94 FOSSIL FLORA OF THE JOHN DAY BASIN, OREGON. [mi.L. 204. 



.stems lu'urly o cm. in diameter; the majorit}^ of them, however, are 

 eonsiderahly smaller. The only othei" E(iui.setum is a small, more or 

 less doubtl'ul fra^iniMit from the Mascall beds, not enou^'h of it ])eing- 

 preserved to convey a satisfactory idea of its size and appearance. 



Ginkgo is represented in the highest plant-hearing ))eds (Mascall) b}' 

 a few fragments that are so poorly preserved as to give very little 

 idea of it l)eyond the fact that it appears to have been larger leaved 

 than the ordinary leaves of the living species. 



The PinacetB, although represented b}' four genera and six or 

 seven species, could hardly have been a very conspicuous element in 

 the Tertiary flora of the basin. The most a))undant species was the 

 widely distributed Sequoia Langsdorfil^ which occurs at live of the 

 localities. Associated in the beds at Bridge C^reek are a few cones of 

 what Lesquereux has called Sequoia Ileerl!^ that ma}^ possi1)ly l)elong 

 to what has been identified as S. Langsdorjil., l)ut if this be so, the latter 

 identification can hardly be correct. 



The remaining conifers are all confined to the Mascall beds. Of 

 these, Sequoia angustifolia^ Taxodium distichimi viiocenum, and what 

 has been called Gli/j^tostrohus Znigerl are the most abundant. Taxodium 

 is also represented ])v what, with little qviestion, are male aments. It 

 is more than probable that they belong to T. distichum. miocenum.. 

 Thuites is represented by a mere fragment. The Graminefe and 

 Cyperaceaj are each represented b}' a single form, both of which are 

 more or less doubtful. 



To the Smilacese is referred the single species Smllax Wardii. It 

 is very rare, as only one leaf has ever been discovered. 



We come now to the deciduous-leaved types of vegetation, and it 

 requires but a glance at the list of families to show that they predomi- 

 nate to a marked degree. They are represented not only by numerous 

 genera and species, but in the case of some forms b}- a great wealth of 

 individuals. The deposits at Bridge Creek, many feet in thickness, 

 are filled with thousands of leaves of Betula, Alnus, Quercus, etc., and 

 the Mascall beds at Van Horn's ranch contain great luimbers of leaves 

 of oaks, willows, and maples. We therefore seem warranted in con- 

 cluding that the Tertiary flora of the basin was distinctly a hard-wood 

 flora, not unlike in general appearance that which characterizes much 

 of the area east of the Mississippi River at the present time. This 

 fact is still further emphasized by the evident close relationship between 

 certain of the species found fossil in the John Da}' Basin and those 

 now living in the Eastern States. This will be brought out more fully 

 under the discussion of each famil3^ 



The Salicaceffi are represented by both Populus and Salix, but of the 

 former genus only one species [P. Llndgreni)^ represented by a single 

 leaf, has thus far been found. This species was first characterized 

 from the Payette formation of Boise Count} , Idaho. As I have 



