Fig. 66.—Asterophyllites foliosa.
XI.—Ideal view of a marshy forest of the Coal Period.
On the opposite page ([Pl. XI.]) M. Riou has attempted, under the directions of M. Deslongchamps, to reproduce the aspect of Nature during the period. A marsh and forest of the Coal-period are here represented, with a short and thick vegetation, a sort of grass composed of herbaceous Fern and mare’s-tail. Several trees of forest-height raise their heads above this lacustrine vegetation.
On the left are seen the naked trunk of a Lepidodendron and a Sigillaria, an arborescent Fern rising between the two trunks. At the foot of these great trees an herbaceous Fern and a Stigmaria appear, whose long ramification of roots, provided with reproductive spores, extend to the water. On the right is the naked trunk of another Sigillaria, a tree whose foliage is altogether unknown, a Sphenophyllum, and a Conifer. It is difficult to describe with precision the species of this last family, the impressions of which are, nevertheless, very abundant in the Coal-measures.
