FOSSIL COAL PLANTS, 



51 



compressed specimens exhibit leaf-scars of a more angular 

 form than those in the figure. 



I Cuyahoga Falls. 



ANTHOLITHES PRISCUS. 



This beautiful fossil affords 

 us, perhaps, the first unques- 

 tionable evidence of the exist- 

 ence of plants with conspicuous 

 flowers at the period of the de- 

 position of the carboniferous 

 strata. The abundance of fos- 

 silized coniferous wood in the 

 coal bearing rocks, proves the 

 existence of gymnospermous 

 phaenogamous plants at that 

 early era, and perhaps the plant^ 

 of which this was the floresc- 

 ence, had no higher organiza- 

 tion, but its graceful spike will/ 

 be looked upon with peculiar' 

 interest, as proving that the 

 gloom of the somber forests of 

 the coal period was enlivened 

 by the same objects that most 

 adorn the field and forest of the 

 present day. 



And although the only air breathing animals of which 

 the remains have been yet found in the carboniferous 

 strata, are lizards, scorpions and cockroaches, we may be 

 sure there were other eyes than theirs to mark its beauty 

 of coloring and grace of form; at least it looks so much 

 like our nowaday flowers, that we cannot refrain from 

 conjecturing that its petals were often brushed by the 

 wings of the wandering bee as he came, attracted by its 

 fragrance, to sip the honey it distilled. 



W 



Fig. 1. 



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