Geological Survey Bulletin 204 Fossil Flora of the John Day Basin, Oregon

Family BETULACEA.

CARPINUS BETULOIDES Unger.

CARPINUS BETULOIDES Unger.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8487).

CARPINUS GRANDIS? Unger.

CARPINUS GRANDIS Unger. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 18, 1888.

Carpinus pyramidalis (Göpp.) Heer. Lesquereux, idem, p. 18, 1888.

The collection contains two specimens that are referred as above by Lesquereux, but they are rather obscure, one being without margin, and I have hesitated to recognize these species. They agree fairly well with C. grandis and may stand under this species until further material can be obtained.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 2439, 2440).

CORYLUS MACQUARRII (Forbes) Heer.

CORYLUS MACQUARRII (Forbes) Heer, Urwelt d. Schweitz, p. 321, 1865; Fl. Foss. Alask., Pl. IV, figs. 1—8, 1869; Newberry, Later Extinct Floras, Pl. XLVlII, fig. 4, 1898.

Among the large amount of material from Bridge Creek, I have seen but two imperfect examples that should be referred to this species.

One of these was figured by Newberry in his Later Extinct Floras (Pl. XLVlII, fig. 4) and the original is preserved in the United States National Museum (No. 7076), but no mention is made of the fact in the body of that work, although this information is given on the back of the specimen itself.

The other example was detected among the recent collections made by the University of California and is in its museum. Both of these specimens agree perfectly with the figures of this species given by Heer in his Flora Fossilis Alaskana (Pl. IV). There can be no question of their identity.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 7076) and by V. C. Osmont (Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 2504).

BETULA HETEROMORPHA n. sp.

Pl. III, figs. 6, 7; Pl. V, fig. 1.

Populus polymorpha Newb., in part, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 506, 1883; Later Extinct Floras, p. 50, Pl. XLVI, fig, 3; Pl. XLVII, figs. 4, 8; Pl. XLIX, fig. 4, 1898 (not other figures).

Leaves of firm or subcoriaceous texture, ovate, elliptical, or very slightly elliptical-obovate in general outline, from very obtusely wedge-shaped to truncate or obscurely heart-shaped, and often unequal-sided base, obtusely acuminate at apex; petiole usually strong, one-half or less the length of the blade; margin usually coarsely and unequally dentate or sometimes doubly dentate, the teeth mainly obtuse, occasionally acute; midrib rather thick, especially in the lower part of the blade; secondaries 7 to 9 pairs, usually strong, the two or three lower pairs close together and at a lower angle than the others; upper ones at an angle of about 45°, often spreading and slightly curved downward, all craspedodrome and ending in the large teeth, and often with several branches on the lower side which pass to smaller teeth; nervilles numerous and strong, both percurrent and broken, approximately at right angles to the secondaries; finer nervation producing an irregular areolation.

This form is the most abundant one in the collections and is represented by hundreds of examples. They are in general small leaves, ranging in length from 4.5 to 7 cm., and average length being about 5 cm. In width they range from 2.5 to 5 cm., the average being perhaps a little more than 3 cm. Only occasionally is one noted that is a little smaller than the above dimensions (cf. Newberry, Later Extinct Floras, Pl. XLIX, fig. 4). The variation in shape, margin, etc., is well shown in the figures quoted and in the examples here figured.

It is with much hesitation that I venture to found this species; not, indeed, from lack of sufficient material, but rather from embarrassment of riches. Lesquereux, through whose hands much of this material has passed, would separate them not only into many species but into several genera (Quercus, Alnus, Betula, Carpinus, etc.), while Newberry, judging from what he actually did, would combine them all under his Populus polymorpha. I can not believe that they belong to Populus. The only living species with which it is reasonable to compare them is Populus alba, which has, it is true, very variable leaves, but they seem of a different type and generically unlike the ones under consideration. I have, therefore, broken up Newberry's Populus polymorpha, placing certain of them under this form. If Newberry's elastic species was maintained it would be polymorphous enough to include them all, but I do not think it will adequately represent the facts to do so.

In regard to Lesquereux's point of view, it may be said that if extreme examples were selected it might seem logical to call them species, but when the whole are grouped together it is found absolutely impossible to draw any satisfactory line between them. Take, for example, the question of shape. The narrowest possible form may be unlike the broadest form, yet every step between them can be found. So, also, from the specimens with a wedge-shaped base to those with a truncate base, and still farther to those with a markedly inœquilateral base, there are gradual steps. In the matter of nervation, however, there are only comparatively slight differences, yet even here the variations are all connected.

The form most nearly related to this is B. heterodonta Newb., from which it is sometimes almost impossible to separate it. In general, the latter species has much larger leaves, with coarser toothed margins and a more markedly inacquilateral base. Yet these differences come so near breaking down that it is sometimes difficult to say where a particular specimen shall go.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Found abundantly in all collections (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8481, 8482).

BETULA HETERODONTA Newb.

BETULA HETERODONTA Newb., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 508, 1883; Later Extinct Floras, p. 64, Pl. XLVI, figs. 1—4; Pl. XLV, figs. 1, 6, 1898.

As stated under the preceding species, it is almost impossible to distinguish certain of the forms of this species from that.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 7071) and Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8483).

BETULA BENDIREI n. sp.

Pl. IV, fig. 2.

Leaf membranaceous in texture, nearly circular in outline, abruptly rounded below to a nearly truncate base, rounded similarly above to a very short obtusely acuminate apex; margin rather coarsely toothed, most of the teeth, but especially those on the lower half of the blade, with several smaller teeth; midrib rather thick, straight; secondaries about 9 pairs, opposite below, becoming subopposite above, the two lower pairs emerging at an angle of about 20°, others about 45° all craspedodrome and ending in the large teeth, often with one or two branches on the lower side, which pass to smaller teeth; nervilles thin, mainly percurrent and oblique to the secondaries; finer nervation producing a minute network.

I have ventured to describe this species on the single example figured. It is a little more than 4.5 cm. in length and is 4 cm. in width. As may be seen, it is a very perfect and symmetrical leaf, nearly circular in outline, with rather coarsely, doubly dentate margins.

Among living forms this is perhaps closest to Betula occidentalis Hooker, which is now found in the same general region. It has the same shape and nervation, but differs. slightly in the marginal dentation. It is also quite similar, except as regards the margin, to certain forms of B. papyrilera Marshall.

Among fossil forms it has a number of evident affinities. From B. heteromorpha it differs in being nearly circular in shape, with an equal base and regularly spaced secondaries.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8485).

BETULA ANGUSTIFOLIA Newb.

BETULA ANGUSTIFOLIA Newb., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 508; Later Extinct Floras, p. 63, Pl. XLVI, fig. 5; Pl. XLVII, fig. 5, 1898.

A large number of leaves of this species are present in every collection from this locality.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (Types, U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 7074, 7075).

BETULA? DAYANA, n. sp.

Pl. IV, fig. 4.

Leaf small, membranaceous, ovate-cordate, obtuse at apex; margin very coarsely toothed; midrib thin; secondaries thin and obscure, about four pairs, alternate, ending in the larger teeth; finer nervation producing a very fine network.

A single leaf only. The length is 2 cm. and the width 1.5 cm.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, Oregon, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8535).

ALNUS CARPINOIDES Lesq.

ALNUS CARPINOIDES Lesq., Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 243, Pl. L, fig. 11; Pl. LI, figs. 4, 4a, 5, 1883.

All collections from Bridge Creek contain a large number of leaves of this species, which has been well described and figured by Lesquereux.

Locality.—Bridge Creek (types in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 1759, figs. 4, 4a; 1764, fig. 5). One and one-half miles east of Clarnos Ferry. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 931.) One-half mile northeast of Fossil. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 923, 928).

ALNUS SERRULATA FOSSILIS Newb.

ALNUS SERRULATA FOSSILIS Newb., Later Extinct Floras, p. 66, Pl. XLVI, fig. 6, 1898.

The example figured by Newberry as the type is the only one that has thus far been found, with the exception of a single somewhat doubtful example obtained by the University of California.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 7091).

ALNUS MACRODONTA, n. sp.

Pl. IV, fig. 1.

Leaf of firm texture, ovate-cordate in shape, abruptly rounded be low to a heart-shaped base and narrowed above to an apparently obtusely acuminate apex; margin coarsely and irregularly dentate, the teeth all obtuse; midrib thick, especially in the lower half of the blade; secondaries about 9 pairs, the two lower pairs sub-opposite and at a right angle, other secondaries at varying angles and distances, all more or less curving upward, craspedodrome and often with several branches in the lower side, which pass to marginal teeth; nervilles numerous and prominent, usually percurrent and rather oblique to the secondaries; finer nervation producing a copious, irregularly quadrangular network.

This species is based on the single example figured. It lacks, as may be seen, a considerable portion of one side and all of the apex. It is broadly ovate, with abruptly truncate, heart-shaped base and coarsely dentate margin. The length was about 7 cm. and the width about 5.5 cm.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8551).

ALNUS sp?, fruit of, Newb.

ALNUS sp?, fruit of, Newb., Later Extinct Floras, p. 67, Pl. XLVI, fig. 7, 1898.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat; Mus., No. 7093).

ALNUS KEFERSTEINII? (Gopp.) Unger.

ALNUS KEFERSTEINII (Gopp.) Unger. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 18, 1888.

A single example having no portion of the margin preserved. It is referred with hesitation to this species.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2419).