TERTIARY PLANTS FROM VENEZUELA — BERRY 341 



THE EOCENE PLANTS 



The fossil plants from the Eocene of Venezuela, aside from the 

 seed of Entada already mentioned, come from two outcrops close 

 together about three-fourths of a kilometer south of Santa Barbara 

 and 21/2 kilometers east of Los Barrosos, District of Sucre, State of 

 Zulia. In addition to undeterminable species of leguminous leaflets, 

 a fan palm, a small lauraceous leaf, and a Eugenia^ the following 

 have been identified : 



Apocpnopfij/llum cf. texensis Berry. 

 Burserites fayettensis Berry (?) 

 Cedrela jacksoniana Berry (fig. 28, b). 

 Chrysophyllum preolivifonne Berry (?). 

 Ficus americanafolla, new species (fig. 28, a). 



With the exception of the last, which is new, these are late Claiborne 

 or Jackson species in southeastern North America and appear to 

 indicate an upper Eocene age, probably corresponding with lower 

 Jackson. 



This Eocene flonde is much more like that of North America 

 than is the case with the Miocene flora of Venezuela. The obvious 

 explanation is that in the upper Eocene there was a considerable 

 extension of more equable and warmer climate north of the equa- 

 torial zone. 



FICUS AMERICANAFOLIA, new species 



Figure 28, a 



This is based upon the single specimen figured, but this shows 

 the complete leaf and lacks only the petiole. It is named from its 

 great resemblance to the existing Fimis americana Aublet. Whether 

 this specimen is typical of the botanical species represented cannot 

 be determined from a single specimen. With this limitation it may 

 be described as follows : 



Leaves small, lanceolate or slightly ovate-lanceolate in ojitline. 

 Apex somewhat more acute than base. Length about 8 cm. Maxi- 

 mum width about 2.25 cm. Texture coriaceous. 



Petiole missing, obviously stout, presumably short. Mid vein 

 stout and straight, prominent on under side of leaf. Secondaries 

 numerous, rather thin, prominent on under side of leaf. There are 

 about 15 pairs, opposite to alternate, more widely spaced and sub- 

 tending a smaller angle in upper part of leaf; they diverge from 

 the mid vein at angles of 55° to 70°, are relatively straight and sub- 

 parallel, and are abruptly camptodrome in marginal region. The 

 tertiary venation is obscured by the coarseness of the matrix; a few 

 intermediate, rather thin veins can be seen diverging from the 

 mid vein, subparallel with secondaries, and these appear to show 



