DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES— LAUKINE^. 213 



to the genera Launis or Pusea, Tetrantheta, Cinnamotnum, and Dap/i?iogene. 

 I have formerly described, from the Lower Lignitic Eocene of the Mississippi, 

 one species of Laurus, two of Persea, and one Cinnamomiim. A fragment 

 described in the Geological Report of Prof Safford, under the nameof Pe/v?m 

 Carolinensis, is, though positively referable to the Laurinece, specifically uni- 

 dentifiable. From (ho Rocky Mountain Lignitic, ten species are described here, 

 ail from specin)ens of the Eocene formation from Point of Rocks to Evans- 

 ton. None has been observed at Carbon, and none in the Green River group. 

 I have seen a large number of specimens of two species oi Lauras, with two 

 of Cinnamomum, from a Tertiary formation of Oregon (Coral Hollow), which, 

 from the associated forms, seems referable to the Lower Lignitic. Heer has 

 a Laurus Colombi, from Barras Inlet, British Columbia, probably of the same 

 period. We could therefore consider all our American representatives of 

 Laur'mefc as Eocene, except for one sjiecies only, a Persea, closely related to 

 the present P. Carolinensis^ and found in the Upper Tertiary, or Pliocene 

 Chalk Bluffs of California. 



lATJRTJS, Lmn, 



Leaves penninerved, similar to those of the penninerved Laurinece. 



This definition i.s translated from the Suzanne Flora by Saporta. As I 

 am unable to tind any character, either in the form of the leaves or in their 

 nervation, for the separation of Laurus, Persea, and other related genera, I 

 describe, under this general, rather than generic, appellation, all the Lignitic 

 species of LaurinetE represented only by penninerved leaves. 



Laurus socialis, sp. nov. 



Plate XXXVI, Figs. I, 2, 3, 4, 7. 



Leaves comparatively large, subcor.aeous, broadly lauceola e, obtusely acuminat* or pointed, 

 rounded or broadly < uncate to the petiole ; lateral nei ves slender, open, curved in passing to the slightly 

 undulate borders; drupe globular. 



I had originally considered all the leaves (figs. 1 to 8) as referable to the 

 same species, L.jmmigenia, Ung., for the nervation, the areolation, and the 

 petiole are all of the same character; and, in comparing the different forms 

 and the variations of size of the leaves from a large number of specimens, 

 the transitional links between them seemed to render their separation into 

 two species extremely hazardous. Count Sai)orta, however, who has com- 

 pared original specimens with these figures, admits two species, this one 



