448 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [December 



blance to some of Lesquereux's figures of Platamis latior 2ind some 

 of its varieties, as well as to other species of Platanus ; and there 

 is no doubt in my mind of its Platanoid affinities. 



SassafRx\s hastatum, Newb. — Trilobed, hastate leaves with 

 conical lobes, the lateral ones directed horizontally except in 

 two specimens which approach somewhat S. proge?iifor from the 

 same formation, especially Newberry's fig, 5, pL ^7, Fl. Amboy 

 CI., which in all probability should be referred to that species. 

 The rest of his figures show the normal form of S. hastattim, 

 which differs widely from any leaves which can with any degree 

 of certainty be referred to Sassafras; they resemble somewhat 

 the fragments referred by Newberry to 5. aciitilobii?n. In these, 

 although the lateral lobes are horizontal, they are not basal, and 

 in consequence the primaries branch from the midrib at an angle 

 of about 30° instead of nearly 90°, as in S, hastatum. They also 

 resemble the Amboy clay leaves referred by Newberry to Aralia 

 groenlandica ; and they also have somewhat the appearance of 

 A. polymorpJia.hvX differ in outline. The secondary system is 

 more or less obscured, the primaries are horizontal as are the lat- 

 eral lobes; all the lobes are conical; and the base is not decur- 

 rent on the petiole. No discernible characters hint at any Sas- 

 safras affinities; and the outline is so far removed from what 

 obtains in any forms of the modern leaf that we are inclined to 

 discredit their reference to that genus. 



Of the two remaining forms W'hich have been referred to this 

 genus. Sassafras (Araliopsis) sp. Lesq. from the Amboy clays 



) 



J., is of doubtful value ; and Sassafras (A 



tate leaves of somewhat doubtful affinity, which serve to connect 

 his 5. crctaceinn with its variety grossedentatiim, both of which 

 varieties seem more nearly related to Platanus than to Sassafras. 

 The varying similarity and interrelation of the forms hereto- 

 Jore referred to Sassafras, Aralia, Platanus, Aspidiophyllum, Cis- 

 sites, etc., clearly indicate that a change must soon be made in 

 our conception of these genera; and this not only applies to Sas- 

 safras, but to the various forms referred to the other genera as 

 well, including also Grewiopsis, Menispermites, Credneria, etc. 



