.SECT. II 



PHANEROGAMIA 715 



Ci'etaceous. They are represented by numerous species which, like the recent 

 forms, can be divided into Monocotyledons and Dicotyledons. The most ancient 

 forms are known only as leaves, so that their determination is a matter of difficulty. 

 They agree essentially with living Angiosperms, and since they show no similarities 

 to Gymnosperms or Pteridophytes, do not aid in bridging over the gap between 

 the Angiosperms and these groups. 



Of Monocotyledons examples of the Palmae are known from the Cretaceous 

 period onwards. The leaves of Dicotyledons from the Cretaceous are doubtfully 

 placed in various orders which contain the more lowly organised type (Querciflorae, 

 Platanaceae) ; some are ascribed to Eucuhiptus. The Angiosperms of the Eocene 

 and the Oligocene can be determined with greater certainty ; even in Xorthern 

 Europe representatives of existing tropical and sul)-tropical families occurred, 

 e.g. Palmae, Dracaena, Smilax among ilonocotyledous, numerous Querciflorae (esp. 

 Quercus), Lauraceae [Ciimamomum, etc.), Leguminosae, etc. among Dicotyledons. 



As the present period is approached the fossil Angiosperms throw even less 

 light on the systematic arrangement of the group. The few genera that have 

 become extinct {e.g. Dryophylluni, a supposed ancestral form of the Oaks) are 

 wanting even in the Eocene. From tlie ]\Iiocene onwards the specific forms are in 

 part identical with those now living, and in the Quaternary strata all the remains 

 are of existing species. The general character of the Tertiary flora in Europe was, 

 liowever, very different from that of the present day. It had the aspect of the 

 flora of a mucli warmer region and (as in the case of the Gymnosperms) contained 

 forms which now exist only in distant regions. 



