138 Botanical Exhibits at the Royal Society. 
Those who have perused our report of the recent discussion on 
“The Origin of Gymnosperms” will have realised that a large 
number of supposed ferns of Palaeozoic times arc now recognized 
as seed-bearing plants. If there be any who still suppose that there 
were no real ferns in the flora of that epoch, Dr. Scott’s beautiful 
sections of fossil fern-sporangia with the spores geminating in situ 
would have convinced them of the contrary. An account of these 
germinating spores was given in this Journal 1 some time ago, and it 
will be remembered that this paper was shortly followed by another 
in which certain sporangia were referred to Stauropteris oldhaniia. 2 
Evidence has since come to light shewing that the germinating 
spores of the former paper are referable to a species of Stauropteris ; 
hence this genus belongs to the true ferns rather than to the Pterido- 
sperms. It will be remembered that at the time the Stauropteris- paper 
was written 3 its systematic position was perfectly open. 
In conjunction with Miss Benson, Dr. Scott shewed a number 
of excellent sections of the seed-like fructification of the little- 
known Miadesmia meiubrauacead This little Lycopod, whilst 
recalling Isoetes in some respects, agrees with Lepidocarpon in the 
seed-like peculiarity of its integumented megasporangium. 
Professor F. W. Oliver and Miss W. Brenchley were 
responsible for models and preparations shewing new features in 
the structure of Lyginodendron Oldhamium. The models were built 
up section by section, and the result was a faithful reconstruction 
of two branching specimens exactly as they lay in the petrified 
nodule. Of the two stems which Miss Brenchley had modelled 
one bore numerous branches of the first degree whilst the other 
was characterised by a repeated branching which reached the third 
degree. In both cases all the branches arise in the leaf-axils, a 
feature in which the plant agrees with Poroxylon (specimens of 
which were shown by Dr. Scott) and also no doubt with recent 
Cycads. 
Among the other specimens shewn may be mentioned a ribbed 
Sigillaria of Rhytidolepis-type (by Mr. Arber), of interest in that 
it combined internal structure with surface characters; also a pretty 
rachis of a young Zygopteris corrugata 5 literally smothered in sessile 
1 Vol. III., p. 18, Jan. 1904. 
2 D. H. Scott. New Phytologist, Vol. IV., p. 114. 
3 Loc. cit, p. 119. 
* M. Benson, New Phytologist, Vol. I., p. 58. 
i Cf. F. E. Weiss. New Phytolooist, Vol. V., p. 82. 
