264 



FOSSIL PLANTS OF 



[Oh. XV. 



In some specimens, as shown in the annexed figure, the fructifica- 

 tion is distinctly seen. 



I 



Fig. 204. 



Zasfrcea stiriaca, Ung. (Heer's Flora, pi. 143, fig. 8.) 

 Natural size. Lower and Upper Miocene. Switzerland. 

 a. Specimen from Monod, showing the position of the sori on the middle of the tertiary- 

 nerves. 

 ~b. More common appearance, where the sori remain and the nerves are obliterated. 



In the Upper Miocene flora of (Eningen already described the num- 

 ber of forest trees and evergreen shrubs is very great. Their pre- 

 dominance, however, in the period of the Lower Miocene was still 

 more marked, and is characteristic of subtropical countries. No less 

 than two-thirds of all the ligneous plants were evergreens. 



Among other features which cause this flora to resemble that of 



North America is the great abun- 

 dance of trees of the order Amenta- 

 cese, such as the oak, poplar, alder, 

 birch, willow, hornbeam, plane, &c. 



The papilionaceous plants, of which 

 there are twenty-four genera, are the 

 most abundantly represented of all 

 families, both in the Lower and 

 Upper Miocene. But the laurels, of 

 which there are only five genera, 

 have contributed most leaves to the 

 Miocene strata. Among these sev- 

 eral species of Cinnamomum, as be- 

 fore mentioned, are very conspicuous. 

 Besides 0. polymorphum, before 

 figured, p. 254, another species also 

 ranges from the Lower to the Upper 

 Molasse of Switzerland, and is very 

 characteristic of different deposits of 



■3innamomumIiossmcissleri,TIeer. Daph- Brown Coal in Germany. It has 

 nogene cinnamomifolia, TJnger. Upper } )een called Cinnamomum RosmtiSS- 

 and Lower Miocene, Switzerland and ,., -r-,- , n nn . \ 



Germany. len by Heer (see fig. 204). 



