88 



PALiEONTOLOGICAL BOTANY. 



In the Gault, near Folkestone, an interesting association 

 of coniferous fruits has been found, consisting of two species 



of Sequoia, along with two of Pinus. 

 The pines belong to the same group 

 as those which now grow with the Wel- 

 lingtonias in California, showing the 

 remarkable fact that the coniferous 

 vegetation of the high lands of the 

 Upper Cretaceous period had a fades 

 similar to that now existing in the 

 mountains on the west of North 

 America. We figure both the species 

 of Sequoiites — viz. S. ovalis (Fig. 91), a 

 large cone, and S. Gardneri (Plate 11. 

 Fig. 7). In the present day there are 

 two species of the genus Sequoia — 

 viz. S. gigantea (Wellingtonia gigantea) 

 and S. sempervirens.* In the Lower 

 Greensand a remarkably fine cone belonging to the same 

 group as the Cedar has been found. This is the Pinites Leck- 

 enbyi (Plate II. Fig. 4). A section exhibits the seeds in 

 their true position, some of which are preserved so as to 

 exhibit the form and position of the embryo. 



The Tertiary period is characterised by the abundance of 

 Angiospermous Dicotyledons and of Monocotyledons, more 

 especially of Palms. By this it is distinguished from the 

 more ancient periods. Angiosperms at this period greatly 

 exceed Gymnosperms. Cycadace^e are very rare, if not com- 

 pletely wanting, in the European Tertiary strata, and the 

 Conifera3 belong to genera of the temperate regions. In the 

 lower Tertiaries Carruthers has found a fossil Osmunda, and 

 the existence of a group of Pines having cones with a very 

 thick apophysis. From their remarkable external aspect. 



Fig. 91. 



Fig. 91. Sequoiites ovalis. 



Large cone. 



* Carruthers, Geol. Mag., vol. viii. December 1871. 



