The plants of the Miocene period are extraordinarily numerous, and only some of the general features of the vegetation of this epoch can be indicated here.  Our chief 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 flora of the Arctic regions, Sir Charles Lyell remarks that “more than thirty species of Coniferae have been found, including several Sequoias (allied to the gigantic Wellingtonia of California), with species