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CHAPTER. VI. 
FOSSIL VEGETABLES. 
In the present section of this work, I propose to explain 
the botanical arrangement and nomenclature of fossil plants ; 
and figure and describe one or more species of the genera 
that are most likely to come under the observation of the 
student, either in public or private collections, or in the 
course of his researches in the field. 
To determine the botanical relations of fossil leaves and 
stems, reference must be had to works expressly devoted tothe 
subject ; namely, the “ British Fossil Flora,” by Dr. Lindley 
and Mr. Hutton, and the “ Histoire des Végétaux Fossiles,” 
by M. Adolphe Brongniart. The classification of the last- 
named eminent botanist is here adopted, as the most easy of 
application. 
With regard to the nomenclature, it may be necessary to 
remark, that when a fossil plant undoubtedly belongs to a 
recent genus, the usual botanical name is employed: for 
example, Hquisetum Lyellic ; when the fossil does not pos- 
sess all the generic characters, yet is evidently allied to 
a recent genus, the term ites (from dios, lithos, stone), is 
added—as Hqutsetites, Palmacites, &c.; and this termina- 
tion is invariably adopted by some authors. When the 
fossil plant differs altogether from any known type, it is dis- 
tinguished by some arbitrary generic name, as Bucklandia, 
Sigillaria, &e. 
There are also a few provisional genera for the reception 
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