part 3] lcess, etc. of the dubham coast. 197 



X. Peeliminaei Descbiption of the Plant-Remains. 

 By Eleanob Mary Reid, F.L.S., F.G.S. l 



The material sent to me has proved of the greatest interest. 

 When washed and sifted from the matrix the total amount of 

 vegetable matter was very small, not much more than a large 

 tablespoonful, but it has yielded important results. I regret that I 

 have not yet had an opportunity of working out the species in full 

 detail, and of photographing the specimens. To do so would take 

 more time than I can at present spare, but 1 hope to be able to 

 complete the investigation in the near future. 



Forty or more species have been found, exclusive of most of the 

 GyperaceaSf which number about twelve species. Of the total 

 number rather more than half are exotic. Some may be extinct, 

 but to decide this question further work is needed. Such plants 

 as have been identilied all point to a temperate climate, and there- 

 fore to a Pliocene age for the deposit. The large proportion of 

 exotic species shows that the flora must be of an age earlier than 

 the Cromerian. In the Cromerian about 10 per cent, of the flora 

 was found to be exotic ; in the Teglian about 50 per cent. ; and in 

 the Keuverian about 90 per cent. It is not easy to estimate 

 the exact percentages, unless one has a complete collection of all 

 British seeds ; and this 1 do not possess. By comparing the 

 percentages as given, it will be seen that the Castle-Eden flora 

 corresponds very closely, in respect of the exotic element which 

 it contains, with the Teglian ; and it is to this age that 1 should 

 assign the deposit. 



Confirmation of this correlation is obtained along another line. 

 The Teglian flora shows that at that time there still existed in 

 this part of Europe a considerable element of the s]3ecies having 

 Chinese and North American affinities, which formed so conspicuous 

 a part of the Keuverian flora. In how great a degree the Castle- 

 Eden flora will show the same result I cannot at present say, as I 

 have not yet had the opportunity of determining specifically many 

 of the critical species. It is possible, however, to state that it 

 does contain species which point strongly to the probability of this 

 affinity- Thus, Hubus fiosculosus, to which the Castle-Eden 

 species seems closely allied, is a Chinese species; the gentian, which 

 is not the European Q-entiana cruciata, belongs to a section of 

 the genus which, with but two or three exceptions, is entirely of 

 Central and Fast Asian distribution ; and most of the Cotone- 

 asters with live stones (which all the Castle-Eden Cotoneasters 

 possess), except ('. PyracantJia t 2L plant of Central Europe and the 

 Near Fast, and the section Orientates, also of the Near Fast, are 

 either Central or Eastern Asian or North American. 



1 Mrs. E. M. Reid has very kindly sent me the appended results of her 

 examination of the seeds and plant-remains, which she designates 'the Castle- 

 Eden flora.' The great majority of these seeds were washed out of a magi oi 

 brownish rather sandy clay in Fissure 5. where it is exposed between high- 

 and low-tide marks. The situation of the clay is indicated by Y on Hy. •'>. 

 p. 182.— C. T. T. 



