stock, but it had not really 
shaken the old position, for after all, relatively few, in proportion to 
the total number of ferns recognised, were preserved in the form of 
petrifactions. But in the sequel, when first one, and then another 
of these forms turned out to be seed plants and the hosts of fossils 
preserved as impressions became available, the situation was altered. 
For, structure-work having played its necessary preliminary part, 
here was a criterion which could be demonstrated from impressions 
with perfect validity; and day-by-day the big battalion of Ferns 
was being depleted and Pteridosperms set up in their stead. The 
whole of the Sphenopterids and Neuropterids must be removed 
from their reserves of Ferns. He would call attention to a chart 
which shewed in a general way this distribution in time of the main 
groups of vascular plants. Cordaiteae went back as far as any 
fern-like forms. 
Among the Ferns which still remained the Pecopterideae were 
under suspicion. One of them, Pecopteris Pluckeneti, had been 
caught by M. Grand ’Eury in the delinquency of producing a 
multitude of seeds. Anatomically, too, the group was somewhat 
complex, and not very suitable as the starting point of Gymnosperms. 
Some might incline to look to the Lycopod phylum for a way out. 
Mr. Seward would tell them the conclusions he had reached from a 
detailed study of the Araucarieae, plants in habit certainly recalling 
the Lycopods. He (Professor Oliver) would shew them two lantern 
slides of seedling Araucarias which certainly brought this resem¬ 
blance out very strikingly. Mr. Seward’s contribution would be a 
very special feature that night, and should he find reason to suspect 
the existence of a sort of Conifero-Lycopod series parallel with the 
old Cycadofilices on the fern side, he might try to drive home his 
Lycopod “wedge.” In any case Mr. Seward had chosen the right 
tactical moment for bringing forward his views. Yet the Cycads 
and Pteridosperms pointed clearly enough in the direction of Ferns, 
and one turned to one group among the latter not yet suspected of 
the seed-bearing habit. He alluded to the Botryopterideae. Mr. 
Arber would probably draw particular attention to this group. 
He (Professor Oliver), believing that Mr. Arber held a good hand, 
was tempted to lead a card into his strong suit. The Botryo- 
pterideae were an obscure collection of forms to most of them till 
they were focussed in the pages of Scott’s “ Studies.” The 
potentialities of the group were first recognised in that work. They 
