9$ SUB-HIMALAYAN ROCKS OF N. W. INDIA. [CHAP. Ill 



and of their consequently having been separated naturally from the trees or plants to which 

 they belonged, that they originally flourished in the vicinity of the rocks in which they are 

 now fossilized. 



The natural families represented by our specimens are Sapindacece, Ericacece, Lau- 

 racece, Moracece, Cycadacece, Coniferce, ft) Pahnacece, Cyperacece, and Graminece. 



Sapindaceje. — Only one leaflet seems referable to the Sapindacese. It is, however, well- 

 marked, and cau be identified as belonging to the genus Sapindus. It approaches very 

 nearly to the 5. dubius of Unger, but it would be rash to refer it to any species without 

 a comparison of other specimens from the same locality. 



Living plants of the Soapwort family are essentially tropical, and flourish best in India 

 and the tropical parts of South America. 



Eiucacejs. — Several of the specimens belong to the family Ericacea?. A number of them 

 seem to belong to the genus Andromeda, and, if not identical with the species vaccinifoJia, 

 described in the " Flora Tertiaria Helvetia?," they very closely resemble it. In another 

 specimen the capsular fruit, probably of an Andromeda, and a cast of the fruit, are preserved. 



Living heathworts .have no very characteristic habitat. They abound at the Cape of 

 Good Hope, but they are also to be met with in Europe, and they aFe distributed over the 

 New World, both within and without the tropics. They are rather rare in India and 

 Northern Asia, and it is said that, when they occur within the tropics, they are only to be 

 found on highlands. 



Laurace;e. — The natural family, Lauracece, is well represented in this collection. Some 

 of the specimens seem rcferrible to the genus Persea, and perhaps also to the species 

 Braunii ; others are undoubtedly of the genus Laurus. In one case a well-marked berry 

 is preserved. It has an adherent, 6-partite perianth, and must, therefore, be referred to 

 the Perseae. 



Lauracese have their natural habitat in cool places in the tropics of either hemisphere, 

 and flourish well in the northern parts of India, and along the lower zone of the Hima- 

 layas. 



MoRACEiE. — Some well-marked specimens of the natural family Moracece occur, all 

 belonging to the genus Ficus, and one appears to be identical with the existing F. religiosa. 



It would be indeed surprising, if in any Indian tertiary deposit, where exogenous leaves 

 were found fossil, Ficus did not exist in considerable quantities. Lindley says, speaking of 

 existing plants of this genus, that " it is one of those which travellers describe as most 

 conducing to the peculiarity of a tropical scene." 



Cycadacece. — One specimen seems to belong to this natural family, but is not sufficiently 

 well preserved to admit of satisfactory determination. 



Living plants of the family, Cycadacea?, are essentially tropical. 



Coniferce ? — There are several acerose, midribbed leaves, and fragments of cone scales 

 which probably belong to the extensive family, Coniferce ; but they are too badly marked 

 to admit of generic identification. 



Palmaceje. — A very distinct Flabellaria occurs, closely allied to the F. rapliifolia of 

 Sternberg. Brogniart considers that Flabellaria should be referred to the Cycadacese, 

 but all other authorities agree in classing it with the palms. 



Much of the botanical physiognomy of tropical regions depends on the presence of palms. 



