FLORA OF THE CARBONIFEROUS EPOCH. 



39 



Roscoe gives the following estimated quantities of coal 

 iu the principal countries : — 



Unger enumerates 683 plants of the coal-measures, while 

 Brongniart notices 500. Of the last number there are 6 

 Thallogens, 346 Acrogens, 135 Gvmnospenns, and 13 doubt- 

 ful plants. This appeai-s to be a very scanty yegetation, as for 

 as regards the number of species. It is only equal to about 

 l-20th of the number of species now growing on the sui-fiice 

 of the soil of Europe. Although, however, the number of 

 species was small, yet it is probable that the individuals of a 

 species were numerous. The proportion of Ferns was very 

 lai'ge. There are between 200 and 300 enumerated. Schimper 

 thinks there are 7 species congeneric mth Lycopodium found 

 in tlie coal-measures. The following are some of the Crypto - 

 gamous and Phanerogamous genera belonging to the flora 

 of the Carboniferous period : — Cyclopteris, Xeuropteris, 

 Odontopteris, Sphenopteris, H}inenophyllites, Alethopteris, 

 Pecopteris, Coniopteris, Cladophlebis, Seuftenbei'gia, Lon- 

 chopteris, Glossopteris, Caulopteris, Lepidodendron (Lepido- 

 strobus, Lepidophyllum, Knorria), Flemingites, Ulodcudron, 

 Halonia, Psaronius, Sigillaria and Stigmaria, Calamites 

 (Asterophyllites and Sphenophyllum), Xoeggerathia, Walchia, 

 Peuce, Dadoxylon, Pissadcndron, Trigonocarpum. 



Ferns are the carboniferous fossil group which present the 

 most obvious and recognisable relationship to plants of the 

 present day. While cellular plants and those with lax tissues 



