228 FOSSIL FLORA OF ALASKA— KNOWLTON. 



A larger series (the present species is represented by three and the 

 Fraxinus by only two specimens) might show them to approach more 

 closely than now appears to be the case. 



The fossil species that they approach most closely is Rims Merianij 

 Heer,* from the Tertiary of Switzerland, from which it is almost 

 impossible to distinguish them. The outline, shape of the base, and 

 nervation are the same, almost the only difference being in the teeth, 

 and even this is but slight. Ordinarily this would by no means be 

 considered a character of sufficient weight to separate species, but 

 unless they agree in every i^articular it seems to me that the ante- 

 cedent probabilities are greatly in favor of plants so widely separated 

 geographically being different. I have therefore assumed that the 

 plant from Herendeen Bay is very closely allied to but specifically 

 distinct from the one from Switzerland. 



Among living species Bhiis frigida is not greatly unlike some of the 

 leaflets of B. typhina, L,, particularly the terminal leaflets. It is also 

 quite like some of the leaflets of R. f/labra, L., especially a form in the 

 National Herbarium from Deer Park, Lower Arrow Lake, British (3o- 

 lumbi.a. These are slightly heart-shaped at base and have the same 

 general outline, but the teeth are- larger and more irregularly placed 

 than in the fossil. It would seem that this form of R. glabra might 

 well be the descendent of the species that inhabited arctic countries in 

 Eocene or Miocene time. 



VITACB^. 



VITIS CRENATA, Heer. 



Heek, F1. Fos8. Alask., p. 36, PI. viii, fig. 6. 

 Port Graham; H. Furuhjelm. 



VITIS ROTUNDIFOLIA, Newberry. 



Newberky, Proc. V. S. Nat. Mus.. Vol. v, 1882 (1883), p. 513; Plates, PI. i.i, fig. 

 2;lii, fig. 3. 



Admiralty Inlet; Capt. Howard, U. S. ]Sravy. 



"Leaf broadly rounded or subtriangular in outline, cordate at the 

 base, with an acute point at the summit and at the extremity of each of 

 the angles; intermediate portions of the margin coarsely and bluntly 

 toothed; strongly three-nerved; tertiary nervation distinct and flexu- 

 ose." — [Newberry, j 



CELASTK AGILE. 



EL.EODENDRON HELVETICUM, H.er. 



LESQUEUEnx, Proc. V. S. Nat. Mils., Vol. v, 1882 (1883), p. 449, PI. ix, lig. 4; 

 Cret. and Tort. Fl., p. 263. 



Goal Harbor, Unga Island; Dr. William H. Dall. 



Fl. Tert. Helv. iii, p. 82, PI. cxxvi, tigs. 5-11. 



