F O X H I L L S A N D L O W E U M E D I C I N E B O W 77 



the marginal tpoth; tertiary veins between midrib and lateral primaries distinrt, mainly forming 

 upward convcx arches; margin scrrate, the teeth prominent, evenly spaced and upward-pointing; 

 texture very coriaceous. 



The only describcd fossil form which I have found comparable to this species is Zizyphus 

 meekii Lesquereux from the Ilanna formation of Carbon, Wyoming.' There arc easily recognized 

 differences, howevcr, in shape, texture, marginal teeth, and venation, which were more apparcnt 

 in the comparison with the actual type specimens than with Lcsqucreux's figures. 



The specific name given to this species impUes a close resemblance to the leaves of Colubrina 

 (Rhamnaceae), particularly C. asiatica Brongn. and C. puhescens Kurz. The specimens are also 

 comparable in general to leaves of Zizijphus and Paliurus of the same family. 



Occurrence — Corson Hanch, Wyoming, Locs. P. 371, P. 372. 



Collection—V. C. Mus. Pal., Type No. 1380, Paratype No. 1381. 



Phyllites sp. 

 (Plate 18, Fig. 1) 



There are several fragments and the fairly complete specimen figured which apparently are 

 quite distinct from any other leaf form in the coUections. I have not been able to identify this 

 type either generically or specifically. The general shape and character of the venation suggest 

 a reference to the genus Sti/rax. Tlie specimen is included mainly for future reference. 



Occurrence — Corson Ranch, Wyoming, Loc. P. 372. 



Collectio7i—\]. C. Mus. Pal., No. 1382. 



POSITION UNCERTAIN 



Genus PAL.EOASTER Knowlton 



Palseoaster inquirenda Rnowlton 



(Plate 19, Figs. 3, 6) 



Palwoaster inguirenda Knowlton, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 101, 278, pl. 49, figs. 5, 6, 1917. 

 Palceoaster? similis Knowlton, U. S. Geol. Surv. Prof. Paper 130, 168, pl. 24, figs. 10, 11, 1922. 



The 2 specimens figured are the only representatives of this unique species in the collections. 

 Each coasists of a whorl of segments or "leaves," apparently eight or ten in number, joined at the 

 base and free at the apex, to form a spheroidal mass. Each segment is traversed longitudinally 

 by a deep median furrow or rib, and perpendicularly from the midrib to the margin by closely 

 spaced, subparallel, wavy lines. These are precisely the diagnostic features of Pala:oaster in- 

 quirenda from the Vermejo and Raton formations. The same characters are present in the Lara- 

 mie specimens of P. ? similis, which Knowlton maintained as distinct because of its fewer segments 

 and its attachment to a stalk. The presence of 4 segments in the exposed half of the Laramie 

 specimen would seem to me to imply the existence of an approximately equal number in the unex- 

 posed half, bringing the total number of segments to 8 or more, rather than 5 or 6 as Knowlton 

 reported. The attachment to a stalk seems equally fortuitous, and of doubtful taxonomic sig- 

 nificance. I have therefore regarded the 2 species as synonymous. 



I hesitate to separate either of these species from Sterculiocarpus coloradensis Berry from 

 the Dawson (?) formation.^ This species differs mainly in the presence of longitudinal ridges 

 rather than furrows along the median line of the segments. I am inclined toward the view ex- 

 pressed by Berry that remains of this type are seed capsules rather than of fohar nature. I have 

 been unalDle to find any modern forms with which these specimens might be compared. 



During the past year I obtained an excellent limonitized specimen of this same unusual seed 

 capsule (?) from the Lance formation near Glendive, Montana. The specimen was collected and 

 sent to Professor G. L. Jepsen of Princeton University by Mr. 0. T. Lewis of Helena, Montana. 



Occurrence — North of Walcott, Wyoming, Loc. P. 373. 



Collection—lS. C. Mus. Pal., Plesiotypes Nos. 1383, 1384. 



' Lesquereux, Lco. Rept. U. S. Geol. Surv. Terr., vol. 7, 275, pl. 51, figs. 10-14, 1878. 

 ^Berry. E. W., Washington Acad. Sci. Jour., vol. 22, 119, figs. 1, 2. 1932. 



