PALMSIN SECONDARY AND TRANSITION SERIES. 385 



Fossil Palms. 



The discovery of the remains of Pahns Trees in the 

 Brown-coal of Germany has been already noticed ; and the 



Among the fossil shrubs are two species of Rhamnus ; one of these (R. 

 multinervis, Braun) resembles the R. alpinus, in the costation of its leaf. 

 The second and most frequent species, (R. terminalis, Braun) may with 

 regard to the position and costation of its leaves, be compared in some de- 

 gree with R. catharticus, but differed from all living species in having its 

 flowers placed at the tips of the plant. 



Among the fossil Leguminous plants is a leaf more like that of a fruticose 

 Cytisus than of any herbaceous Trefoil, 



Of a Gleditschia, (G. podocarpa, Braun) there are fossil pinnated leaves 

 and many pods; the latter seem, like the G. Monasperma of North America, 

 to have been single seeded, and are small and short, with a long stalk con- 

 tracting the base of the pod. 



With these numerous species of foliaceous woods, are found also a 

 few species of Conifera3. One species of Abies is still undertermined ; 

 branches and small cones of another tree of this family (Taxodium curo- 

 peum, Ad. Brong.) resemble the Cypress of Japan (Taxodium Japonicum.) 



Among the remains of aquatic plants are a narrow-leaved Potamogeton ; 

 and an Isoctes, similar to the I. lacustris now found in small lakes of the 

 Black Forest, but not in the Lake of Constance. 



The existence of Grasses at the period when this formation was deposited, 

 is shown by a well preserved impression of a leaf, similar to that of a 

 Triticum, turning to the right, and on which the costation is plainly ex- 

 pressed. 



Fragments of fossil Ferns occur here, having a resemblance to Pteris 

 aquilina and Aspidium Filix mas. 



The remains of Equisetum indicate a species resembling E. palustre. 



Among the kvi undetermined remains are the five-cleft and beautiful 

 veined impressions of the Calyx of a blossom, which are by no means rare at 

 CEningen, 



No remains of any Rosaceae have yet been discovered at this place."' 

 Letter from Prof. Braun to Dr. Buckland, Nov, 25, 1825, 



In addition to these fossil Plants, the strata at QCningen contain many 

 species of fresh-water Shells, and a remarkable collection of fossil Fishes 

 which we have before mentioned, P, 285. In the family of Reptiles they 

 present a very curious Tortoise, and a gigantic aquatic Salamander, more 

 than three feet long, the Homo Diluvii testis of Scheuchzer, A Lagomys 

 and fossil Fox have also been found here. (See Geol. Trans. Lond. N. S, vol. 

 iii, p. 287. 



VOL. I.— 33 



