1902] NOTES ON SASSAFRAS 439 



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refers to S. actitilobum, as 



well as the single leaf described under this name by HoUick 

 from Glen Cove, L. I., are quite different from the majority of 

 Lesquereux's figured specimens from the Dakota formation, and 

 evidently are not Sassafras leaves. Newberry's two small figures 

 are fragments which resemble Fiats Woolsoni in the position and 

 direction of their primaries, the less fragmentary specimens 

 resemble somewhat those leaves which Newberry refers to 

 Cissites formosus. They are broad leaves with more or less later- 

 ally directed, short, broad, acute lobes ; the primaries are all 

 basal except in one specimen which might be a fragment of 

 Sassafras or almost any other triple-veined leaf ; the secondaries 

 branch from the midrib at irregular intervals and arch, forming 

 laterally directed loops a considerable distance from the margin. 

 Lesquereux's S, acutilobum^ on the other hand, has long, narrowly 

 i pointed lobes, the primaries are not basal, the secondaries arc 



numerous and branch from the midrib at regular intervals, and 

 ascend in regular curves to join the one next above near the 

 margin. His larger leaf greatly resembles the trilobed leaves' 



Welliiigty 



23 



The form and size are the same, the primary venation is similar, 

 the secondaries arch with almost the same regularity, and form 

 similar ascending curves. In the Aralia leaves, however, the 

 secondaries in the terminal portions are craspedodrome or straight, 

 running to the dentate points of the margin, and the basal portion 



^ of the leaf is produced farther down the petiole. It is also very 



similar to some of Newberry's figures of S. cretaceiim, and together 

 with them probably represent transition forms between 5. creta- 

 ceiim and Aralia (so-called). Probable Sassafras fruit has been 



? found in the same strata with S. aaitilobiim''^, tending to show 



that it is a true Sassafras, notwithstanding its dissimilarities; 

 however, this is not certain, as the leaves and fruit were not found 

 associated. Lesquereux's smallest figure of .S". actitilobum is con- 

 siderably smaller, with the lobes directed upward, and is probably 

 a young leaf of his larger form. His other figure approaches 

 some of the leaves which Newberry refers to this species, but has 



''See Fl. Dak. Group,//. 21, fig, /. »3Lesquereux, F1. Dak. Group, p. 230. 



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