i66 NATURAL SCIENCE. September, 



are remains of other families, such as female and male flowers of 

 Smilax baltica, a little fruiting spadix of a kind of Calamus (Acoropsis 

 minor), etc. However, many more Dicotyledons are represented in 

 the succinite flora. Particularly do single incomplete or complete 

 inflorescences of oaks occur pretty often, and a good number of 

 species of that genus (Querais) may be distinguished ; also several 

 leaves of oaks are known. It may be mentioned that the underside 

 of the leaves and other organs of oaks are covered with stellate hairs, 

 which, becoming free by the friction of the leaves one against the 

 other, must often have filled the whole atmosphere of the forests of 

 those days. The hairs were often carried against the succiniferous 

 trees and came in contact with the resin, in consequence of which we 

 meet them now very frequently in the pieces of succinite. Again, there 

 are flowers of Spanish chestnuts [Castanea), a beech-like fruit {Fagus 

 siiccinea), and leaves like those of Myvica. 



Of the greatest importance are the remains of Lauracea^, as they 

 belong to the most characteristic plants of the succinite vegetation. 

 One leaf of a cinnamon tree has been known for a long tim.e [Cinna- 

 momiim polymorphum), and I have figured both surfaces of it in the 

 second-named publication. It was in the possession of a merchant of 

 Danzig, and was sold a few years ago for £^o. Certainly this 

 piece is of great interest ; however, a more scientific value attaches 

 to another specimen, including a flower of a cinnamon tree, which 

 shows the anthers with valvate dehiscence and other details very well, 

 (C. pfototypuvi, Fig. 2, a) ; it belongs to the Natural History Museum 

 of Danzig. Many other flowers also of laurels have been described and 

 figured. Further must be mentioned a beautiful impression of a large 

 leaf, quite similar to our Magnolias {MagnoliphyUnm haUicum), and two 

 kinds of flowers of Ternstroemiaceae. One is a magnificent flower of a 

 Stuartia, the diameter of which is 28 mm., the second a group of 

 flowers of a Pentaphylax, which 1 have called P. Oliveri. Moreover, 

 there have been found various flowers of holly trees {Ilex), two sorts 

 of stamens like those of Deiitzia, and flowers of other Saxifragacese, 

 which could not be identified with recent genera. Sometimes Daphne- 

 like leaves [Endaphniphyllnm Nathorsti) and other leaves w^hich may 

 belong to the Proteaceai are to be found. The families of Connaraceae, 

 Papilionaceae, and Ericaceae are also represented. Besides these a 

 few flowers of Myrsinaceae, an impression of an Oleander-like leaf 

 {Apocyncphyllum), some flowers of Sambucus and of various Santalaceae 

 have been described, and last, but not least, small branches and 

 inflorescences of Loranthaceae, chiefly those of an Arcenthobinm-like 

 appearance. We may, therefore, conclude that some mistletoes existed 

 already in the amber period, and probably decorated the tops of the 

 succiniferous pines and firs. 



What is, however, the geological age of this amber period ? I have 

 mentioned before that the Blue Earth of Prussia, which contains the 

 succinite as well as loose woods and various marine animal remains, 



