Dawson[660] has described some fossils from the Devonian rocks of Canada as species of _Asterophyllites_; the figures bear a closer resemblance to the genus _Annularia_. The same author figures some irregularly whorled impressions as _Protannularia_, which appear to be identical with a fossil described by Nicholson[661] from the Skiddaw slates (Ordovician) of Cumberland as _Buthotrephis radiata_, but the specimens are too imperfect to admit of accurate determination. _Annularia stellata_ (Schloth.). Fig. 88. 1820. _Casuarinites stellatus_, Schlotheim[662]. 1826. _Bornia stellata_, Sternberg[663]. 1828. _Annularia longifolia_, Brongniart[664]. 1834. _Asterophyllites equisetiformis_, Lindley and Hutton[665]. 1868. _Asterophyllites longifolius_, Binney[666]. 1887. _Annularia Geinitzi_, Stur[667]. 1887. _Annularia westphalica_, Stur. This species was figured by Scheuchzer[668] in his _Herbarium Diluvianum_, and compared by him with a species of _Galium_ (Bedstraw). Brongniart first made use of the generic name _Annularia_ for this common Coal-Measure species, which may be defined as follows:— Stem reaching a diameter of about 6–8 cm., with internodes 6–12 cm. in length, the surface either smooth or faintly ribbed. Primary branches given off in opposite pairs from the nodes, the lateral branches giving off smaller branches disposed in the same manner. The smaller branches bear verticils of leaves at each node; both leaves and ultimate branches being in one plane. The leaves are narrow, lanceolate-spathulate in form, broadest about the middle, 1–5 cm. in length and 1–3 mm. broad, hairy on the upper surface[669]; each leaf is traversed by a single vein. [Illustration: FIG. 88. Branch of _Annularia stellata_ (Schloth.). ⅘ nat. size. From a specimen in the Collection of Mr R. Kidston. Upper Coal-Measures, Radstock.] Each whorl contains 16–32 segments, which are connected basally into a collar or narrow sheath; the lateral segments are usually longer than the upper and lower. The branches are about 6–20 mm. broad, with finely ribbed internodes 3–7 cm. long, bearing verticils of leaves; the ultimate branches arise in pairs in the axils of the lateral segments of the verticils. The strobili are of the _Calamostachys_[670] type and are borne on the main branches or possibly on the stem; they have a long and narrow form and are attached in verticils at the nodes. Each strobilus consists of a central axis bearing alternate whorls of linear lanceolate sterile bracts and sporangiophores, about half as numerous as the sterile bracts; each sporangiophore bears four ovoid sporangia.