TRANSLATIONS AND NOTICES 



OF 



GEOLOGICAL MEMOIRS. 



On Plant-remains in some of the Austro-Hungarian Strata. 



By Prof. Unger. 

 [Proceedings Imp. Acad, Sciences, Vienna, Decenaber 11, 1856.] 



1. The Vegetable remains in the freshwater Hmestone and quartz 

 of Stjria (Rein, Strassgang, and Thai), of Illinik (Hungary), and 

 Tuchorzic (Bohemia), together with those occurring in similar deposits 

 near Bonn and Mayence, and in Central France, &c., prove the lit- 

 toral vegetation around the small lakes of the Tertiary period to have 

 been but scanty, although the terrestrial and freshwater Molluscous 

 fauna was numerous and varied. The sediments above alluded to are 

 remarkable for their close affinity with the calcareous and siliceous 

 tuffs, the travertinos, &c. at present in course of formation in Tus- 

 cany and the Roman States. 



2. In the Leitha-limestone the only vegetable remains are some 

 species of silicified wood ; none of them are peculiar to this deposit, 

 all having been met with in other Tertiary strata. The condition and 

 situation of these fossils appear to prove that in this limestone they 

 have been imbedded in their original position. 



The Leitha-limxCstone consists nearly throughout of concretionary 

 ramiform calcareous masses, having a radiating form, and resembling 

 some coral-structures and stalactitic accretions. Dr. R.euss ranked 

 these branching bodies among the Milleporincs, under the name of 

 Nullipara immosissima. Dr. Haidinger considers them to be merely 

 inorganic concretions. Prof. Unger, however, endeavours to prove 

 that both these views are erroneous, and that the concretions are of 

 vegetable origin. Prof. Philippi, of Berlin, has clearly shown that 

 several marine calcareous organisms, usually regarded as Zoophytes, 

 are peculiar forms of Algc9; belonging to his genera Lithophylhim 

 and Lithothmnnium. Prof. Unger has observed these Algce to have 

 a still greater extent, to produce the most extraordinary forms of 

 crusts and stalactitic masses, and to consist entirely of a stony matter 

 so hard that it can only be broken by means of iron tools. The 

 vegetable texture appears clearly when the calcareous particles are 

 removed by the action of diluted acids ; and presents a system of 

 parallel articulated tubes, connected by lateral anastomoses. The 



VOL. XIII. PART II. E 



