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

Family ROSACEÆ.

CRATAEGUS FLAVESCENS Newb.

Pl. X, fig. 1.

CRATÆGUS FLAVESCENS Newb., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 507, 1883; Later Extinct Floras, p. 112, Pl. XLVIII, fig. 1, 1898.

Myrica diversifolia Lesq., Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 241, Pl. L, fig. 10, 1883.

I have before me as I write the type of Newberry's Cratœgus flavescens (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 7088) and a part of Lesquereux's types of his Myrica diversifolia as described first from Florissant, Colorado. The type of the Bridge Creek example referred by Lesquereux to M. diversifolia (op. cit., Pl. L, fig. 10) is in the paleontological collection of the University of California, where I have seen it, and there can be no doubt of its absolute identity with Newberry's Cratœgus flavescens of prior date, and I have so referred it. In regard to the status of the Florissant specimens a I am somewhat in doubt. The National Museum collection does not appear to contain all of the figured examples and, judging from the figures alone, it would seem that they represent more than one species. Figs. 7, 8, 11, 12, and 14 are seemingly identical with the Bridge Creek species, yet they show a tendency to have sharply toothed lobes, a condition not often present in the former species. In the absence of a sufficient amount of material (these leaves appear to be rare in the Bridge Creek collections) it has seemed best to leave it for future settlement.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon and Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8489). Type of Lesquereux's fig. 10, op. cit., in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 1757.

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a Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 148, Pl. XXV, figs 6-15.

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CRATÆGUS IMPARILIS n. sp.

Pl. X, fig. 2.

Leaf semicoriaceous, roughly ovate in outline, very obtusely wedge-shaped at base, palmately three-ribbed, primarily three-lobed, but ultimately seven-lobed; lateral lobes of same size, separated from central lobe by sharp, deep sinuses, rather obtuse at apex, each with a single, small, obtuse lateral lobe; central lobe much the larger, lanceolate, three-lobed at apex, secondary lobes short acute; margin of lobes undulate or obscurely dentate; the three ribs of about the same size, the central or midrib with about six pairs of alternate, thin secondaries, two of which enter the lateral lobes; lateral ribs with several pairs of thin, irregular secondaries, two of which are slightly larger and enter the side lobes; finer nervation producing a regular, deeply impressed network.

The leaf figured, the only one found, is 3 cm. long and about 2 cm. wide, it is seven-lobed, but only three-ribbed, the lower lobes each have a small side lobe, and the main central lobe a small lobe on each side. The length of the lower lobes from the sinus is about 1 cm. that of the middle lobe from the sinus is 1.75 cm. The configuration of the margin and the nervation are well shown in the figure.

This species appears to find its closest affinity with Cratœgus flavescens Newb., a or Myrica diversifolia, as it was later called by Lesquereux. b The leaf from Bridge Creek, referred by Lesquereux to his Myrica diversifolia, is certainly the same as Newberry's Cratœgus flavescens, and certain of the Florissant leaves appear to be the same, but I am under the impression that at least two species are represented in the latter material.

The leaf under consideration differs in a number of particulars from the Bridge Creek specimens. Thus it is deeply three-lobed with each lateral lobe provided with a small lobe, whereas the Bridge Creek specimens are usually rather evenly lobed throughout. The ribs in the new form are three in Dumber and arise at the top of the petiole. In the other species the leaf is not palmately ribbed, but is provided with secondaries, even the lowest pair of which arise from the midrib well above the base and pass to the lobes. The margin of these latter specimens inclines to be more crenulate. One specimen is perhaps closer in shape to one of the Florissant leaves,c but it differs in the nervation in the same manner as do the other examples.

Locality.—White hill half-mile east of original Van Horn's ranch locality. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8513.)

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a Later Extinct Floras, p. 112, Pl. XLVIII, fig. 1.

b Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 241, Pl. L, fig. 10. This species was also described and figured from Florissant, Colorado, idem, p. 148, Pl. XXV, figs. 6—15.

c Idem, Pl. XXV, fig. 11.

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PRUNUS ? MERRIAMI n. sp.

Pl. XI, figs. 2, 3, 6, 7.

Prunus n. sp., Knowlton in Merriam, Univ. Cal., Bull. Dept. Geol., Vol. II, No. 9, p. 309, 1901.

Leaves coriaceous, ovate in shape, apparently abruptly rounded and truncate at base, obtusely acuminate at apex; margin finely serrate, the teeth of nearly equal size, obtusely pointed; midrib very thick, especially below; secondaries about ten pairs, mostly strong, alternate or a few opposite, arising nearly at a right angle on one side and at an angle of about 20° or 25° on the other, strongly camptodrome, arching far below the margin and joining the secondary next above by a broad loop, with a series of loops on the outside from which nervilles enter the teeth; nervilles numerous, strong, irregular, often broken, producing large areas which are filled by a very regular fine network.

The type of this species is nearly 4 cm. in length and is a little more than 2.5 cm. in width. It appears to have been a rather thick leaf, ovate in shape, with a finely serrate margin, a thick midrib, and about ten pairs of strong, camptodrome secondaries, which divide and arch far inside the margin.

While I am not absolutely certain that this leaf should properly be referred to Prunus, it agrees so closely in a general way with various living species of this genus that it has been tentatively placed under it. It is, for instance, very similar to certain forms of P. virginiana, P. demissa, etc. It is also quite like some species of Cydonia, as C. japonica, the flowering quince, but it is hardly likely that this genus was natural to this country. In any case the species is a well marked one and can readily be identified as a stratigraphic mark.

This species is named in honor of Dr. John C. Merriam, of the University of California.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 886, 887) and by Knowlton and Merriam, 1901 U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8514).

PRUNUS? TUFACEA n. sp.

Pl. XI, fig. 4.

Prunus n. sp., Knowlton in Merriam, Univ. Cal., Bull. Dept. Geol., Vol. II, No. 9, p. 309, 1901.

Leaves semicoriaceous in texture, elliptical or elliptical-obovate, slightly unequal sided, rather abruptly wedge shaped at base, and similarly narrowed at apex; margin finely, sharply, and evenly serrate throughout; petiole thick and strong; midrib rather thick, especially below; secondaries about eight or nine pairs, opposite in the lower portions, alternate above, arising at an angle of about 30° or less and camptodrome, forking well below the margin and joining the one next above by a broad loop, and apparently with thin nervilles passing to the teeth; nervilles strong, mainly broken; finer nervation producing minute areolae.

These leaves are about 3.5 cm. long and 2 cm. broad. The thick petiole is over 1 cm. long. The marginal teeth are fine, regular, and sharp pointed.

These leaves may belong to the preceding species, but as they differ in a number of minor particulars it has seemed best to keep them separate. They are elliptical or slightly elliptical-obovate instead of ovate, the teeth are finer, more regular, and evidently sharper pointed, and the secondaries are at a stronger angle of divergence.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900. (Type in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 885.)