FLOEA OF THE DAKOTA GROUP. 81 



MALVACEAE. 



STERCULIA, Linn. 



Leaves alternate, petiolate, palmately deeply trilobate; triple-nerved from the top 

 of the petiole. 



This definition represents the characters of the coriaceous leaves 

 which I refer to this genus, and which I separate from Aralia merely on 

 .account of the primary divisions. Most of these leaves have only the 

 primary nerves distinct and rarely any trace of the secondary veins. By a 

 lower division of the lateral primary nerves, species referable, perhaps, to 

 this genus are described above as Aralia. If, as Schimper says, Sterculia 

 Majoliana, Massal., "Fl. Foss. Senig., p. 319," is referable to the group of 

 Sterculia Labrusca, most of the species that are described as Aralia, if not 

 all, should be placed also with Sterculia. I do not admit this conclusion. 



Sterculia lugubris, sp. nov. 

 Plate VI, Figa. 1-3. 



Leaves coriaceous, large, divided near the cuneate base into three very long sub- 

 linear acuminate lobes; primary nerves thick, distinct to the apex. 



The leaves, narrowly cuneate, somewhat decurrent at base to the thick 

 petiole, which they reach a little below the point of union of the primary 

 nerves, vary in length from 12 to 24 centimeters from the base to the apex 

 of the lobes, which are united by obtuse comparatively narrow sinuses 

 at a short distance — 3 to 6 centimeters — from the base. The lobes, 1 to 2 

 centimeters broad in the middle, are slightly narrowed to their base, and 

 gradually tapering from the middle upward to an acuminate point. The 

 lateral are curved downward, or scythe-shaped. No trace of secondary 

 nervation is visible. 



There is in the collection of the National Museum a set of specimens 

 representing an analogous form, though perhaps specifically different. The 

 lobes, descending nearer to the base, are shorter (7-14 centimeters long), 

 straight, not recurved, linear-oblong, slightly narrowed from the middle 

 downward to the broad obtuse sinuses and gradually to the apex. All the 

 points of the lobes are destroyed. Their divergence is about 25°. 



Hub. — Colorado, near Golden. A. Lakes. The variety is from Kansas. 

 Chs. Sternberg. 



CF 6 



