138 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.54. 



CASSIA WENDTU Britton. 



Plate 16, figs. 2-4. 



Cassia wendtii Britton, Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., vol. 21, 1893, p. 254, figs. 

 52-58, 1893. 



Description. — Leaflets slightly petiolulate, small, variable, oblong- 

 elliptical and inequilateral in outline, broadly rounded or obtusely 

 pointed and nearly equilateral at the apex, cuneate and generally 

 inequilateral at the base. Margins entire. Texture subcoriaceous. 

 Length, ranging from 1 to 2 cm. Maximum width, at or below the 

 middle, ranging from 5 to 7 mm. Petiolule short, less than 1 mm. in 

 length. Midrib slender. Secondaries thin, numerous, about 10 

 regularly spaced, camptodrome pairs. 



This species is readily distinguishable from the other species of 

 Cassia described from Potosi. It is, however, liable to be confused 

 with Drepanocarpus franckei described by Engelhardt from this de- 

 posit, and it is not certain that the two are distinct. The latter is, 

 however, more nearly elliptical and equilateral, with a more evenly 

 rounded apex and base, and is sessile instead of petiolulate. The 

 present species is close to various fossil and existing species of Cassia, 

 Caejalpinia, etc. 



Plesiotypes.—Csit. Nos. 35094, 35095, 35096, U.S.N.M. 



CASSU MEMBRANACEA Engelhardt. 



Plate 16, figs. 5,^6. 



Cassia membranacea Engelhardt, Sitz. Naturw. Gesell. Isis in Dresden, 1894, 



Abh. 1, p. 9, pi. 1, fig. 31, 32. 

 Cassia ligustrinoides Britton (not Engelhardt), Trans. Amer. Inst. Min. Eng., 



vol. 21, 1893, figs. 46-48 (not figs. 21-27). 



Descnption. — Leaflets sessile, ovate in outline, generally but 

 slightly inequilateral, blmitly pointed at both ends. Margins entire, 

 generally full and equally rounded. Substance thin. Length rang- 

 ing from 2.7 to 4 cm. Maximum width, generally midway between 

 (he apex and the base, ranging from 1 to 1.6 cm. Midrib stout, prom- 

 inent. Secondaries thin, 8 to 10 pairs diverge from the midrib at 

 angles of 45° or less and form a diminishing series of camptodrome 

 arches subparallel with the lateral margins. Tertiaries thin, more or 

 less percurrent and intermediates crossing to form a more or less 

 quadrangular open areolation. A large leaflet is figured, which is 

 abnormally inequilateral and widest above the middle. 



The present species is not abundant in the collections. It was com- 

 pared by Engelhardt ^ with the existing Peltophorum vogelianium Ben- 

 tham of Brazil. Among the Potosi forms of Cassia it is closest to 

 Cassia chrysocarpoides Engelhardt, differing in its more narrowly 



I Sitz. Naturw. Geiell. Isis in Dresden, 1894, Abh. 1, p. 9. 



