328 Berry: A Ficus confused with Proteoides 



very prominent midrib, differs from the existing Proteaceae {Protea, 

 etc.) in being less coriaceous, and in the character of the venation, 

 which in the latter is somewhat irregular, with the secondaries 

 springing from the midrib at an acute angle and curving outward 

 instead of upward, and showing a further tendency to be massed 

 from the region of the base, which often lacks a petiole. 



The leaves of Proteoides daphnogenoides on the other hand, 

 more especially those of Newberry, Hollick, and Berry, are gener- 

 ally larger in size, with an extended and narrowly lanceolate apex, 



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petiolate, and with regular camptodrome secondaries. 



Heer's type specimens, which are mere fragments, have some 

 long ascending secondaries but Lesquereux's more complete speci- 

 mens from the same locality are unquestionably identical with the 

 coastal plain specimens, which latter often show the venation 

 characters. The midrib of all the specimens is fairly stout and 

 very prominent, leaving a deep furrow on impressions ; the second- 

 aries are very fine and regular and not readily discernible. 



With the idea that these leaves might be referable to the genus 

 Ficus, I have examined with considerable care the herbarium 

 material oi' Ficus ^\. the Columbia University herbarium and that 

 of the New York Botanical Garden. 



I find numerous points of resemblance, and it may be noted 

 that the produced apex of Proteoides daphnogenoides is a character 

 common to a number of species of Ficus, where it is even more 

 emphasized. A number of different species from such widely 

 separated localities as Central and South America and the Celebes 

 show points of resemblance to the fossil leaf. Especially amon 

 the Mexican and Central American species, do we find very simi- 

 lar forms, e. g. : Ficus sapida Miq., Ficus ligustrina Kunth & 

 Bouche, Ficus Imtcifolia Hook. & Arn., and Ficus fasciculata 

 Watson, particularly the first, which has much the same outline 

 and consistency, the same prominent midrib, and the same regu- 

 larly camptodrome venation. 



In turning over the herbarium sheets one is strongly impressed 

 with the conviction that in Proteoides daphnogenoides we have 

 another and widespread Ficus from the Mid-Cretaceous, which 

 flourished along the ancient coasts of the Atlantic continental mass 

 from Long Island, New Jersey, and Maryland around its then 



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