840 SYSTEMATIC PALEONTOLOGY 



Still other and mostly larger species are referred to the allied genus 

 Nelumbium of Jussieu. 



While the Patapsco species have the characteristic peltate leaves they 

 are not radially symmetrical as are the later species, but have the petiole 

 attached near to one margin giving them an appearance much like that of 

 a number of supposed species of Menispermites. The venation is, how- 

 ever, nearer that of Nelumlo and its allies, the secondaries being promi- 

 nent on the lower surface, obsolete on the upper surface, and forking after 

 the manner of the Nymphceacece. If these leaves were not floating it is 

 surprising that a petiole stout enough to hold the leaf erect is not found 

 fossil, unless the leaf normally abscissed from the apex instead of the base 

 of the petiole. It is hoped that sooner or later specimens will be found 

 showing whether or not the stomata were confined to the upper surface 

 and thus confirming or disproving the assumption here made that they 

 were aquatic in habit. The existing species of Nelumbo are two in num- 

 ber, both large aquatic perennials, one North American and the other 

 Asiatic and Australian. It has seemed better to establish a new genus 

 for the reception of these Cretaceous forms, which, while expressing their 

 proper affinities, does not unduly extend our conception of the modern 

 genus. 



It is interesting to note in this connection that Saporta * has reported 

 two species of Nelumbium from the supposed Albian of Portugal, but as 

 these are not fully defined and are also unfigured their relation to the 

 American species is unknown. 



XELUMBITES PRIM^VA (Berry) Berry 

 Plate LXXV, Fig. 4 



Nelumbo primceva Berry, 1903, Bull. N. Y. Bot. Garden, vol. iii, p. 75, pi. 



xliii, fig. 1. 

 Nelumbo primceva Berry, 1910, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club, vol. xxxvii, p. 23. 



Description, Leaves of variable size, peltate, orbicular or broadly 

 elliptical in general outline. Diameter ranging from 3 cm. or 4 cm. to 

 about 10 cm. Margins entire, texture subcoriaceous. Primaries eight, 



1 Saporta, Comptes Rendus, tome cxix, 1894, pp. 835-837. 



