The figures in _Lign. 40_, represent the usual characters of these fruits. Of the young specimen, (_fig. 3_,) situated at the termination of a branch, M. Brongniart observes, "qu'il est impossible de ne pas reconnaître pour un Lepidostrobus jeune, fixé à l'extrémité d'un rameau."[110] As it is only in their young state that the spikes are found attached to the branches, it is probable they were shed as soon as they arrived at maturity. [110] Hist. Vég. Foss. tom. ii. p. 47. _Triplosporite._--Additional light has recently been thrown on the structure of the Lepidostrobi, by Dr. Robert Brown's examination of a silicified specimen of the upper part of a strobilus, in which the internal organization is beautifully displayed. The reader specially interested in this department of fossil botany should refer to the original memoir by the illustrious President of the Linnæan Society, with the accompanying plates that admirably exhibit the microscopic analysis of the structure of this remarkable fossil; a slice of which was shown me some years since by the late Marquis of Northampton.[111] The external surface of the specimen is covered with hexagonal areolæ; the transverse sections exhibit the appearance of the bracteæ and sporangia. The strobilus is formed of a central axis of relatively small diameter, from which proceed bracteæ, about thirteen in number, that are densely approximated, and much imbricated; and of an equal number of sporangia, filled with innumerable microscopic sporules, originally connected in threes. This triple composition of sporules (which differs from the constant quadruple union in the tribes of existing plants presumed to be most nearly allied to the fossil, namely the _Ophioglosseæ_ and _Lycopodiaceæ_) is expressed by the name _Triplosporite_, adopted by Dr. Brown to indicate this peculiarity of structure, and the class or primary division to which the original plant is supposed to belong.[112] [111] The specimen brought to England was but two inches of the upper end of the cone; it was purchased conjointly by Lord Northampton, Dr. Brown, and the British Museum, for 30_l._! [112] See Trans. Linnæan Society of London, vol. xx. p. 469. Lycopodites.--Species of true Lycopodiaceæ occur in tertiary marls; a beautiful specimen, from Germany, _Lycopodites_ _Benettiæ_, is figured _Wond._ p. 723. [Sidenote: HALONIA. KNORRIA.] Halonia; Knorria. _Lign. 41._--Associated with the plants already described from the coal-measures, there are trunks and branches of other trees, presenting peculiar and but imperfectly known characters, which it will be convenient to notice in this place. Fragments of these stems are to be seen in most public collections of the carboniferous flora, and should be examined by the student, for figures and descriptions can convey but an imperfect idea of their nature. * * * * *