64 DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES. 



Aralia radiata, sp. nov. 

 Plate VU, Figs. 2, i. 



Leaves small, palraately flve-lobed ; base truncate aud abruptly declined to the 

 petiole; lobes equally diverging, lanceolate acuminate, the lower at right angles to the 

 medial nerve; primary nerves in three or five united near the basilar border of the leaves. 



This description and the figures of this species are made from sketches 

 communicated by Mr. II. C. Towner, the discoverer. As I liave seen a 

 poorly preserved specimen only, apparently representing the species, I am 

 unable to give more details on the characters. In fig. 2 the lateral nerves 

 are branching a little above the base. This division is observed in most 

 of the Cretaceous leaves I have described of this genus, and it is especially 

 from this kind of nervation that I have considered them as referable to 

 Aralia. But in fig. 3 the primary veins are in five from the base, and this 

 is a character of Sterculia. The great similarity of the leaves cut to two- 

 thirds of their length into lanceolate, gradually cuneate lobes, the habitat 

 at the same locality, seem to prove that they represent the same species. 



Hab. — Clay Centre, Kansas. H. C. Towner. 



Aralia concreta, Lesqx. 

 Plate IX, Figs. 3, 4, 5. 

 Hayden's " Auu. Rep.," 1874, p. 349, pi. iv, figs. 2, 3, 4. 



Leaves small, very thick, coriaceous, palmately five-lobed to below the middle, 

 broadly cuneate and curving to the petiole; lobes linear or narrowly lanceolate, very 

 entire ; primary nerves three, from a little above the border base of the leaves, the 

 lateral forking, all thick, flat, and deep by impression, preserving nearly the same size 

 to the top of the obtusely-pointed leaves. 



The leaves vary in diameter from 5i to 8 centimeters between the 

 points of the lateral lobes, being shorter than broad. The secondary 

 nervation and areolation are totally obsolete. Fig. 4 is a remarkable form. 

 Gn account of the rounded base of the leaf the lobes are not as widely 

 diverging and the sinuses narrower. The essential characters, great thick- 

 ness of leaves, broad percurrent primary nerves, the size also being the 

 same, the difference cannot be considered as specific. 



Hah.—QXdij Centre. //. C. Towner. Bluff Creek, Ellsworth County, 

 Kansas. Chs. Sternberg. 



