A MONOGRAPH 



ON THE 



BEITISH EOCENE FLORA. 



INTRODUCTION. 



Although for many years no additions have been made to onr knowledge of the 

 British Eocene floras, in published works, yet during that period material has been 

 rapidly and steadily accumulating. When, ten years since, my attention was first 

 directed to the fossil leaves which were then found abundantly at Bournemouth, the 

 extent of the Eocene flora hidden there was not even surmised. It had been stated, in 

 fact, to contain but few types. The fossil leaves of Alum Bay, however, were well known, 

 especially to Mr. Keeping, who had fully ascertained that no very great variety of forms 

 were to be found there. In addition to these, fossil floras were also referred to as 

 having been collected from Studland and the neighbourhood of Corfe.^ From the 

 London Basin there were known the Eocene Fruits of Sheppey, and scanty floras from 

 Reading and Dulwich, and from the outlier of the Hampshire Basin at Newhaven. At 

 the present day, however, owing to further collecting, we have available a whole scries of 

 extensive floras, commencing from that of the Woolwich and Reading beds upwards, 

 embracing the Oldhaven beds, the London Clay, the Lower Bagshot, the Middle Bagsliot, 

 and the Upper Eocenes ; in fact, from almost every stage of the Eocenes known to occur 

 in this country. This magnificent series of floras of consecutive, and in most cases 

 absolutely defined, age has as yet no parallel in any other country. Its contemplation 

 gives rise to problems, the direction and tendency of which are so luimistakable that, 

 in following the facts as recorded in the succeeding pages, they will be apparent to the 

 student. 



I will first call attention to a few examples of the kind of problems which await 

 solution, and then refer to the value of the determinations of the plant-remains described 

 in this work. 



^ For references, see page 1, et seq. 



1 



