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

Family ULMACEÆ.

ULMUS SPECIOSA Newb.

ULMUS SPECIOSA Newb., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 507, 1883; Later Extinct Floras, p. 80, Pl. XLV, figs. 2—4, 7 (non figs. 5 and 8), 1898.

Ulmus pseudo-americana Lesq., Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 249, Pl. LIV, fig. 10, 1883.

The leaf made the type of Lesquereux's Ulmus pseudo-americana is preserved in the paleontological collection of the University of California (No. 1758), and as it is clearly the same as the large leaves figured as the types of Newberry's U. speciosa and is referred to it, as the latter has priority.

As Newberry states, the collections from Bridge Creek contain a number of elm leaves of the character and size shown in fig. 8 of his plate; that is, they are very much smaller and have less coarsely cut margins than those shown in figs. 2—4, and 7. He decides, however, that these differences are not sufficient to warrant separating them as a distinct species. If these extremes of size and shape were connected by intermediate forms it would be unwarranted to separate them, but among a considerable number this is not found to be the case. It is possible to determine from even a relatively small fragment the form in hand. It therefore seems justifiable to separate them, and I have accordingly done so, retaining the name speciosa for the leaves and giving to the Smaller ones the name of Ulmus Newberryi.

Ulmus speciosa, as here emended, may be described as follows: Leaves 10 to 13 cm. in length, 5.5 to 6 cm. in width, petioled, long ovoid or elliptical in outline, very unequal sided at base, narrow pointed at apex; margins coarsely and doubly serrate; nervation strong, very regular, with a strong midrib and some 15 to 20 pairs of thin, close, parallel secondaries; nervilles numerous, close, mainly percurrent and at right angles to the secondaries.

The fruit probably of this species is figured and described by Newberry.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 7065, 7066, 7067, 7068) and Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 9217, 9367).

ULMUS NEWBERRYI n. sp.

Pl. IX, fig. 4.

ULMUS n. sp., Knowlton in Merriam, Univ. Cal., Bull. Dept. Geol., Vol. II, No. 9, p. 288, 1901.

Ulmus speciosa Newb., Later Extinct Floras, p. 80, Pl. XLV, figs. 5 and 8 (now figs. 2-4 and 7), 1898 (1899).

Leaves membranaceous in texture, lanceolate in outline, narrowed, and very unequal sided at base, long and slender pointed at apex; margin coarsely and irregularly doubly serrate, the primary teeth large, of quite regular size, the other teeth smaller and quite irregular; midrib rather thin, perfectly straight; secondaries about 12 or 15 pairs, parallel, at an acute angle and ending in the larger teeth; nervilles numerous, fine, mainly broken, producing a large block net work between the secondaries.

This species is founded on a considerable number of leaves besides the ones figured by Newberry under U. speciosa. One of the most perfect has been figured here. This is very narrowly lanceolate, 10 cm. in length and only a little over 3 cm. in width. The petiole is about 5 mm. long. Other examples are only about 6 cm. long and 2.5 cm. wide, and this is the usual size.

As pointed out under U speciosa, this species may be distinguished by its much smaller size, much narrower shape, and more oblique base. In fact, it approaches closer to U. californica a in size and shape than to U. speciosa. It differs from U. californica in having larger, doubly dentate teeth, those of the former species being small and only simply dentate.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 7064) and Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8493).

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a Mem. Mus. Comp. Zool., vol. VI, No. 2, p. 15, Pl. IV, fig. 2, 1878.

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ULMUS PLURINERVIA Unger.

ULMUS PLURINERVIA Unger. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 18, 1888.

A single specimen with its counterpart is all that has been found of this form. It is a little larger than the figure given by Heer a of the Alaskan form, but is otherwise the same.

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. 2620).

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a F. Foss. Alaska, p. 34, Pl. V, fig. 1, 1869.

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ULMUS CALIFORNICA? Lesq.

ULMUS CALIFORNICA Lesq, Foss. Pl. Aurif. Gravel, p. 15, Pl. IV, fig. 2, 1878; Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 18, Pl. V. fig. 6 (there wrongly stated to be a figure of Quercus horniana), 1888.

The collections contain several examples, one of which was referred by Lesquereux to his Ulmus californica. The others are similar to this and should properly go with it. The question as to whether they are properly referred to this species is a rather difficult one to settle. None of the leaves are nearly perfect nor do they agree in all particulars with the types. The secondaries incline to arch slightly outward instead of strongly upward. The character of the teeth can not be made out satisfactorily. In view of these statements, it seems best to question their reference to this species, and await future material to settle the matter definitely.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2621) and by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8983—8985).

PLANERA UNGERI Ettingshausen.

PLANERA UNGERI Ettingshausen. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 19, 1888.

This species is represented by a single example and its counterpart, and although not perfectly preserved may well belong to this form.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2534.)