Notice-on F egetable> Fossils. 269 
‘ment of translation has’taken place since the ‘precipitation, 
and even since the consolidation of the upper layer of psam- 
‘mite; this movement, it'is true, was not extensive, though 
sufficient: to break, in several’ points, the continuity of the 
*stalks or trunks,*'so that their upper parts are, as it were, 
el nee aside, and do not correspond with the lower ones. 
Tédoes notenter into my plan to describe these plants, 
‘sor to endeavour to determine to what family they may be- 
‘Yong: this is avery important. and a very difficult subject, 
and one which cannot be treated cursorily. My son, aided 
- by the’ counsels of Mr. Decandolle and the assistance of the 
‘geologists, commenced, along time ago, a separate work 
“on that branch of Botany, which has for its object the study 
“of fossil vegetables: for in giving names ‘to this species of 
Syvegetables, too rapidly and too superficially, there would’ be 
danger of propagating, relative totheir genus, opinions which 
might prove to be erroneous. But, although I here speak 
“only of the’ position of the stalks, sndenbllo® their nature, I 
- cannot refrain from offering, on this last head, a few observa- 
* tions which “relate immediately ‘to those of si Etienne, 
one I have just described. © nog 
* At the mineofTreuil there are two dik@tice sorts ap stalks, 
he one cylindrical; articulated, and striated, parallel to their 
edges 5 these do not offer, in iret interior, the least sign of 
organized texture, their cavity, probably fistular, is entirely 
’ filled with a’ roéky substance of the same nature as those 
‘which ‘comipose the layers they traverse, These stalks are 
the most numerous, ‘and differ mucli from each other in di- 
“ameter, from only 2 to 3 centimeters (2 to 1} inches) to 1 
~ or 2 decimeters (almost 4 to 8 inches) and perhaps more. 
* Their greatest length appears to be 3 to4 metres (10 to 13 
* feet.)° Their surface is often covered with a ferruginous, 
and even a carbonaceous crust or deposit. 
The other’ vegetables, less common, are composed of 
“hollow cylindrical stalks, which diverge towards their lower 
extremities, and seem to be divided'in the’ manner of sae 
but without the least ramaification.* 
“It does not appear that any of these trunks can be ranked 
with the trees of the family of: the Palm tree. ‘This result, 
which I simply announce, will be developed and 2 egy 
* The plate shews these diverse circumstances. 
Vou. TV....,.No. 2. 9 
