732 GEOLOGY OF THE YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. 



CELASTRACE/E. 



Celastrus culveri n. sp. 

 PL XCVII, tig. 4. 



Leaves membranaceous, ovate-lanceolate, apparently rather abruptly 

 rounded at the base, but gradually narrowed above to an obtusely acuminate 

 apex; margin with rather remote, small, sharp, outward-pointing teeth; 

 midrib thick below, much thinner above; secondaries about 10 pairs, alter- 

 nate at an angle of 35° or more, much curved upward, camptodrome 

 very near the margin, with branches outside entering the small, weak teeth; 

 intermediate secondaries occasional, thin, disappearing before reaching half 

 the distance to the margin; nervilles percurrent; finer nervation obscure. 



This species is represented by 2 well-preserved leaves, both, unfor- 

 tunately, representing the upper portion only. The longest specimen is 

 10 cm. in length, which is probably not far from its original full length. It 

 is a little over 5 cm. broad at a point which seems to be some distance 

 below the middle. Judging from the contour near the base, it seems prob- 

 able that it was either truncate or, possibly, heart-shaped at base. The 

 teeth of the margin are peculiar, being scattered, small, sharp, and outward 

 pointing. 



This species appears to find its nearest relative in some described from 

 the Fort Union group along the lower Yellowstone. Thus it resembles 

 Celastrus curvinervis Ward 1 in shape and nervation, but differs considerably 

 in size and wholly in the teeth. Celastrus ovatus Ward 2 has somewhat the 

 same shape, but differs considerably in nervation and in the teeth. Several 

 of the other species described by Professor Ward 3 also resemble this in 

 one or more particulars, but none closely enough for specific identity. 



I take pleasure in naming this fine species in honor of Prof. Gr. E. 

 Culver, who assisted in collecting at this place. 



Habitat: Yellowstone River, one-half mile below the mouth of Elk 

 Creek, top of bluff; collected by F. H. Knowlton and G. E. Culver, 

 August, 1888. 



1 Types of the Laramie Fl., p. 82, PL XXXVI, figs. 3, 4. 

 "-Op. cit., p. 81, PI. XXXVI, tig. 1. 

 "Op. cit., PI. XXXV. 



