19"-] STEVEXSOX— FORMATION OF COAL BEDS. 641 



drawing his illustrations mainly from conditions in the Loire basin. 

 He exhibited twelve charts showing rooted trees and stumps discov- 

 ered near Saint-Etienne during the preceding decade. Trees and 

 stumps with roots attached were found belonging to Stigmaria, 

 Syringodcndron, Stigniariopsis, Sigillaria, Calaniites, Calamoden- 

 dron, Psaronius, CoracAtes and other forms. In several cases, the 

 leaves still remained attached. The arrangement of the roots de- 

 pended somewhat on the soil in which they grew. Many times the 

 more yielding soils permitted the roots to grow downward while in 

 clays they tend to spread horizontally. Roots of Stigmaria, usually, 

 those of other plants, frequently, are interlaced in such manner as 

 to leave no room for doubting that they are in loco natali. The 

 soils of vegetation are distinct, for the roots are woody, herbaceous, 

 or of several kinds, occurring in groups or singly, often interlaced, 

 sometimes spaced but never scattered. They are therefore in place. 

 Where there have been successive generations, the roots of the 

 newer generations sometimes penetrate the stumps of their prede- 

 cessors and in many cases pierce impressions of plants lying in the 

 shale, through which they pass. The secondary roots of several 

 types are thoroughly distinct at varying levels, while the creeping 

 rhizomas at the base still remain attached to the stem ; and one often 

 finds buried at the foot of rooted trees the branches, leaves and 

 fructifications which were detached during their growth. 



Grand' Eury's conclusion is that Carboniferous plants were ar- 

 borescent marsh forms, living as those in the Dismal Swamp, the 

 foot and adventive roots in the water, with the stock and rhizomas 

 creeping on the bottom. They could live either on the area of in- 

 creasing deposit or in stagnant water. The fossil forests have no 

 continuity ; they disappear in all directions, often being reduced to 

 mere groves. 



It is unnecessary to give further illustration. One desiring to 

 pursue the matter will find in Goeppert's " Prize Essay " a full state- 

 ment of all information available at that time for eastern Germany, 

 with full discussion. His studies, in some respects, are as inter- 

 esting as those by Grand' Eury. Lyell, R. Owen, Lesquereux and 

 Newberry have given examples for the United States. 



239 



