No. 2363. FOSSIL PLANTS FROM DOMINICAN REPUBLIC— BERRY. 119 



and range in width from 2 mm. to 3 mm., with a well-marked mid- 

 vein and very faintly marked parallel lateral veins. They are of no 

 botanical importance. 



Although the name Poacites is one that has been applied indis- 

 criminately to a variety of Paleozoic and Mesozoic objects of varied 

 botanical affinity, it is so appropriate for fragments of grass foliage 

 of uncertain relationship that I have ventured to use it in the present 

 connection. 



Occurrence. — Locality No. 8684. Cut in clay near pier at Sanchez, 

 District of Samana. 



Order CHENOPODIALES. 

 Family NYCTAGINACEAE. 



Genus PISONIA Linnaeus. 



PISONIA CONDITI, new species. 



Plate 21, fie;. 1. 



Description. — Leaves of small size, lanceolate, and slightly inequi- 

 lateral in general outline, widest in the middle and equally pointed 

 at the apex and base. Margins entire. Texture coriaceous. Length 

 about 3.25 cm. Maximum width about 1.1 cm. Petiole very short 

 and stout, only a millimeter or two in length. Midrib stout and 

 prominent. Secondaries thin, immersed; five or six alternate camp- 

 todrome pairs diverge from the midrib at angles of about 45 degrees. 

 These small leaves are characteristically inequilateral by having the 

 basal margin flat on one side and curved on the other with the distal 

 margin flat on the opposite side and curved on the other side. Named 

 for the collector, D. D. Condit. 



The genus Pisonia contains over a dozen fossil species from the 

 Upper Cretaceous through the Tertiary in the Northern Hemisphere. 

 In this country there are three species in the Wilcox Eocene, two in 

 the lower Jackson, and a fifth in the Alum Bluff formation of Florida. 

 None of these are especially close to the present form. 



The existing species of Pisonia are numerous and occur chiefly 

 in the Tropics, predominantly in the Western Hemisphere. The 

 genus is still present in the flora of Santo Domingo. 



Occurrence. — Locality No. 8684. Cut in clay near pier at Sanchez, 

 District of Samana. 



Holotype.—C&t. No. 35451, U.S.N.M. 



