.8^. AMBER AND FOSSIL PLANTS. 381 



Magnoliace^. — Two genera, Magnolilepis (Conw.) and Magna- 

 liphylliim (Conw.), are referred to this tropical Family. In the 

 LiNACEiE we have fragments of one species Linum oligocenicum (Conw.). 

 GERANiACEiE, — Geranium and Erodimn are both included by 

 Conwentz in his list of Amber Angiosperms. Schenk has expressed 

 a doubt as to Conwentz's determination of these genera ; if they are 

 rightly determined they are the first fossil examples of this temperate 

 and subtropical Family. 



AcERiNE^. — Five species of Acer are mentioned by Conwentz. 

 Saxifragace^. — Two genera, Stephanostemon (Casp.) and Adenan- 

 themum (Conw.), have been instituted to include Amber fossils referred 

 to this Family. The recent genus Deutzia, native in China, Japan, 

 and the Himalayas, is detected by the occurrence of flowers with 

 characteristic stamens. 



Myricace^. — A species of Myrica and a new genus Myvico- 

 phyllum (Conw.) represent the two contributions of Amber to this 

 Family. 



AquifoliaceyE. — Three species of Ilex have been determined 

 from well-preserved flowers. 



Laurace^. — The tropical and subtropical genus Cinnamomum 

 has left remarkably distinct traces of its existence in the Amber 

 flora. Specimens of exceptional beauty are figured by Conwentz 

 (3, vol. ii.), in which are clearly shown the small valves or lids 

 characteristic of the anthers of this Family. 



EuPHORBiACE/E. — The recent genus Antidesma, characteristic of 

 warm latitudes, occurs for the first time in a fossil state as a well- 

 preserved male flower in Oligocene Amber. Previous to this 

 determination, the existence of Euphorbiaceae in Tertiary times had 

 been conjectured from leaf fragments which afforded evidence of 

 little value. 



ProteacEvE. — Species of Peysoonia, Loinatites, and Dryandva are 

 quoted by Conwentz as examples of this Australian and South 

 African Family. 



RosACE/E. — A flower included in Amber has been referred to this 

 Family as a new genus Mengea (Conw.). 



Ericace^. — Leaf-bearing axes and fruits of Andromeda, a North 

 American and North Asiatic plant, occur in the fossil resin ; other 

 genera also are referred to the same Family. 



Caprifoliace>e. — Two species of Sambucus are figured with floral 

 organs in good preservation. 



LoRANTHACEiE. — Representatives of the Mistletoe Family occur 

 in Patzea (Casp.) and Loranthacites (Conw.). The former genus, 

 originally described by Goeppert and Berendt as Ephedrites, and 

 considered to be closely related to the recent genus Ephedra, has 

 since been recognised by Conwentz, Caspary, and Schenk as one of 

 the Loranthaceae. Its characters are well illustrated in the figures 

 of flowers and flowering branches given by Schenk in " Zittel's 



