1895.] Fossil Species of Liriodendron. 313 
without signs of ever having lived. Some peculiar species have 
been made in this way, and it is our intention to give a few 
illustrations of supposed relationships existing between some 
fossil forms and the living species of our tulip-tree. 
One of the most striking characters of the Liriodendron leaf 
is of course the notched apex in connection with the broad, 
more or less deeply lobed blade. We have already shown* 
that leaves of seedlings and those at the base and apex of 
branches of mature trees are often oblong or obcordate with- 
out any lobation, and yet they still possess the characteristic 
notch at the apex. This last form, the approximately obcor- 
date, reminds one very much of the leaflets of certain Legu- 
minosz, and such leaves, when found in a fossil state, are 
generally referred to Leguminosites or to Liriodendron. 
With very few exceptions we believe that such forms do not 
belong to Liriodendron, at least if we compare the illustra- 
senting Liriodendron simplex Newb. Some of these leaves 
are very well preserved and show the outline and venation 
very distinctly, so distinctly in fact, that it may easily be 
seen that they are very different from leaves of Liriodendron 
as we understand the genus from the living species. We have 
copied one of Mr. Hollick’s figures on the accompanying 
plate xxl, fig. 3, and we have added two forms of similar 
small leaves of our living species for comparison (figs. 1 and 
2.). Considering the mere outline of the leaves here brought 
together, we notice at once the disproportionate length of 
the fossil species, and the open sinus or notch at the apex of 
the recent form in connection with its long and slender petiole. 
It is not known whether the fossil leaves had any petiole; 
they appear rather to have been nearly sessile. The vena- 
of any relationship to the genus Liriodendron. 
“Holm, Theodor: Notes on the leaves of Liriodendron. Proceedings U. S. 
National Museum 13: 15-35. p/. 4-9. 1890. 
*Hollick, Arthur: Preliminary contribution to our knowledge of the Creta- 
Ceous formation on Long Island andeastward. Transact. New Yor » Sci, 
12: 222-237. pl. 5-7. 1893. 
2I—Vol. XX.—No. 7. 
