Florissant - Fossil Ecosystems of North America: A Guide to the Sites and their Extraordinary Biotas - page 205

California coast, commonly in stands with the
Lawson false-cypress, Chamaecyparis
lawsoniana ( 227 ). The California coastal
region appears to be something of a refuge of
ancient tree genera which were formerly
more widespread. A stroll through the cool,
moist coast redwood forests of California
must be close to experiencing many aspects
of the forest at Florissant. Other conifers
found at Florissant include the true pines,
Pinus , the spruces, Picea , and the firs, Abies ,
as evidenced by their needle-like leaves,

cones, and seeds. These parts were rarely
found in association and were often des-
cribed under different names, so the number
of species present is difficult to estimate.
The flowering plants (angiosperms)
arose in the early Cretaceous, so by Eocene
times they were the dominant group, as they
are today. Most are recognized by
their isolated leaves, looking remarkably
similar to dead leaves in a lake today, but
seeds, fruits, and occasionally flowers, are
preserved too. Shrubs which can be

227 228

227 Walking in Muir Woods, California,
among tall coast redwoods, Sequoia
sempervirens, and other conifers, must be
close to experiencing the Florissant forest.

228 Characteristic leaf and seeds of the
mountain mahogany Cercocarpus myricaefolius
Rosaceae bearing a long style NHM. Seed
with style about 50 mm 2 in long.