Its geological importance is great, for so
abundant is it in the coal-measures, that in certain localities the fruit of
some species may be procured by the bushel; nor is there any part of the
formation where they do not occur, except the under-clays and limestone. The
sandstone, ironstone, shales, and coal itself, all contain them. Mr. Binney has
at length found in the clay-ironstone of Lancashire several specimens displaying
structure, and from these, says Dr. Hooker, we learn that the Trigonocarpon
belonged to that large section of existing coniferous plants which bear fleshy
solitary fruits, and not cones. It resembled very closely the fruit of the
Chinese genus Salisburia, one of the Yew tribe, or Taxoid conifers.
ANGIOSPERMS.
(FIGURE 472. Antholithes. Felling Colliery, Newcastle.)
The curious fossils called Antholithes by Lindley have usually been considered
to be flower spikes, having what seems a calyx and linear petals (see Figure
472). Dr. Hooker, after seeing very perfect specimens, also thought that they
resembled the spike of a highly-organised plant in full flower, such as one of
the Bromeliaceae, to which Professor Lindley had at first compared them.
Pages:
769
770
771
772
773
774
775
776
777
778
779
780
781
782
783
784
785
786
787
788
789
790
791
792
793