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