. The geology of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, or, Acadian geology [microform]. Geology; Geology, Stratigraphic; Paleontology; Geology, Economic; Géologie; Géologie stratigraphique; Paléontologie; Géologie économique. )> 'If THE FLORA OF THE COAL FORMATION. 469 i ⢠plants. They must have been perennial; and the resemblance of their trunks to those of Cycads, together with their hard and narrow leaves, would lead us to infer that their growth must have been very slow. A similar inference may be drawn from the evidences of very slow and regular expansion presente
. The geology of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island, or, Acadian geology [microform]. Geology; Geology, Stratigraphic; Paleontology; Geology, Economic; Géologie; Géologie stratigraphique; Paléontologie; Géologie économique. )> 'If THE FLORA OF THE COAL FORMATION. 469 i ⢠plants. They must have been perennial; and the resemblance of their trunks to those of Cycads, together with their hard and narrow leaves, would lead us to infer that their growth must have been very slow. A similar inference may be drawn from the evidences of very slow and regular expansion presented by the lower parts of their stems. On the other hand, the distance, of a foot or more, which often intervenes between the transverse rows of scars, marking pos- sibly annual fructification, would indicate a more rapid rate of growth. Further, it may be inferred, from the structure of their roots and of their thick inner bark, that these, as in Cycads, were receptacles for great quantities of starch, and that the lives of these plants presented alternations of starch-accumulation and of expen- diture of this in the production of leaves, wood, and abundant inflo- rescence. They would thus, perhaps for several years, grow very slowly, and then put forth a great mass of fructification, after which perhaps many of the individuals would die, or again remain for a long time in an inactive state. This view would, I think, very well harmonize with the structure of these plants, and also with the mode of tlieir entombment in the coal. From the manner of the association of Calamitcs with erect Sigil- larice, I infer that the former were, of all the plants of the Coal for- mation, those of most rapid dissemination and growth. They appear to have first taken possession of emerging banks of sand and mud, to have promoted the accumulation of sediment on inundated areas, and to have protected the exposed margins of the forests of Sigillarice. In applying any conclusions as to the
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Keywords: ., boo, bookcentury1800, booksubjectgeology, booksubjectpaleontology
