EELATIVE GEpLOGICAL ANTIQUITY OF TREES. 145 



to the reproductive function. The first bee makes its appear- 

 ance in the amber or fossil resin of the Pines of the Eocene 

 period ; the fragments of the wings of butterflies and other 

 flower-sucking insects are .also frequently met with enclosed 

 in the same substance. Dicotyledonous trees of a low order 

 of organization, such as the Birch, Beech, Oak, Poplar, Chest- 

 nut, and Hornbeam, were probably as abundant in the forests 

 of the Eocene period as they are now in our present woods. 

 .But there is no proof of the creation of Eosaceous plants. 

 These seem to be coeval with the first appearance of man. 



Our forest trees were therefore not all created at the same 

 time, but are the product of different geological eras ; and 

 ^the present plant-covering is only a fragment of many ante- 

 cedent plant-creations. Coniferous trees with needle-shaped 

 leaves, such as the Pine, Eir, and Larch ; also Ferns, Hdrse- 

 tails, and Club-mosses, are among the most ancient and per- 

 sistent types. They have descended down to us from the 

 oldest periods of the creation. This remark applies especially 

 to the Natural Order Coniferse, which from the most ancient 

 times even until now, in new varieties and splendors, has con- 

 tinued to develope. The first flowers among herbaceous 

 plants appear to have been land and water lilies, and plants be- 

 longing to the Natural Order Ericaceae or the Heath tribe, such 

 as the Whortleberry ( VacciniuTri), and the Alpine Eose {Rho- 

 dodendron). Among trees bearing true leaves and conspicuous 

 flowers, the Tulip Poplar {Liriodendron tulipiferd), appears to 

 be an ancient forest form, so also trees belonging to the Natu- 

 ral Order Leguminosse or the Pea tribe, such as the False 

 Acacia {Rohinia Pseudo-Acacia), and the Honey Locust {Gle- 

 ditschia triacanihos). These trees all preceded Eosaceous plants 

 in the plan of creation. Trees bearing edible fruits, as well 

 as beautiful blossoms, such as the Peach, Apricot, Apple, Pear, 

 Plum, and Cherry, were introduced when the eart h wa s fitted 

 for the'reception of man, their remains arefonlyfloun^ in the 

 modem Geological formations now in progress, and therefore 

 like him they must be regarded as among the recent creations. 



The most important fact taught by this Geological history 

 of the plant world, is that the organic and inorganic creation 



