Introduction to the Study of Palæontological Botany

Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE

Italic text is denoted by underscores. Superscripts are denoted by ^ eg Lith^{rs} Edin^r.

Basic fractions are displayed as ½ ⅓ ¼ etc; other fractions are shown in the form a/b, eg 3/11 or 13/(34×2).

The caption for an illustration is displayed as a sidenote in the etext. It was shown as a page footnote in the original text.

Obvious typographical errors and punctuation errors have been corrected after careful comparison with other occurrences within the text and consultation of external sources.

More detail can be found at the end of the book.

INTRODUCTION

TO THE STUDY OF

PALÆONTOLOGICAL BOTANY

INTRODUCTION

TO THE STUDY OF

PALÆONTOLOGICAL BOTANY

JOHN HUTTON BALFOUR, A.M. M.D. EDIN. F.R.S., SEC. R.S.E., F.L.S.

PROFESSOR OF MEDICINE AND BOTANY IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH, REGIUS KEEPER OF THE ROYAL BOTANIC GARDEN, AND QUEEN'S BOTANIST FOR SCOTLAND

WITH FOUR LITHOGRAPHIC PLATES, AND UPWARDS OF ONE HUNDRED WOODCUTS

EDINBURGH

ADAM AND CHARLES BLACK

1872

Printed by R. & R. CLARK, Edinburgh.

PROF. HEINRICH ROBERT GOEPPERT, M.D.,

DIRECTOR OF THE BOTANIC GARDEN, BRESLAU;

ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT PALÆONTOLOGICAL BOTANISTS OF EUROPE,

The following Treatise

IS DEDICATED, WITH BEST RESPECTS, BY HIS OBLIGED FRIEND

THE AUTHOR.

PREFACE.

The subject of Fossil Botany or Palæophytology has formed a part of the Course of Botany in the University of Edinburgh for the last twenty-five years, and the amount of time devoted to the exposition of it has increased. The recent foundation of a Chair of Geology and of a Falconer Palæontological Fellowship in the University seems to require from the Professors of Zoology and Botany special attention to the bearings of their departments of science on the structure of the animals and plants of former epochs of the Earth's history. No one can be competent to give a correct decision in regard to Fossils, unless he has studied thoroughly the present Fauna and Flora of the globe. To give a well-founded opinion in regard to extinct beings, it is essential that the observer should be conversant with the conformation and development of the living ones now on the earth; with their habits, modes of existence and reproduction, the microscopic structure of their tissues, their distribution, and their relation to soil, the atmosphere, temperature, and climate.

There can be no doubt that to become a good Fossil Geologist a student must begin with living animals and plants. The study of Geology must be shared by the Petralogist, who looks at the condition of the rocks of the globe, the minerals forming them, and their mode of formation; the Chemist, who determines the materials which enter into the composition of minerals and rocks; the Naturalist, who examines the plants and animals found in the various strata; and perhaps also the Natural Philosopher, who calculates from independent sources the phases of the Earth's history. It may be said thus to combine all these students of Science in one brotherhood. Much has been done by the efforts of such men as Hutton and Werner, who were engaged chiefly in considering the mineral department of Geology; but it is clear that the Science could not have attained its present position without the continued labours of those who have been examining fossils in their relations to time and space. Had it not been for the researches of Palæontologists, Geology could not have made its present advance.

Part 2

In my Class Book of Botany I have given an introduction to Palæophytology, and it occurred to me that it might be useful to students to publish this in a separate form, with additions in both the letterpress and the illustrations. The institution of the Palæontological Fellowship, in memory of my former friend Dr. Falconer, has brought the subject specially under my notice. The Fellowship has been promoted chiefly by my friend and former pupil Dr. Charles Murchison, a gentleman fond of science and of his Alma Mater, the University of Edinburgh, where he and Falconer studied and took their degrees.

The first award of the Fellowship has been made to a distinguished student, who acquitted himself with the greatest credit during the three days of examination on Geology, Zoology, and Botany. I trust that the Fellowship will continue to stimulate our eminent students in future years.

Having been a student of Natural Science along with Dr. Falconer, I feel a peculiar interest in doing what I can to promote the study of a subject to which he so successfully devoted his energies. In my endeavour to do so I have been encouraged by my friend and former pupil, Mr. William Carruthers, at the head of the Botanical Department of the British Museum, and a former student in Edinburgh under the late Professor Fleming. He has done much to advance our knowledge of Fossil Botany, and to him I am indebted for two of the plates and some of the woodcuts which illustrate this publication. He has given me most efficient assistance, and I have to return my best thanks for his kind aid. I am also indebted to my colleague, Professor Geikie, for his valued assistance.

The neighbourhood of Edinburgh is rich in Fossils of the Carboniferous epoch, and much yet remains to be done to illustrate its Palæontology. Such labourers as Geikie and Peach may be expected to give great assistance in the furtherance of our knowledge of Scottish Geology, so as to form a school which shall revive the reputation enjoyed by Edinburgh in the days of Hutton and Jameson. If I can be useful in encouraging students to take up the study of Palæontological Botany, and to prosecute it with vigour, I shall feel that this introductory treatise has not been issued in vain. As one of the few surviving relations of Dr. James Hutton, I am glad to be able to show an interest in a science which may aid in elucidating the "Theory of the Earth."

In writing this work I have taken for granted that the reader is acquainted with the Elements of Botany, and knows the general structure of plants of the present day. I have not, therefore, hesitated to use the ordinary Botanical terms without explanation. I am satisfied that no one can study Fossil Botany properly unless he has studied Modern Botany.

Those readers who may find any difficulty as to technical terms I would refer to my Botanist's Companion, where a full Glossary is given.

27 INVERLEITH ROW, May 1872.

TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PAGE

INTRODUCTORY REMARKS 1

DETERMINATION OF FOSSIL PLANTS 3

MODE OF PRESERVATION OF FOSSIL PLANTS 8

EXAMINATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF FOSSIL PLANTS 12

FOSSILIFEROUS ROCKS 20

NATURAL ORDERS TO WHICH FOSSIL PLANTS BELONG 22

PERIODS OF VEGETATION AMONG FOSSIL PLANTS 25

FOSSIL FLORA OF THE PRIMARY OR PALÆZOIC PERIOD 26

REIGN OF ACROGENS 26

FLORA OF THE CARBONIFEROUS EPOCH 36

FLORA OF THE PERMIAN EPOCH 71

FOSSIL FLORA OF THE SECONDARY OR MESOZOIC PERIOD 72

REIGN OF GYMNOSPERMS 72

FLORA OF THE TRIAS AND LIAS EPOCHS 77

FLORA OF THE OOLITIC EPOCH 80

FLORA OF THE WEALDEN EPOCH 84

FOSSIL FLORA OF THE TERTIARY OR CAINOZOIC PERIOD (INCLUDING THE CRETACEOUS EPOCH) 87

REIGN OF ANGIOSPERMS 87

FLORA OF THE CHALK 87

Part 3

FLORA OF THE EOCENE EPOCH 90

FLORA OF THE MIOCENE EPOCH 92

FLORA OF THE PLIOCENE EPOCH 98

GENERAL CONCLUSIONS 101

RECAPITULATION 103

WORKS ON FOSSIL BOTANY 105

EXPLANATION OF PLATES 111

INDEX 113

LIST OF WOODCUTS.

FIG. PAGE

1. Section of Peuce Withami, Lindley and Hutton 3

2. Bark of Araucaria 5

3. Markings on Araucaria bark 6

4. " " 7

5. " " 7

6. Leaf of Araucaria 7

7. Nicolia Owenii (Carr.) 11

8. Bryson's instrument for slitting Fossils 14

9. Tree-fern 27

10. Asplenium 28

11 a. Bifurcating Trunk of a Tree-fern (Alsophila Perrottetiana) 29

11 b. Rhizome of Lastrea Filix-mas 29

12. Transverse section of stem of a Tree-fern (Cyathea) 29

13. Scalariform vessels from Tree-fern 30

14. Sporangia of a Fern 30

15. Lycopodium clavatum 30

16. Spore-case, containing Microspores of Lycopodium 30

17. " " Macrospores of Selaginella 30

Part 4

18. Fructification of Equisetum maximum 31

19. Polygonal scale of Equisetum 32

20. Spore of Equisetum--filaments contracted 32

21. " " " expanded 32

22. Marsilea Fabri 33

22 bis. Adiantites Lindseæformis 41

23. Pecopteris (Alethopteris) aquiline 43

24. " (Alethopteris) heterophylla 43

25. Neuropteris Loshii 43

26. " gigantean 43

27. " acuminate 43

28. Sphenopteris affinis 43

29. Cyclopteris dilatata 43

30. Stem of Caulopteris macrodiscus 44

31. " " Balfouri (Carr.) 44

32. " " Morrisi (Carr.) 44

33. " Sigillaria pachyderma 45

34. Sigillaria reniformis 45

35. " pachyderma 46

36. " (Favularia) tessellate 46

37. " pachyderma 46

38. Stigmaria ficoides 47

39. " " (S. anabathra of Corda) 47

40. Bifurcating stem of Lepidodendron obovatum (elegans) 49

41. Stem of Lepidodendron crenatum 49

42. Fructification of Lepidodendron 50

43. Longitudinal section of Fructification of Triplosporites 50

44. (1). Fruit of Selaginella spinulosa, A. Braun (Lycopodium selaginoides, Linn.) 51 (2). Scale and sporangium from the upper part of cone 51 (3). Antheridian microspores from ditto 51 (4). Macrospore 51 (5). Scale and sporangium from lower part of cone, containing macrospores 51 (6). Fruit of Lepidostrobus ornatus (Hooker) 51 (7). Three scales and sporangia of ditto 51 (8). Microspores from sporangia of the upper part of the cone of Triplosporites Brownii, Brongn. 51 (9). Macrospore from the sporangia of the lower part 51 (10). Scales and sporangia of a cone of Flemingites 51

Continue reading Introduction to the Study of Palæontological Botany free in the Wunder reader →