24 FOSSIL FLORA OF THE SIERRA NEVADA. 



nerves are more numerous, generally five pairs; but some leaves have 

 only four, the three lower pairs equidistant, the fourth somewhat further 

 removed, as in the fossil leaf. The more marked difference is in the nar- 

 rower, oval-lanceolate form of the leaves of the California species, and 

 in the direction of the nervilles, which often turn upwards, and pass 

 into branches or to secondary nerves. From the description of another 

 species, C. macrophylla, Walt., whose leaves are fifteen centimeters long 

 and ten centimeters broad, broadly ovate, acuminate, rounded to the 

 base, there is apparently a still more intimate relation between the fos- 

 sil leaf and those of that species of China. I have, however, not been 

 able to obtain specimens for comparison. This type is not distinctly 

 represented in any fossil flora. C. platiphijlla, Sap. Sez. Fl., p. 391, PI. 

 XL Figs. 8, 1), has a distant affinity to it by the form of the leaves, 

 but greatly differs by its numerous lateral nerves and comparatively nar- 

 rower and smaller leaves. It seems of recent origin, like the fine C. 

 florida and C. NidtaUii of the North American flora. 



Habitat. — Chalk Bluffs, Nevada County, California. Voy's Collection. 



POLYCARPE.ffi. 



MAGNOLIA, Lin. 



Magnolia lanceolata, sp. nov. 



PI VI. Fig. 4. 



Leaves oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to the base, more rapidly curving to a 

 paint nr short in -n in' a : lati rid n ins numerous, subeqiddistant, camptodrome. 



This leaf is not coriaceous, rather of a thin substance; its borders are 

 slightly undulate, and its veins, scarcely more open toward the base, at 

 a broad angle of divergence of about 70°, are slightly curved in passing 

 toward the borders, where they branch and anastomose in bows. The 

 veins are strong, distinct, but the details of areolation are obsolete. Its 

 relation to M. acuminata. L., the cucumber-tree of the present North 

 American flora, is very close. Indeed, but for the smaller size of the 

 lossil leaf and its secondary veins, slightly more curved in passing to the 

 borders, the identity of this form to the living species could not be de- 

 nied. The secondary nerves are equally strong, equally distant, and 

 under the same angle of divergence ; the slight undulation of the borders 



