216 



SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1921. 



Sapindopsis brevifolia Fontaine. 



Plate LV, figure 1; Plate LIX, fisnire 1. 



Sapindojisi.^ hrerifoUa Fontaine, U. S. Geol. Survey Mon. 

 15, p. 300, pi. 153, fig. 4; pi. 155, figs. 1, 7; pi. 163, 

 fig. 3, 1890; in Ward, IT. S. Geol. Survey Mon. 48, 

 pp. 481, 482, 528, 1906. 

 Berry, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, vol. 38, p. 644; Mary- 

 land Geol. Survey, Lower Cretaceous, p. 473, pi. 87, 

 figs. 2-5, 1911. 



Leiives odd-iiianate, the terminal leallet 

 consi(k'ra1)ly largor than the hxteral leaflets, of 

 which but two pairs are known. These are 

 opposite. Leaflets somewhat crowded so that 

 their margins often overlap, with subacute 

 tips, varymg in length from 2 to 5 centimeters 

 and in width from 0.8 to 1.6 centimeters, aver- 

 aging about 3 centimeters long b_y 1.3 centime- 

 ters wide. Ineciuilateral toward the base and 

 showing considerable variation in dccurrence, 

 even among the few specimens known; in 

 some the rachis is conspicuously winged; in 

 others the leaflets are all petioled, the whole 

 having the aspect of some member of the 

 Leguminoseae. Midribs stout; secondaries as- 

 cending, camptodrome, seen with difflculty, 

 as the leaf texture is coriaceous. 



This is a poorly marked species of infre- 

 quent occurrence at the same localities where 

 the other species of this genus occur anil may 

 simply represent a variant of S. ■variabilis; 

 in fact, there is no reason for considering it to 

 represent a distinct botanic species, and the 

 namc^ is retained temporarily simply as a 

 geologic convenience, to bo cvcntiially 

 dropped entirely. 



The Cheyenne sandstone localities are U 

 miles northwest of Belvidere (2218), Thompson 

 Creek near the flume, 2 miles northwest of 

 Belvidere (2221); near Medicine Lodge Creek, 

 2 miles west of Belvidere (2224); left bank of 

 middle branch of Champion (Wfldcat) Draw 

 half a mile south of BelvicU're (222<n; Osuge 

 Rock, Belvidere (2232). 



Sapindopsis belviderensis Berry, n. sp. 



I'lati's Xl.lX-I.IV. 



Leaves of varialile size, [liiniately compovmd, 

 ranging in length (in the collected material) 

 from 8 to 19 centimeters and in maximum 

 width from 4.5 to 1 4 centimeters. These leaves 

 are prevaflingly odd-pinnate, but a few are 

 even-pinnate. In addition to the odd terminal 

 leaflet generally present there are invariably 



three pairs of lateral leaflets, which are gener- 

 ally opposite ])ut sometimes subopposite. 

 These usually decrease regularly in size from 

 the distal to the proximal pair. In some speci- 

 mens the terminal leaflet is equilateral, but 

 all the other leaflets are inequilateral, often 

 markedly so. All except the terminal leaflet 

 are invariably sessile, the latter being sepa- 

 rated from the distal laterals in some of the 

 larger leaves by a considerable mterval of ra- 

 chis. Generally, however, the terminal and 

 upper laterals are confluent in the rachial re- 

 gion to form what, if it were broken away from 

 the balance of the leaf, would be considered to 

 represent a palmately trilobate leaf .such as is 

 commonly referred to the genus Aralia. The 

 sinuses may be rather broad, narrowly rounded, 

 or pointed. The leaflets vary greatly in size, 

 shape, and marginal characters but agree in 

 being obtuse, generally aljruptly and almost 

 truncately mucronate pointed. The leaflets 

 range in form from narrowly spatulate to 

 broadly ovate or obovate. The margins are in- 

 variably toothed, but there is great variation in 

 the amount and degree to which the teeth are 

 developed. Proximally the margins are entire 

 for a greater or less distance. Above this en- 

 tire portion the teeth, which are remote and 

 rather (>venly spaced, may be small and- ser- 

 rate or very prominent and dentate. Were 

 not all sorts of gradations present one might 

 well doubt that they pertained to the same 

 plants. The accompanying illustrations show 

 these variations much better than they can be 

 described. The lateral proximal margins of 

 the terminal pair of leaflets, except in a single 

 specimen, are decurrent on the rachis, extend- 

 ing downward to the point of insertion of the 

 next lower pair of leaflets and often contin- 

 uous with the distal margins of these. This 

 rachial wmg may be broad and triangular, a 

 form which, as the terminal leaflets are the 

 largest, gives the leaf a curious unsymmetrical 

 or artificial appearance. In other specimens 

 the wings are narrow and become reduced to 

 mere marginal hems. In the middle pair of 

 lateral leaflets the proximal margins are only 

 slightly if at all decurrent, and generally they 

 are not decurrent. No decurrence has been 

 o.bserved in the lower lateral leaflets, but they 

 as well as the middle pair have the proximal 

 side of the base fifller than the distal side, the 

 former being generally rounded and the latter 



