(91) 
specimens (7. 3, 4), but differs in having the midrib branch 
at some distance above the base. Both ancient and modern 
Sterculia leaves vary considerably, and Stercalia Snowit has 
a bilobed form. 
There is considerable resemblance to the smaller leaves 
from the Raritan at Woodbridge, which Newberry refers to 
Sassafras acutilobum Lesq. (Fl. Amboy Clays, p/. 25. f. 2,55 
6, 10). Leaves of the living Sterculia diversifolia occiden- 
tals Benth., from interior Australia, contained in the Meis- 
ner Herbarium, are very similar to Sterculia mucronata. 
ARALIACEAE. 
ARALIA Linn. Sp. Pl. 273. 1753. 
The genus Aralra has never been precisely defined for the 
paleobotanist, the custom being to follow precedent and refer 
a variety of polymorphic leaves of synthetic types to this 
genus — leaves having a variety of affinities, Platanoid, Sas- 
safroid, etc., as well as leaves allied to Crssus and Hedera. 
The existing flora includes some twenty-seven species of 
North America and Asia, six of which are American; only 
one of these, however (A. sfznosa L.), is arborescent. The 
ancient flora contains numerous leaves that have been referred 
to this genus, besides several that have been referred to the 
allied genus Araliaephyllum. The distribution of the Amer- 
ican fossil species is as follows:* Potomac 1, and 4 sp. of 
Araliaephyllum, Raritan 8, Matawan 6, Island Raritan 5, 
Dakota 13, Mill Creek 3, Laramie 3, Denver 1, Ft. Union 5, 
Tertiary of Yellowstone Park 3, Green River 1, Eocene 4, 
Miocene 5, Atane beds 2, Patoot beds 1, Greenland Tertiary 2. 
Velenovsky enumerates two species from the Cenomanian 
of Bohemia, A. decurrens being apparently identical with A. 
Saportanea of the Dakota, and the other, A. coriacea, reap- 
pearing at Martha's Vineyard. From the European Tertiary 
some thirty-two species are recorded, none occurring in the 
existing flora of Europe. 
*Ettingshausen (Trans. N. Z. Inst. 19: 449) records -fra/ia in the Tas- 
manian Tertiary. 
