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.