102 MESOZOIC FLORAS OF rNlTKI) STATES. 



PTEROPIIYI.I.rM RAJMAIIAI.ENSE Morris. 



PI. XXI, Figs. 1-7. 



1863. Pterophyllum rajmahaJeme Morr. in Oldluun c\c M((n'is: Foss. Fi. Gondw. 



Syst., Vol. I, p. 2.5, pi. xiii, figs. 3-5: pi. xiv; pi. xviii, fig. 2. 

 1876. Pierophi/Uum Sensinovianum Heer: Fl. Fo.ss. Arct., Vol. IV, Pt. II (Jura-FI. 



OstsibLriens) . p. 105, pi. xxiv, fig. s. 



The plant regarded as Pferophijlluin raJDiahalcnsc is one of the most 

 important and characteristic of the Oregon Jiu'assic fossils. Hundreds of 

 specimens were collected at some of the localities. Many of them are 

 well preserved and a larger portion of the leaf is often obtained than is 

 found in the case of most of the plants of the region. Hence all parts 

 of the leaf are well represented. The leaves do not seem to have been 

 long. They are remarkably compact and strong. The largest fragment 

 seen is 18 cm. long. The l)ase and apex are missing. Il indicates a leaf, 

 exclusive of the petiole, about 25 cm. long, and this may be taken as about 

 the maximum length. The leaf substance must have been very thick and 

 leather-like, for a strong film of coal is left. The leaf is narrowly ellip- 

 tical and widest near the middle, narrowing gradually toward the l:)ase and 

 apex. It is terminated by a pair of leaflets that are abruptly diminished 

 in size. The axis or midrib is strong. One is 5 mm. wide, having a petiole 

 of considerable length. This is shown only partialis- when preserved. 

 The leaflets vary a good deal in size in the same leaf and in different ones. 

 The variation is chiefly in width, the length remaining remarkably con- 

 stant in similar parts of different leaves. They are always quite wide in 

 proportion to their length. Occasionally one or two aberrant forms, 

 wider or narrower, are located in the midst of normal forms. They are 

 usually closel}- placed. In very rare cases their margins touch. In one 

 case the leaflets appear to be consolidated. They are on different sides 

 of the axis, mostly opposite. They l)ecome shorter toward the base and 

 apex. There is a marked tendency to aberrant forms in the basal leaflets. 

 The lowest ones are often much wider than the others, as if two adjacent 

 ones had Ijecome consolidated. These then look like leaflets of Nilsonia' 

 nijyponensis. They are attached by the entire Ijase to the sides of the 

 axis at a right angle and are perfectly straight, with no tendency to a 

 falcate shape. They are oblong, with parallel margins, and of the same 

 width from base to apex. The tips vary somewhat. In the most com- 



