350 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM vol. 83 



the rather uniform climatic conditions in South America during 

 the earlier half of the Miocene render such a conclusion not im- 

 jDrobable, and certainly no criteria for differentiation are apparent. 



The genus Cassia is a wide-ranging type in the existing flora 

 of the warmer temperate and tropical regions of the world, with 

 upward of 400 species. The geologic history of the genus goes 

 back to the Upper Cretaceous, and more than 100 fossil species are 

 known. 



Occut^'ence. — Near Betijoque, State of Trujillo. 



CASSIA ZULIANA, new species 



Figure 29, &-e 



Leaflets small, petielulate, ovate, slightly inequilateral, widest 

 below middle, tapering upward to acute tip which may be extended,^ 

 and curving downward to the broadly cuneate to rounded inequilat- 

 eral base. Margins entire. Texture subcoriaceous. Length 2.25 to 

 3.5 cm. Maximum width about 1.25 to 1.5 cm. 



Petiolule stout, curved, about 3 mm long. Mid vein stout, promi- 

 nent. Secondaries thin, about eight opposite to alternate pairs di- 

 verging from mid rib at wide angles, pursuing subparallel courses, 

 and camptodrome in marginal region. There is considerable resem- 

 blance to the leaves of the rutaceous genus Fagara^ but I have been 

 unable to observe the punctations that would be decisive for the 

 latter. Occurs also in porcellanite of Trinidad. 



Occm^ence. — Palmarejo, State of Zulia; El Mene, State of Falcon. 



Types.— U.S.N.M. nos. 39298, 39299. 



Family PAPILIONACEAE 



Genus SOPHORA Linnaeus 



SOPHORA MARANA, new species 

 FiGLTRE 29, / 



Leaflets small, sessile, elliptical in outline, slightly inequilateral, 

 widest in middle, with broadly rounded apex and base — the latter 

 slightly more broadly rounded than former. Texture subcoriaceous. 

 Margins entire, evenly rounded. Length about 2.1 cm. Maximum 

 width 1.4 cm. Mid vein stout, mediumly prominent. Secondaries 

 thin and largely immersed, five or six camptodrome pairs. Ter- 

 tiaries obsolete. 



This small leaflet is of a type commonly referred to Sojjhom and 

 leadily matched among existing species of that genus. There is no 

 certainty, however, that it does not represent some other leguminous 

 genus with similar leaflets. 



Occurrence. — Palmarejo, State of Zulia. 



Type.— U.S.X.M. no. 39300. 



