FLORA OP THE PLIOCENE EPOCH. 99 



No species appear to be identical, at least with the plants 

 which now grow in Europe. Thus the flora of Europe, even 

 at the most recent geological epoch of the Tertiary period, 

 was very different from the European flora of the present day. 

 Taking the natural orders which have at least four repre- 

 sentatives, Raulin'"' gives the following statement as to the 

 Tertiary flora of central Europe. The Eocene flora of Europe 

 is composed of 128 species, of which 115 belong to Algse, 

 Characea3, Pandanace^, Palmas, Naiadaceas, Malvace^, Sapin- 

 daceae, Proteace^e, Papilionacese, and Cupressineas. The 

 Miocene flora has 112 species, of which 69 belong to Algge, 

 Palmee, Naiadacece, Apocynace^e, Acerace^, Lauracese, Papi- 

 lionace^, Platanaceas, Quercinea3, Myricace^e, and Abietinege. 

 The Pliocene flora has 258 species, of which 226 belong to 

 Algas, Fungi, Musci, Filices, Palmas, Ericaceas, Aquifoliacege, 

 Aceracea3, Ulmaccfe, Rhamnacea3, Papilionacea3, Juglandacese, 

 Salicaceas, Quercine^e, Betulacete, Taxaceae, Cupressineee, 

 and Abietine^e. The Eocene species are included in genera 

 which belong at the present day to inter-tropical regions, 

 comprising in them India and the Asiatic islands of Australia. 

 Some are peculiar to the Mediterranean region. The aquatic 

 plants, which form almost one-third of the flora, belong to 

 genera now peculiar to the temperate regions of Europe and 

 of North America, or occurring everywhere. The Miocene 

 species belong to genera, of which several are found in India, 

 tropical America, and the other inter-tropical regions, but 

 which for the most part inhabit the sub-tropical and temperate 

 regions, including the United States. Some of the genera 

 are peculiar to the temperate regions. The aquatic genera, 

 poor in species, occur everywhere, or else solely in the tem- 

 perate regions. The Pliocene species belong to genera which 

 almost all inhabit the temperate regions, either of the old 



* Raulin, sur les Transformations de la Flore de TEurope centrale 

 pendant la periode Tertiaire. — Ann. des Sc. Nat. 3d ser. Bot. x. 193. 



