THE FLORA. 



Ill 



ance and seems to approach most closely the 

 living genus PJianerophlebia. This genus em- 

 braces about a dozen rather closely related 

 species extending from the southern border of 

 the United States through Mexico and Central 

 America to Brazil. In some ways the specimen 

 approaches most closely PhaneropMebia nobilis 

 (Schlechtendal and Chamisso) Presl, a native 

 of Mexico, especially in type of nervation. 



Occurrence: Laramie formation, Lafayette, 

 Colo., dump of Simpson mine, collected by 

 A. C. Peale, for whom the species is named. 



Asplenium martini Knowlton, n. sp. 



Plate II, figure 6. 



Asplenium martini Knowlton [nomen nudum], U. S. Geol. 

 , Survey Bull. 696, p. 105, 1919. 



Outline of whole frond unknown but at 

 least thrice-pinnatified, apparently thick or 

 coriaceous in texture; pinnae long-lanceolate, 

 with an exceedingly strong rachis, cut with 

 numerous opposite or subopposite, short, ovate 

 or ovate-oblong, obtuse pinnules; nervation of 

 pinnules strong, consisting of a very strong 

 mid vein and 8 or 10 pairs of strong veins, 

 which are once-forked, usually near the base; 

 fruit not seen. 



This form is so fragmentary as hardly to be 

 worthy of characterization, yet even these 

 small pieces show clearly that it must have 

 been & plant of striking appearance. The 

 fragment is about 8 centimeters in length, and 

 to judge from the very thick rachis it must 

 have been when perfect at least twice this 

 length and was probably even larger. The 

 rachis is fully 2 millimeters thick. Only one 

 pinnule is anywhere near perfect. This is 

 nearly 2 centimeters in length and is about 12 

 millimeters broad. The pinnules, so far as 

 can be ascertained, were opposite or suboppo- 

 site and cut by a sharp sinus within 4 or 5 

 millimeters of the rachis. The nervation of 

 the pinnules, as already indicated, is very 

 deeply impressed, showing that the texture 

 was thick and probably coriaceous. The 

 strong midvein is slightly irregular, and the 

 nerves, also very strong, are once-forked, 

 usually near the midvein. 



In the absence of fruit it is impossible to be 

 certain of the generic reference, but the form is 

 so distinct, even in the fragments available, 

 that it must constitute a good horizon marker. 



Among fossil species it is suggestive of Asple- 

 nium magnum Knowlton, 33 from the Fort Union 

 of the Yellowstone National Park, but it differs 

 in a number of important particulars. It is 

 much larger than Asplenium magnum, being in 

 fact nearly as large as the enlargement of that 

 species shown in figure 8a of the plate above 

 cited. Its pinnules are more deeply cut, and' 

 the nervation is very much stronger, though of 

 the same type. 



In some respects it is closer to Asplenium 

 coloradense Knowlton, 3 * from the Vermejo 

 formation of the Eaton Mesa region, which 

 was at first identified by Hollick 35 with As- 

 plenium magnum. The form under considera- 

 tion seems to differ from Asplenium coloradense 

 in its larger size, more obtuse pinnules, and 

 much stronger nervation. A series of speci- 

 mens showing the variation in size might bring 

 them together, but for the present they are 

 best kept apart, though obviously closely 

 related. 



This species is named in honor of George C. 

 Martin, of the United States Geological Sur- 

 vey, who assisted in making the collection of 

 which it is a part. 



Occurrence: Laramie formation, dump of 

 Reliance mine, If miles northeast of Erie, 

 Colo., collected by F. H. Knowlton and G. C. 

 Martin. 



Pteris goldmani Knowlton, n. sp. 



Plate II, figure 3. 



Pteris goldmani Knowlton [nomen nudum], U. S. Geol. 

 Survey Bull. 696, p. 518, 1919. 



Outline of frond unknown; pinnae lanceolate, 

 margin entire; rachis thin, grooved; nerves 

 numerous, at an angle of 50° or 60°, slightly 

 curved, forking a short distance above the base 

 and again below the margin, often anas- 

 tomosing. 



Although this is a mere fragment 3 centi- 

 meters long and the same in width, it is so well 

 characterized by the nervation that it seems 

 worthy of full specific rank. It is of the type 

 of what ' has been called Pteris subsimplex 

 Lesquereux, 38 Pteris erosa Lesquereux, 37 Pteris 

 undulata Lesquereux, etc., but differs essen- 



** U. S. Geol. Survey Mon. 32, pt. 2, pi. 79, flg3. 5-8, 1899. 

 a« U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 101, pi. 1, figs. 1, 2, 1918. 

 m Hollick, Arthur, Torreya, vol. 2, p. 146, pi. 4, figa. 1, 2, 1902. 

 8« Lesquereux, Leo, U. S. Geol. Survey Terr. Kept., vol. 7, pi. 4, 

 figs. 5-7, 1878. 

 « Idem, fig. 8. 



