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

Family ACERACEÆ.

ACER OSMONTI n. sp.

Pl. XIII, fig. 3.

Leaf membranaceous, five-lobed from the top of the petiole, lower pair of lobes small, at right angles to the midrib, other pair large, at an angle of 45° with the midrib; central lobe evidently largest of all (mainly destroyed); all lobes irregularly toothed and lobed, the lobes sharp pointed; petiole very long and strong; nervation palmately five-ribbed, the ribs ending in the main lobes, each with several pairs of alternate secondaries which emerge at an acute angle and terminate in the teeth of small lateral lobes; nervilles numerous, rather thin, mainly percurrent and crossing approximately at right angles to the secondaries; finer nervation producing rather large areolae.

The genus Acer seems to be quite rare in the Bridge Creek beds, although abundantly represented in the Mascall beds at Van Horn's ranch and vicinity. All that I have thus far seen is the leaf here described, a fragment of another, and less than half a dozen fruits. The one under consideration lacks the major portion of the central lobe and the terminal portion of one of the large lateral lobes. It spreads about 8 cm. between the points of the lower lobes and about 11 cm. between the points of the larger lobes. The length of the leaf can not be determined, but it can hardly have been less than 9 or 10 cm. The petiole, very thick and stout for the size of the blade, has 4 cm. of its length retained and was evidently somewhat longer.

This leaf has a very modern appearance, much more so, in fact, than the forms found in the Mascall beds. It suggests at once the sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marshall) of the East and is not greatly unlike small leaves of A. macrophyllum Pursh, the common maple of the west coast.

This species is named in honor of Mr. V. C. Osmont, of the University of California, who collected it.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's party in 1900. (Type in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 2505.) The fragmentary leaf above described is No. 8488 in the U. S. Nat. Mus. It was collected by Condon.

ACER sp., Knowlton.

Pl. XIII, figs. 1, 2.

ACER sp., Knowlton, in Merriam, Univ. Cal., Bull. Dept. Geol., Vol. II, No. 9, p. 289, 1901.

A fragment of a small, three-lobed leaf showing a portion of the base, one lateral lobe, and a part of the central lobe. The length appears to have been about 5 cm. and the width between the lobes about 5.5 cm. It is coarsely toothed.

Another fragment from the same locality has the base with a short portion of the petiole preserved. It appears to be the same as the other.

Locality.—One and one-half miles east of Clarnos Ferry. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900. Types in Mus. Univ. Cal. Nos. 900, 932.

ACER BENDIREI Lesq.

ACER BENDIREI Lesq., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 14, Pl. V, fig. 5; Pl. VI, fig. 1; Pl. VII, fig. 1; Pl. VIII, fig. 1, 1888.

Acer trilobatum productum (Al. Br.) Heer. Lesquereux, Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 253, Pl. LIX, figs. 1, 2, 4 (non fig. 3, which is Platanus dissecta Lesq.).

This species, as may be seen from the above synonymy, was first regarded by Lesquereux as referable to the European A. trilobatum productum, but later was raised to full specific rank. This name was also applied to several leaves from Carbon, Wyoming, a but they are clearly not the same as those under consideration. In the Cretaceous and Tertiary Floras (p. 253), Lesquereux records the specimens under discussion as coming from "Currant Creek, John Day Valley, Oregon." This is in error, as the types are preserved in the paleontological collection of the University of California (Nos. 1797, 1797a, 1797b), and are seen at once to have come from Van Horn's ranch. They are in the characteristic white volcanic tuff, and not the hard, brownish matrix of the Current Creek deposits. b

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, South Fork of John Day River, 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Original material collected by C. D. Voy about 1870 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 1797, 1797a, 1797b); since collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2413), Dr. John C. Merriam (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 850, 851), and F. H. Knowlton (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8940—8948).

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a Tert. Fl., p. 261, Pl. XLVIII, figs. 2, 3a, 1878.

b On Pl. LIX of the cretaceous and Tertiary Floras, Lesquereux gives four figures which he refers to Acer trilobatum productum (now A. Bendirei), and all the specimens are said to be from the same locality, namely, "Currant Creek, Oregon." This is in error in regard to fig. 3, the original of which is preserved with the others in the Paleontological collection of the University of California (No.1835). This fragment was found to fit into and form a part of the same individual that is figured in the Auriferous gravel flora (Pl. V, fig. 3) under the name of Arabia Zaddachi? Heer. And further it was found that when so filed together they produce a leaf that must he referred to Platanus dissecta. The locality, plainly marked on the back of each fragment, is Table Mountain, California.

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ACER DIMORPHUM Lesq.

ACER DIMORPHUM Lesq., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 15, Pl. IX, fig. l, 1888.

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. 2415).

ACER MERRIAMI n. sp.

Pl. XIV, fig. 7.

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

Leaf coriaceous in texture, palmately, deeply three lobed, the lobes broad, roughly ovate in shape, of approximately the same size, lateral lobes at a low angle with the central lobe; all margin coarsely and irregularly toothed, being provided with low, irregular, mostly sharp pointed teeth; petiole long, very thick; midrib thick, with six or more pairs of alternate, strong secondaries which end in the large teeth of the central lobe, and have smaller branches which pass to other marginal teeth; lateral ribs nearly as strong as the midrib, at a low angle, each with about seven pairs of alternate secondaries passing to the large teeth, and those on the lower side especially with short branches, which end in marginal teeth; nervilles numerous, thin, mainly percurrent and at right angles to the secondaries; finer nervation forming a rather coarse, irregularly quadrangular network.

The example figured is the only one that has thus far been found. It is a large, deeply three-lobed leaf about 12 cm. long, exclusive of the petiole (of which 2.5 cm. in length is preserved), and about 14 cm. broad. All three lobes are of approximately the same size, and all are irregularly toothed, the margin being provided with low, sharp-pointed teeth. The nervation is beautifully preserved.

Maples are abundant in these beds, and many leaves, fruits, and branches have been obtained. The leaf under consideration is markedly different from Acer Bendirei, which is perhaps the most abundant species present, but may possibly be a very broad, coarsely toothed form of A. dimorphum. The latter species is described by its author as being prolonged at base into two small lobes which open like wings on each side of the midrib. The lateral ribs, therefore, arise at some distance above the top of the petiole in the broad, basal portion of the blade. In the leaf before me there is no indication of the basal lobes that are so conspicuous in A. dimorphum, and the ribs appear to arise at the top of the petiole and at the very base of the blade. Further, the lobes are doubly dentate—that is, have large, irregular teeth or lobes, the margins of which are provided with low teeth. Therefore it seems most logical to regard them as distinct, at least for the present.

This species is not greatly unlike some forms of Acer trilobatum tricuspidatum Heer a of the Swiss Miocene.

I take great pleasure in naming this species in honor of Dr. John C. Merriam, who has done so much for the paleontology of this region.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, South Fork of John Day River, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900. (Type in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 869.)

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a Fl. Tert. Helv., Vol. III, Pl. CXII, fig. 3.

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ACER, branches of ?

ACER, branches of ? Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 15, 1888.

A number of branches supposed to belong to some species of Acer, but it is quite impossible to determine which one.

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. 2418).

ACER OREGONIANUM n. sp.

Pl. XIII, fig. 5—8.

Acer, fruits of, Lesquereux, Proc: U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 15, Pl. VI, figs 2, 3, 1888.

Fruits long and broad-winged, the wing being evidently very thick and provided with numerous strong veins; nucleus large, round, showing broad truncation where attached to the sister fruit.

This form is so very abundant in all collections from these beds and admits so readily of separation that I have ventured to give it a name. It of course represents the fruit of one of the species founded on leaves that are also abundant in all collections, but thus far no fruit has been found attached to or even approximate to a leaf, and until so found it is more convenient to be able to refer to the fruits independently.

These fruits are, with the exception of that of Acer gigas (supra, p. 76), the largest ones found in these beds. They range in length from 3.5 to 4.5 cm. The wing is unusually broad, being not infrequently 1.75 cm. wide. It is filled with numerous strong veins, which are given off from the axis of the fruit in groups or bundles.

As Lesquereux has well suggested, these fruits most closely resemble those of the living Acer macrophyllum Pursh, the large-leaved maple so common on the Pacific coast; in fact, they are hardly to be distinguished.

Locality.—Abundant in Mascall beds at Van Horn's ranch and vicinity. All collectors have obtained it. Types of Lesquereux's figures in U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2417. Types of figures in this paper collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901, in U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8494—8497.

ACER MEDIANUM n. sp.

Pl. XIV, figs. 4, 5.

Fruit large, lanceolate in shape; wing relatively narrow, filled with thin veins; nucleus round or oblong, the scar of attachment to its sister fruit very oblique.

This provisional species is represented by the two examples figured. The smaller is 4.25 cm. long and has the wing 1 cm. wide; the other is 4.75 cm. long and has a wing 1.25 cm. wide.

It is possible that there are merely very large fruits of the following species, as they are of approximately the same shape, but there are no intermediate specimens, and I have preferred to keep them separate for the present.

Locality.—Figure 4, the smaller, is from the original Van Horn's ranch locality; the other is from the white hill, one-half mile east of the first locality. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8498, 8499).

ACER MINOR n. sp.

Pl. XIV, figs. 2, 3.

Acer, fruits of, Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 15, Pl. VII, fig. 2, 1888.

Fruits of small size, similar in shape to the preceding species; length, 2.5 cm., width of wing, 8 mm.

As already stated, this may be the same as the preceding form, but the specimens are so much smaller, and moreover, as there are no intermediate specimens, it has seemed best to regard them as distinct.

Inasmuch as three species have been differentiated in these beds, based on leaves, it is natural to suppose that the fruits might also show differences. In any case it would seem easy to recognize the three forms of fruits here described.

Locality.—White hill one-half mile east of original Van Horn's ranch locality, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8500, 8501).

ACER GIGAS n. sp.

Pl. XIV, fig. 1.

Fruit of enormous size, very narrow; wing of nearly similar width throughout, filled with numerous but rather fine veins; nucleus very large, elliptical in shape.

This fine species is represented thus far by the single example figured, with its counterpart. It is a very long, narrow fruit, 9.5 cm. in length and only about 1.5 cm. in width. The nucleus or seed proper is large, being 2 cm. in long, and nearly 1 cm. in short, diameter. The scar where it was attached to its sister fruit is oblique and very long.

I know nothing either living or fossil to which this fruit can be compared.

Locality.—Gulch 1 mile northeast of Belshaw's ranch, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8502).

RULAC CRATÆGIFOLIUM n. sp.

Pl. XVI, fig. 7.

Leaf coriaceous, trifoliolate or very deeply three-lobed, lateral leaflet (or lobe) roughly ovate-lanceolate in shape, irregularly, deeply cut into toothed lobes or large teeth near the apex, wedge-shaped at base, acuminate at apex; middle leaflet (or lobe) much smaller than the lateral ones, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, long, wedge-shaped below, very acuminate at apex, margin coarsely toothed; nervation of leaflets (or lobes) consisting of a strong midrib and several pairs of alternate rather thin secondaries which end in the lobes or teeth; finer nervation not preserved.

This species is represented only by the specimen figured, and this unfortunately is not sufficiently well preserved fully to reveal its character. It is presumably trifoliolate, but may be only deeply three-lobed. The larger leaflet is assumed from its position to be a lateral one, the middle one being much smaller. This lateral leaflet is 5.5 cm. in length, and 2.75 cm. in width between the larger lobes. The central leaflet is 4 cm. long and 1.25 cm. in width. Both are sessile.

Owing to the poor state of preservation it is not possible to fix the position of this leaf with certainty. In most trifoliolate leaves, if the leaflets differ in size, the middle one is usually the larger. In this case the larger leaflet of our specimen is the lateral one, and it is assumed to be lateral because it curves away from the smaller one and has a curved midrib, whereas the smaller one is erect and has a straight midrib.

With the limitations set by the imperfections of the specimen it is perhaps unwise to attempt comparisons between it and described forms, yet a few of these may be suggested. Thus the larger leaflet is not greatly unlike Cratœgus acerifolia Lesq., a from Florissant, Colorado, which itself is probably the same as a part at least of the leaves described as Myrica divisifolia Lesq., b from the same locality. These are all long petioled, showing them to be leaves and not leaflets, whereas ours is sessile, showing that it is probably a leaflet.

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a Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 198, Pl. XXXVI, fig. 10.

b Idem, p. 146, Pl. xxv, figs. 6-15.

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If we assume the larger leaflet to be the central one of a trifoliolate leaf, it certainly suggests one of the specimens described by Lesquereux as. Rhus Hilliœ, a also from Florissant. However, the other specimens classed with this one make it extremely improbable that ours is the same. I have, therefore, assumed that it belongs to Rulac (formerly Negundo), the well-known box elder, but it must remain for future collections to settle the question.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8533).

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a Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 194, Pl. XLI, fig. 14 only.

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