92 Beign of Angiosperms. 



ledons, Coniferse ; and Angiospermous dicotyledons, among 

 which occur Myricese, Betulinese, Cupuliferse, Ulmaceae, Mo- 

 reae, Plataneie, Salicineae, Lawrineae, Umbelliferae, Karo- 

 langeee, Combretacese, CalycanthesB, Leguminosse, Anacardige, 

 Xanthoxyleae, Juglandese, Rhamnea?, Acerinese, Nympheacese, 

 Apocynese, and Rubiaceae. 



*' The most striking characters of this epoch consist of the 

 ijiixture of exotic forms at present peculiar to regions warmer 

 than Europe, with vegetables growing generally in temperate 

 countries ; such as the palms, a species of bamboo, Lawrineae,, 

 Combretacese, Leguminosae of warm countries, Apocynese, 

 analogous, according to M. linger, to the genera of equa- 

 torial regions, a Rubiacese altogether tropical, united with 

 erables, walnuts, birches, elms, oaks, c/tarmes, &c., genera 

 proper to temperate or cold regions. The presence of 

 equatorial forms, and particularly of palms, appears to 

 distinguish this epoch essentially from the following one. 

 Lastly, we likewise observe the very small number of vege- 

 tables with a monopetalous corolla, limited to species re- 

 ferred to the family of Apocynese by linger, and to the genus 

 Steinhauera, founded on a fruit which has much relation to 

 that of Nauclea among the Rubiaceae. 



" 3. Pliocene Epoch. — This epoch, embracing all the Tertiary 

 formations superior to the fahluns of Touraine, comprehends 

 pretty numerous localities rich in fossil vegetables, and whose 

 position in these formations is determined as much by the 

 ensemble of the vegetables they contain, as by their other 

 geological characters. The Tertiary basins which, it appears 

 to me, must serve as the basis of this Flora, both by their 

 identity, and the numerous and carefully-studied vegetables 

 they contain, are : 1*^, That of CEningen, near ShafFouse, the 

 species of which have been long since studied and well de- 

 termined by M. Alex. Braun, whose work, though unpub- 

 lished, has been communicated to many naturalists, and par- 

 ticularly to M. linger.* 2dy That of Parschlug, in Styria, 



* The following interesting observations on the (Eningen formation are by 

 Professor Agassiz, who refers it to the Miocene not to the Pliocene class : — 



" This picture would be incomplete did I not institute a farther comparison 

 between the present vegetation of those regions and the fossil plants of modern 



