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

Family SMILACEÆ.

SMILAX WARDII Lesq.

SMILAX WARDII Lesq., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 19, Pl. XIII, fig. 1, 1888.

The type specimen, with its counterpart, is all that has ever been obtained.

Locality.—Van Horn's ranch, South Fork of John Day River, 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Oregon. Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 2613).

MONOCOTYLEDONOUS PLANT.

Pl. I, figs. 7, 8.

Among the collections lately obtained by the University of California I found two examples of what are undoubtedly monocotyledonous plants, the nature of which I am at present unable to satisfactorily describe. They are shown as well as possible in the accompanying figures.

The one shown in fig. 7 is about 6.5 cm. in length, as now preserved, and 1.5 cm. in width. it is bifurcate at apex into two nearly equal, acute lobes. It is provided with some 8 or 9 longitudinal ribs, separated by rather deep channels.

The other, shown in fig. 8, is rather elliptical-lanceolate in shape and is apparently acuminate at apex, but the extreme point and the base are not preserved. It is the same length as the other, but is a little wider, being 1.75 cm. It is likewise provided with 8 or 9 ribs, between which are numerous finer striae or veins. The basal end is truncated, as though it was a sheathing organ of some kind.

In general appearance these specimens, and especially the one last mentioned, are at least suggestive of what Lesquereux a has described as Podozamites oblongus, from the Dakota group of Kansas, but this is without the prominent ribs seen in our specimens. This resemblance can hardly be more than superficial, and we must await future material before the status of these specimens can be definitely settled.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Oregon. Collected by Merriam's party of 1900 (types in Mus. Univ. Cal., Nos. 2500, 2501).

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a Tert. Fl., p.28, Pl. I, figs. 10, 11, 1878.

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