306 



CONCLUSION. 



of Indian and Australian fossils recorded in the above table, 

 some being no doubt identical and others specifically distinct but 

 closely allied species, illustrates a marked similarity between the 

 vegetation of the ancient Gondwana Land and the European 

 continent. In Jurassic times there was no doubt a much greater 

 uniformity in the vegetation of the world than exists at the present 

 day. A closer analysis of the Gondwana floras and a more detailed 

 comparison with those of the Northern Hemisphere may enable us 

 to recognize well-defined distinguishing features suggestive of 

 botanical provinces such as existed in the Lower Gondwana 

 period, but this is a matter for subsequent treatment. 



The resemblance between the Wealden flora, described in two 

 previous British Museum Catalogues, 1 and the Jurassic flora of 

 East Yorkshire, has been already noticed. In a few instances 

 we find what appear to be identical species common to the 

 two periods, e.g., Matonidium Goepperti, Ruffordia Goepperti, and 

 Ginkgo digitata. In addition to the occurrence of the same 

 species, we recognize several plant-types in the two floras which 

 demonstrate the marked similarity between the Wealden and 

 Inferior Oolite floras. Comparing the two floras, we notice as 

 common characteristics the absence of Angiosperms and an 

 abundance of Cycads and Ferns : the Conifers probably played 

 a somewhat more prominent role in the Wealden than in the older 

 Jurassic vegetation. 



The following figures illustrate the similarity in the composition 



"Wealden. Inferior Oolite. 



of the English Wealden and Jurassic vegetation as regards the 

 relative prominence of the different classes of plants ; the figures 

 are convenient as a means of comparison, but they must not be 



1 Seward (94 1 ) (95). 



