f sources of information as
to the Miocene plants are the Brown Coals of Germany and Austria,
the Lower and Upper Molasse of Switzerland, and the Miocene strata
of the Arctic regions. The lignites of Austria have yielded very
numerous plants, chiefly of a tropical character--one of the
most noticeable forms being a Palm of the genus _Sabal_ (fig.
234, B), now found in America. The plants of the Lower Miocene of
Switzerland are also mostly of a tropical character, but include
several forms now found in North America, such as a Tulip-tree
(_Liriodendron_) and a Cypress (_Taxodium_). Amongst the more
remarkable forms from these beds may be mentioned Fan-Palms
(_Chamoerops_, fig 234, A), numerous tropical ferns, and two
species of Cinnamon. The plant-remains of the Upper Molasse of
Switzerland indicate an extraordinarily rank and luxuriant
vegetation, composed mainly of plants which now live in warm
countries. Among the commoner plants of this formation may be
enumerated many species of Maple (_Acer_), Plane-trees (_Platanus_
fig. 235), Cinnamon-trees (fig. 236), and other members of the
_Lauraceoe_, many species of _Proteaccoe_ (_Banksia, Grevillea_,
&c.), several species of Sarsaparilla (_Smilax_), Palms, Cypresses,
&c.

[Illustration: Fig. 234.--Miocene Palms A, _Chamoerops Helvetica_;
B, _Sabal major_. Lower Miocene of Switzerland and France.]

[Illustration: Fig. 235.--_Platanus aceroides_, an Upper Miocene
Plane-tree. a, Leaf; b, The core of a bundle of fruits; c,
A single fruit.]

[Illustration: Fig. 236.--_Cinnamomum polymorphum_. a, Leaf;
b, Flower. Upper Miocene.]

In Britain, the Lower Miocene strata of Bovey Tracy have yielded
remains of Ferns, Vines, Fig, Cinnamon, _Proteaccoe_, &c., along
with numerous Conifers. The most abundant of these last is a
gigantic pine--the _Sequoia Couttsioe_--which is very nearly
allied to the huge _Sequoia_ (_Wellingtonia_) _gigantea_ of
California. A nearly-allied form (_Sequoia Langsdorffi_) has been
detected in the leaf-bed of Ardtun, in the Hebrides.

In Greenland, as well as in other parts of the Arctic regions,
Miocene strata have been discovered which have yielded a great
number of plants, many of which are identical with species found
in the European Miocene. Amongst these plants are found many
trees, such as Conifers, Beeches, Oaks, Maples, Plane-trees,
Walnuts, Magnolias, &c., with numerous shrubs, ferns, and other
smaller plants. With regard to the Miocene flor