THE TEGLIAN FLORA. 



If the Dutch and English Pliocene be studied together — and they may fairly 

 be compared, for the localities are now all on the same isothermal line — we can carry 

 our researches still further. We find not only that an exotic flora with Chinese affinities 

 once flourished in this part of Europe, but further, that this flora was displaced by one 

 of more cool*temperate character, bearing a close resemblance to the European flora 

 of the present day. Thus, if from the Reuverian we pass to the Teglian, we find in the 

 first place, that all plants with Malayan or Australian affinity, Hakea, Jongmansia, 

 Epipremnum, Mimusops — such forms as were probably lingerers from a more remote 

 and warmer Miocene Period — have entirely disappeared. The North American forms 

 have dwindled down to Dulichium vespiforme (and probably D. spathaceum, for that 

 species has been recorded as living in Europe in interglacial times). Yet a considerable 

 number of very distinctive Chinese and Japanese species still remain, for we find 

 Magnolia Kobus, Euryale (also interglacial in Russia), Prunus Maximoviczii, Rubus cf. 

 pungens, Actinidiafaveolata, Ptevocavya limburgensis, Crataegus cuneata, and Cryptotaenia. 

 The last two have not yet been found in the Reuverian ; but doubtless belong to that 

 stream of migration. 



The few very striking plants above mentioned give perhaps a more Oriental 

 aspect to the Teglian flora than is justified by the general facies. If it be examined 

 critically, its closest alliance is seen to be with the existing flora of Central Europe. 

 Further, if the Cromerian flora be examined in the same connexion, the European 

 facies will be found to be fully established, the peculiar Chinese element having disap* 

 peared, except for such species as still live in Europe. It must not be forgotten however, 

 that many of our most common living European plants probably did not originate in 

 Europe, but were Pliocene immigrants, which finding suitable stations in Europe have 

 established themselves here. Till the Miocene flora of the European uplands and of 

 the Arctic Regions is more thoroughly known, we cannot distinguish these immigrants. 



The question now arises Where did this new flora, which replaced the old Reus 

 verian, come from? A close study of the present*day distribution of the Teglian and 

 Cromerian species would appear to indicate two sources. We find in modern Europe 

 two marked areas of distribution for these plants, an approximately circumpolar area, 

 and the area comprising Central Europe and Central Asia, from the Himalaya to the 

 Mediterranean and Atlantic. Bearing in mind that the period from the Reuverian to the 

 Cromerian was one of continual cooling, and that therefore the movement of species 



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