J. Starkie Gardner — Fossil Flowering Plants. 495 



similarly to each other, but diversely to those on the opposite surface 

 of the block. Those surfaces of the block that are not smoothed are 

 somewhat rounded. 



The bed from which the block was obtained is said to abound in 

 similar boulders, but they are not in general smoothed or striated. 

 They are found in an olive-coloured matrix of fine silt. The bed has 

 been described by Mr. Wynne, Dr. Waagen, and Mr. E. Oldham, and 

 a general resume of its geological relations was given in the Quart. 

 Journ. Geol. Soc. for the present year, p. 254. The strata immediately 

 overlying are marine, and contain fossils that are either Palseocene or 

 very high Cretaceous, but the age of the boulder bed itself is some- 

 what doubtful. The occurrence of large boulders in a fine silt appears 

 to indicate glacial conditions as in the Talchir beds of India, of which 

 there is a possibility that this Salt Eange bed may be a representative, 

 although most of those who have examined the ground think it to 

 belong to a much later geological period, and associate it with the over- 

 lying Upper Cretaceous or Palseocene strata. 







V. — On Fossil Flowering oe Phanerogamous Plants. 



By J. S. Gardner, F.L.S., F.G.S. 1 



UR attention has been devoted exclusively this year to the fossil 

 flowering or phanerogamous plants. The results of our re- 

 searches point to the conclusion that while that section known as 

 Gymnospermous, to which the Coniferse belong, is of the highest 

 antiquity, being almost coeval with the first definite remains of plants 

 in the Palaeozoic age, there are no Angiospermous plants in British 

 rocks of greater antiquity than the Secondary period, if we except 

 the problematic plant known as Spirangium. Even down to so late 

 as the Lias we have been unable to ascertain that any indisputable 

 Angiosperm has been discovered within our area, for we are led to 

 the conclusion that the supposed Monocotyledons from the Rhsetics, 

 near Bristol, hitherto referred to the family of Pond- weeds under the 

 name Najadita, are really cryptogamic plants of the moss tribe, 

 closely allied to the river moss Fontinalis. This group had not pre- 

 viously been found fossil, and, so far as it goes, would indicate rather 

 a temperate climate. It is important to notice that these conclusions 

 are shared by such high authorities on fossil plants as Prof. Williamson, 

 Mr. Carruthers, and by all botanists who have examined them, as 

 well as Mr. Brodie, the possessor of the specimens. The Lilia, 

 Bensonia, and other supposed Monocotyledons of similar age are 

 very imperfectly preserved and, doubtless referable to Cycads, a 

 family which abounded then. 



We have examined a large number of specimens of the anomalous 

 Jurassic plant described by Carruthers as Williamsonia. It is well 

 known that Prof. Williamson, in whose possession or charge a number 

 of the finest specimens remain, has devoted a considerable amount 



x Being the Second Report of the Committee, consisting of Mr. W. T. Blanford, 

 Professor J. "W. Judd, and Messrs. "W. Carruthers, H. Woodward, and J. S. 

 Gardner (Secretary), appointed by the British Association for the purpose of reporting 

 on the Fossil Plants of the Tertiary and Secondary Beds of the United Kingdom. 



