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Summary The value of the cuticle in the study of the stems of Carboniferous arborescent lycopods is discussed. The cuticle gives information about the stomata (which are very numerous suggesting that the tissues beneath were vigorously photosynthetic), it is sometimes of value in demonstrating the presence of a ligule pit where this is concealed, and it helps understanding of how the cortex enlarged in certain species. The cuticle may also be of value in elucidating taxonomic relationships between various stems.
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Barry A. Thomas (1966) studied this question.
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