632 PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. vol.54. 



Order SAPINDALES. 



Family SAPINDACEAE. 

 Genus SAPINDUS Linnaeus. 



SAPINUS OKLAHOMENSIS, new species. 

 Plate 95, figures 1, 2. 



Leaflets inequilateral, relatively large, sessile or subsessile, ovate- 

 lanceolate and more or less falcate in outline. Apex and base about 

 equally acuminate but the former more extended and the greatest 

 width of the leaflets below the middle. Margins entire. Substance 

 of the leaflets of medium consistency but hardly deserving the term 

 subcoriaceous. Length 9.5 cm. to 13 cm. Maximum width 2.5 cm. 

 to 3 cm. Midrib stout, fairly prominent, curved. Secondaries nu- 

 merous, thin but prominent where the preservation is good; they 

 diverge from the midrib at angles around 50 degrees at regular 

 intervals of from 3 mm. to 5 mm., are indifferently opposite to alter- 

 nate, rather straight and subparallel in their courses and campto- 

 drome. The tertiary areolation, which was well marked in life and 

 rather fine consisted of transversely or obliquely elongated poly- 

 gonal meshes, and is shown in occasional patches on the specimens 

 but is generally entirely obliterated by the character of the matrix. 



This species next to Platanus aceroides is the most common form 

 in the collection and indicates a vigorous and fairly large-sized 

 tree. There are a number of described fossil species that approach 

 it very closely. Thus Sapindus lancifolius Lesquereux^ a common 

 Florissant form, while prevailingly smaller, occasionally approaches 

 it in size, as for example in figure 9 cited. The base is, however, 

 more obtuse and the secondaries are somewhat less ascending. 

 Sajnndus afjinis Newberry ^ which is a very common Eocene species, 

 has been identified by Knowlton ^ from the Miocene of Yellowstone 

 Park. The latter specimens are very similar to the Oklahoma 

 species differing merely in their less extended form and fewer second- 

 aries. The widespread European Sapindus falcifolius Al. Braun * 

 is also very similar but generally smaller and relatively narrower, 

 and the middle Miocene Sapindus densif alius Heer^ of Europe is 

 also very similar. 



The geological record of Sapiridus is a full one, many species hav- 

 ing been described from the Upper Cretaceous onward. The genus 



1 Lesquereux, L., Cret. and Tert. Flora, 1883, p. 182, pi. 32, figs. 3-6 ; pi. 37, fig. 9. 



2 Newberry, J. S., U. S. Geol Survey Mod., vol. 35, 1898, p. 116, pi. 30, fig. 1 ; pi. 40, 

 fig. 2. 



3 Knowlton, P. H., Idem, vol. 32, 1899, p. 736, pi. 102, flgs. 1-3. 



* Heer, O., Fl. Tert. Helv., vol. 3, 1859, p. 61, pi. 119 ; pi. 120. figs. 2-8 ; pi. 121, figs. 1, 2. 

 flgs. 1, 2. 



BHeer, O., Idem, p. 62, pi. 120, fig. 1. 



