108 MESOZOIC FLORAS OF UNFrED STATES. 



Genus PODOZ.AJMITES Friedrich Braun. 



PODOZAMITES PCLCHELLUS Heel'. 



PI. XXIV, Figs. 1-10. 



1876. Podozamitefi pulchi]his Heer: Fl. Foss. Arct., Vol. IV, Pt. I (Beitr. z. Foss. 



Fl. S])itzbergens), j). 3S, pi. ix, figs. 10, Ihi, 12b, 13, 14. 

 1S76. Z<uiii((s sp. Heer in ])ai-t : op. cit., p. .39, pi. viii, fig. 9. 



At sevei'al of the Oregon localities. a good many detached leaves 

 occur that in size, shape, and nervation agree exactly with tlie fossil from 

 the Jurassic of Siberia, described l)y Heer as Podozamites puhiicllns. I am 

 not sm-e that this is a cycad and that it is not some broad-leaved conifer 

 like Dammara. Heer gives the principal nerves as parallel, and con- 

 verging toward the base and apex of the leaflets, and states that between 

 each pair of the stronger ones there is a more slender one that runs parallel 

 with thern. He also says that the surface of the leaflets is covered with 

 raised points. The latter feature w^as not seen in the Oregon specimens. 

 The nerves have exactly the character given by Heer for the stronger ones, 

 and sometimes traces of finer nerves may he seen between them. In most 

 cases none of the nerves are visible, ow'ing to the thick leather-like nature of 

 the leaf, which often appears shining, as if polished. The leaflets vary a 

 good deal in size and somew^hat in shape, but in the latter point they are 

 more constant. They are elliptical or ovate-elliptical in form and \\idest 

 near the middle. The tip is generally acute and is sometimes prolonged. 

 The width varies in proportion to length, some being more narrowly 

 elliptical than others. They are usually rounded off at base and do not 

 show any indication of Ijeing attached by a petiole. The figures given 

 will show the variations. There is in many of the leaflets a seeming mid- 

 nei-ve, but a careful examination shows that this is due to a puckering of 

 the leaflets alongthe axial line. In a number this appearance is not shown. 

 The nerves are about 10 in number. They are simple, parallel to one 

 another and to the margins of the leaflets, and con\-erge toward one 

 another in the base and apex of the leaflets. 



PI. XXIV, Fig. 1, gives, not complete, one of the longest leaflets 

 seen, which has a seeming midnerve. Fig. 2 shows this enlarged. Fig. 3 

 represents a nearly entire leaf of the broadly elliptical kind, which shows 

 the nerves rather distinctly, and between them traces of the fine nei'ves. 

 This is enlarged in Fig. 4. Fig. 5 gives one of the ovate-elliptical leaflets, 



