RANALES. 141 



from the midrib at or near the base, as they do in a majority 

 of the Raritan forms, or their point of diverg-ence may be a 

 considerable distance above the base, as in modern Sassafras 

 leaves. Their angle of divergence from the midrib varies from 

 about 30° to 40^^. The secondaries are usually numerous, regular, 

 camptodrome, and connected by transverse tertiaries, although in 

 the Raritan leaves this uniformity is often lacking. Petiole, stout 

 and long. The marginal vein along the sinus, a marked feature 

 in modern leaves of this genus, is generally wanting in this 

 species, although present in occasional specimiens. 



This species is apparently widely distributed and almost as 

 variable as the modern Sassafras. Described originally from the 

 Dakota Group as a variety of Sassafras mudgei, it occurs, also, 

 on Marthas Vineyard and Long Island and in the Magothy 

 formation of New Jersey and Delaware. It has been recorded 

 from Cerro Guido, Argentina, and Velenovsky identifies some- 

 what doubtful remains from the Cenomanian of Bohemia as 

 this species. Probable Sassafras fruit has been found in the 

 same strata with vS". ociitilobum^ , tending to show that it is a true 

 Sassafras, notwithstanding its dissimilarities ; however, this 

 is not certain, as the leaves and fruit were not found associated. 

 Lesquereux's smallest figure of S. acutilohvmn is considerably 

 smaller, with the lobes directed upward, and is probably a young 

 leaf of his larger form. His other figure approaches some of 

 the leaves which Newberry refers to this species, but has nar- 

 rower and more produced lobes. 



There is considerable doubt as to whether or not the Coastal 

 Plain leaves are generically related to Sassafras. Whether the 

 Dakota group fo'rms are those of Sassafras it is not easy to 

 decide. No modem Sassafras leaves have the primaries and 

 the lateral lobes so nearly horizontal; the secondaries are not 

 soi unifo'rmily regular, nor do they curve upward to join the 

 next above at a point. In the modern leaf an outwardly and 

 downwardly directed branch from the latter is emphasized. 

 There is never such an open sinus, amounting as it does to 



^ Lesquereux, Fl. Dakota Group, p. 230. 

 10 PAL 



