DESCRIPTIONS OF SPECIES. 81 



reflexed stipule-like lobe at the base of the leaf. This is a feature that 

 it has iu common with some species of Platanus, especially Platanus 

 basilobata Ward (Synopsis, Flora Laramie Group, 6th Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. 

 Surv. for 1884-85 [1886], Pis. XLII, XLIII), and something of the kind is 

 frequently found in strong growing shoots of the living Platanus occidentalis. 

 As I have said in my description of Platanus nobilis, there are some char- 

 acters in the leaves of that tree which raise the question whether it was a 

 true Platanus, and yet my reference of it to that genus has been confirmed 

 by Sir William Dawson and Dr. Lester F. Ward. The former has found 

 leaves which he considers those of P. nobilis having this basilar lobe, and 

 he has suggested that Dr. Ward's P. basilobata should be named P. nobilis 

 var. basilobata. I should not be surprised if, in the light of more material, 

 P. nobilis and the species now under consideration should be united in a new 

 genus; but without additional material such a step would be hardly wise. 

 Formation and locality : Tertiary (Miocene). Bridge Creek, Oregon. 



FlCUS MEJIBRANACEA Newh 

 PI. LIX, fig. 2. 

 Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V (March 21, 1883), p. 512. 



" Leaves sessile, 4 to 6 inches in length, by 2 J to 3£ in width ; ovate, 

 abruptly and usually blunt-pointed, narrowed to the base, generally 

 unsymmetrical, margin entire, nervation delicate, open, camptodrome; ten 

 or more branches given off on either side of the midrib, curving upward, 

 and forming a festoon near the margin." 



Of these leaves there are quite a number in the collection from Alaska, 

 made by Captain Howard, and such as exhibit considerable diversity of 

 form, as will be seen by the figures. That shown on PL LIX is imper- 

 fect and imperfectly represented; it is smaller than the average and more 

 pointed, and the base should be prolonged and narrowed. The reference 

 of these leaves to Ficus is provisional and can not be insisted upon. The 

 nervation is that of this genus, and a considerable resemblance is shown 

 to those described by Lesquereux (Tert. Fl., p. 194, PI. XXVIII, figs. 

 9-12) under the name of F. oblanceolata, but they are larger, broader 

 in form, and the nervation is much more open. The texture of these 

 leaves was evidently thin and membranous, a character plainly shown by 



