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

Family PINACEÆ.

SEQUOIA HEERII Lesq.

SEQUOIA HEERII Lesq., Tert. Fl., p. 77, Pl. VII, figs. 11—13, 1878; Newberry, Later Extinct Floras, p. 20, Pl. XLVlI, fig. 7, 1898.

In the Later Extinct Floras there is a fine figure of this species, but according to the note by the editor, Dr. Hollick, there was no clew to the locality whence the specimen came. The original is not now in the collection of the United States National Museum, so it is impossible to compare the matrix with that from Bridge Creek, but in the material from this locality obtained by Major Bendire there is a fine specimen that is absolutely the same as Lesquereux's type (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 60) from Sage Creek, Montana. It is also identical with the figure given by Newberry, and as this species has never before been found outside of the type locality it is more than probable that Newberry's specimen was from Bridge Creek.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 9220).

SEQUOIA ANGUSTIFOLIA Lesq.

SEQUOIA ANGUSTIFOLIA Lesq., Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 240, Pl. L, fig. 5, 1883.

Sequoia Nordenskiöldii Heer. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 19, 1888.

The Mascall beds at Van Horn's ranch contain a large number of specimens that are undoubtedly the same as Lesquereux's Sequoia angustifolia from Corral Hollow, San Joaquin County, California. Whether the California material is identical with the original materiala from Elko, Nevada, I am not prepared to say, as the types are not at hand for comparison, but a large number of specimens obtained during the past season at Elko by Prof. George C. Lawson, of the University of California, are absolutely indistinguishable from the specimens as figured by Lesquereux. Such of this material as passed through Lesquereux's hands was referred by him to Glyptostrobus Ungeri with the exception of a single undoubtedly similar example, which was placed under Sequoia Nordenskiöldii as set forth in the above synonymy. This can not be properly referred to American specimens of Glyptostrobus Ungeri, although, as I have stated on several occasions,b the status of this form is at present unsatisfactory.

In seeking for affinities for these Oregon specimens I have compared most of the figures of conifers given by Heer in his Flora Fossilis Arctica and other publications, and I am forced to the conclusion that there has been more or less confusion in dealing with these forms. Thus I am not able to distinguish what is called by Heer Glyptostrobus europaeus from the Baltic Miocene c from the Van Horn's ranch specimens, and what seems to be the same species or something very close to it is called Taxodium Tinajorum Heer d from the Miocene of Spitzbergen. The whole subject of the Tertiary conifers, especially of northern and arctic lands, is much in need of revision, and pending this the form under discussion may be referred to Lesquereux's Sequoia angustifolia as typified from Corral Hollow, California.

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a See Tert. Fl., p. 77, Pl. VII, figs. 6—10, 1878.

b Cf. cat. Cret. and Tert. Pl. N. A., p. 113.

c Micc. Balt. Fl., Pl. III, figs. 8, 9.

d Fl. Foss. Arc., Vol. II, Abth. 3, Pl. IV, figs. 6, 29, etc.

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In the original description S. angustifolia is characterized as follows: "Leaves short, narrow, linear pointed, erect or slightly appressed all around the branches, decurring at base." This in the Tertiary Flora is amended to read: "Branchlets short, slender; leaves at unequal distances, sometimes very close, two or three together, or very distant, often dimorphous, linear lanceolate, taper pointed, open or curved backward, decurrent; middle nerve indistinct." In the discussion in the latter book Lesquereux emphasizes the fact that the leaves are "decurrent but not narrowed at base."

All things considered this description agrees well with the specimens from Oregon, but the material from Elko, obtained during the summer of 1901 and presumably at or near the type locality, shows a slight narrowing of the leaves at the base and a tendency to be less acute at the apex.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch and vicinity, about 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2610), and by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 9029—9033).

SEQUOIA LANGSDORFII (Brgt.) Heer.

SEQUOIA LANGSDORFII (Brgt.) Heer. Lesquereux, Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 19, 1888.

Taxodium distichum miocenum Heer. Newberry, Later Extinct Floras, p. 22, Pl. XLVII, fig. 6, 1898.

The collections contain a number of examples that undoubtedly belong to this species, although some of them do not agree in all particulars with certain of the published figures. The branchlets are rather small, with small leaves, but the latter are distinctly decurrent, after the manner of S. Langsdorfii.

The Bridge Creek material, which passed through the hands of Newberry, was identified by him as Taxodium distichium miocenum, but absolutely similar material was referred by Lesquereux to Sequoia Langsdorfii, and I believe correctly so.

This species, although not especially abundant at any locality in the John Day Basin, is widely distributed, as may be seen from the following list of localities:

Localities.—Bridge Creek. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U.S. Nat. Mus., No. 7086), by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 9236, 9281, 9285, 9303, 9314, 9330, 9376), and by Knowlton and Merriam. One and one-half miles east of Clarnos Ferry. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 896, 907, 914.) One and one-half miles northeast of Fossil. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 925, 927, 929). Three and one-half miles south of Lone Rock. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 1339). Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch and vicinity. Collected by Major Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2607), and by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 8958—8960).

SEQUOIA sp. (Cone).

Pl. I, fig. 2.

The original collection contains a large cone that was referred by Lesquereux to Sequoia Langsdorfii, but it does not appear to agree in size with the cones usually assigned to that species. This cone is a little more than 2.5 cm. in length and nearly 2 cm. thick, and stands on a thick peduncle 7 mm. long and nearly 3 mm. thick. It has been much crushed, and the shape of the scales can not be made out with certainty. In general appearance, however, it seems to belong to Sequoia, but the species must remain uncertain.

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. 8510).

THUITES sp.

Pl. I, fig. 3.

Branchlets slender, alternate, leaves thickish, 4-ranked, imbricated, the lateral ones broad-deltoid, rather obtuse pointed, others apparently broader and more obtuse, obscurely carinate on the back.

The little fragment figured is all that has been thus far found in the collections. The branchlets appear to be alternate and slender. As nearly as can be made out, the leaves are 4-ranked and very thick, with obtuse apices.

This form does not differ greatly from T. Ehrenswoerdi Heer,a from the Miocene of Sachalin, and Spitzbergen.

This has slender, alternate branchlets and thick 4-ranked leaves. They are more strongly carinate on the back than ours, but otherwise there is no marked difference. As the branchlets from Oregon are so small and not very well preserved, I have hesitated to identify them with Heer's species, although they may all be the same.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 879).

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a Fl. Foss. Arct., Vol. II, p.36, Pl. II, figs. 25, 26, 1870; idem, Vol. V, Abth. 4, p. 23, Pl. I, figs. 12—14, 1878.

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GLYPTOSTROBUS UNGERI Heer.

GLYPTOSTROBUS UNGERI Heer. Lesquereux, Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 19, 1888.

Sequoia Nordenskiöldii Heer. Lesquereux, op. cit., p. 19.

The collection contains numerous specimens that are referred to this species. As I have pointed out on several occasions, there is more or less confusion regarding the proper fixing of the limits of this species. It is apparent that there is or has been a mixing of this with what has been called G. europaœus, Sequoia Couttsiœ, etc., but we have not a sufficient amount of authentic material to enable us to settle the question.

The single specimen with its counterpart (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2610), referred by Lesquereux to Sequoia Nordenskiöldii, is undoubtedly the same as what is here called Glyptostrobus Ungeri.

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., Nos. 2480, 2610) and by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 863, 872—882).

TAXODIUM DISTICHUM MIOCENUM Heer.

The collections embrace a dozen or more branchlets that I am con strained to refer to this form. They do not agree perfectly with certain figures of this species, but the differences are slight, and they had best be placed here. Unless material is very perfectly preserved it is difficult to determine the exact manner of the insertion of the leaves, and such is the case with these specimens.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2614) and by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 878a).

TAXODIUM, male aments of,

Pl. I, figs. 4, 6.

In the material from the Mascall beds are two specimens, both of which are here figured, that appear to represent the male aments of Taxodium, They are long, slender, and clustered, with the aments on short lateral spurs. They are hardly to be distinguished from the aments of the living Taxodium distichum, and in all probability belonged to T. distichum miocenum, which is not uncommon in these beds.

Locality.—Mascall beds, Van Horn's ranch, Oregon. Larger specimen (fig. 4) collected by Merriam's expedition of 1900 (type in Mus. Univ. Cal., No. 889). Other example (fig. 6) collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8551).