REPORT OF THE CHIEF ASTRONOMER 803 



SESSIONAL PAPER No. 25a 



Description op the Specimens 



TERTIARY. 



2 & la. 



-^rr PlCEA COLUMBIENSIS, n. Sp. 



25U 



This plant is represented by two parts — fragments of stems and cones. 



(250) 

 The cone — -^ is represented by a single, but beautifully preserved cast 



(Plate I), from which the following characters may be drawn: — 



Cone narrowly ovate or conical, 2-3 x 5 cm.; the scales 0-6 x 14 cm. the margins 

 conspicuously but finely dentate. 



The fragments of stem are obviously from the terminal portions of branches 

 of some coniferous trees, and from the character of the leaf scars, they are to be 

 referred to the genus Picea. While these branches are not connected with the 

 cones in any way, nor do they even occur in the same blocks of matrix, never- 

 theless they are from the same beds, and in the absence of any other representa- 

 tive of the genus, it is probably justifiable to conclude that they are of the same 

 species and will be so considered. 



The plant here represented has no living relative with which it may be 

 compared, but the general aspect and structure of the cone would seem to place 

 it without doubt, among the red spruces to the cones of which it bears a strong 

 resemblance with respect to general form and the character of the scales, though 

 the dentate margins of the latter at first suggest affinity with P. nigra. 



Among the fossil representatives of this genus, all the recognized species 

 are of Tertiary age and very few in number. The majority are known through 

 their wood and have been derived from the Pleistocene, but Knowlton (33) has 

 described a species from Kukak Bay, Alaska, under the name of P. harrimani. 

 This is the only North American species which has so far been recognized 

 through its cones only, and an inspection of the figures given shows it to be 

 of a totally different type, approximating, according to Dr. Knowlton, to the 

 existing Alaska spruce — P. sitchensis. The age of this tree is given as Upper 

 Eocene. 



250 1007 



-re-, oi_ t^pt of 1905. Cyperacites haydenii, Lesq. 

 lb. Si 3b, 4, bb. 



This species is one of those problematical forms, concerning which it seems 

 extremely difficult to obtain sufficiently comprehensive data to admit of a fully 

 reliable diagnosis which will establish its character beyond doubt. All the 

 specimens so far figured, represent fragments only, and so poorly preserved as 

 to make adequate description impossible. So far as may be judged from the 

 figures given at various times, as well as the material which has passed through 

 my hands, the leaf seems to have been a somewhat delicate one, in consequence 

 of which the essential characters have been but poorly preserved. That it was a 

 monocotyledon of some sort is quite evident, but it will not be possible to place 

 it more exactly until more perfect material is found, and the name commonly 



25a — vol. iii- — 52 



