Brongniart, Sur les Vegetaucp Fpssiles. 179 



cover the chalk to the surface of the earth, or the most re- 

 cent alluvions, and are formed either of marine or fresh- 

 water deposites. In the third and last Chap^ he corri- 

 pares the fossile vegetables of these formations, with those 

 of earlier formations — viz those of middle and inferior sed- 

 iment, including chalk, oolite, alpine limestone^ and their 

 subordinates — and those of Coal and Anthracite with the 

 copper lignites of Catherineburgh. 



His classification is artificial, but in his detailed account 

 of the particular Genera, he points out their affinities with 

 existing families and genera of vegetables. He also proves 

 in his second Chapter, that there are many fossile vegeta- 

 bles, in the superior formations, which are referable to gene- 

 ra if not to species still existing. We will give a tabular 

 view of his Classification with the principal facts referable 

 to each genus gathered from his chapters. 



; Class I. Stems, whose internal organization is recogni'- 

 zable. 



Genera. 1. Exogenites. Wood formed of regular concen- 

 tric layers. These must have belonged to arborescent di- 

 cotyledonous plants — they cannot be referred to any 

 known species. They are chiefly found in the superior 

 formations, where they occur in the state of lignite, or in a 

 silicious state, (as in resinites, wood-opal,) they are also 

 found in the state of lignite in the formations of inferior 

 sediment. They are not found in the coal formations. 



2. Endogenites. Wood composed of insulated bundles of 

 vessels more numerous at the circumference than the cen- 

 tre. These must have belonged to arborescent monocoty- 

 ledonous plants such as the Palms, the Dracoenas, Yuccas, 

 &:c. There are also distinct contorted fibres found in mas- 

 ses of lignite, which seem to have been formed of decom- 

 posed Endogenites and probably of the central looser fibres 

 of Palms. The Endogenites are found in the superior forma- 

 tions, where their trunks in one species are covered with im- 

 bricated scales formed by the bases of the leaves. They are 

 generally scattered and in small quantity. They occur in 

 the state of lignite or silicious. They are not found in the 

 inferior sediment nor in the coal formation. 



Class II. Stems whose internal organization is no longer 

 distinct, but which are characterized by their external 

 form. 



