20 OBSERVATIONS ON FOSSIL VEGETABLES, 
SECTION III. 
OBSERVATIONS ON FOSSIL VEGETABLES, ILLUSTRATED BY FIGURES, 
AND PRECEDED BY GENERAL REMARKS. 
Axrnovucn the organization of vegetables is sufficiently known, in so far 
as regards the distinctions by which the larger groups are defined, the more 
peculiar features which the families and genera present, have not yet re- 
ceived that degree of attention which they require. In the present state 
of science, it is impossible, when a section of a tree is presented, to de- 
cide upon its species, and in most cases even upon its genus. In fact, I am 
not aware that any investigations have been made in respect to the internal 
organization of fossil plants; nor, at the commencement of mine, did I meet 
with any person who possessed the least practical knowledge of the subject, 
excepting my friend Mr Nicox, to whom the general distinctive features 
of some of the tribes have been for some time familiar, and to whom, as 
I have already said, I am under the greatest obligations for his prompt 
and able assistance. This being the case, it will readily be understood how 
difficult a task it has been to me, to come to any satisfactory results in my 
investigation of fossil vegetables. In the elucidation of most of those which 
I have figured, it must be expressly declared, that I do not speak decidedly 
as to the genus to which they belong, but merely make an approximative re- 
ference ; although in others the resemblance to recent species is so perfect 
that no doubt can exist as to their ordinal or generic identity. 
The vegetable kingdom has been variously arranged. It is not, how- 
ever, my intention to speak of the differences of opinion among botanists in 
this matter. M.ApDoLPHE BRONGNIART proposes a distribution of plants 
into six great Classes, as follows: 
