HYDRANGRA BENDIREI (Ward) Knowlton.
Pl. IX, figs. 6, 7.
HYDRANGRA BENDIREI (Ward) Knowlton in Merriam, Univ.
Cal., Bull. Dept. Geol., Vol. II, No. 9, p. 309, 1901.
Marsilea Bendirei Ward, Fifth Ann. Rept. U. S.
Geol. Surv., p. 446, 1885.
Porana Bendirei (Ward) Lesquereux, Proc. U. S.
Nat. Mus., Vol. XI, p. 16, Pl. VIII, fig. 4, 1888.
Sterile flowers of large size; calyx lobes of firm
texture, broadly obovate, oval, or nearly circular in shape,
considerably overlapping, obtuse and rounded at apex, truncate or
slightly narrowed at the sessile base; nervation strong, consisting of
some six or eight nerves of equal strength, the central one passing
apparently to the tip of the calyx lobes and having two or three
branches at various distances which anastomose with it some distance
below the apex; other nerves diverging and joining by broad loops with
several series of smaller loops outside; nervilles producing quite large
irregularly quadrangular areas in which there are often free veins.
Four more or less perfect examples of this
exceedingly interesting species have been found. The original specimen
is nearly 4 cm. by 3 cm. in size, the large sepals being 2 cm. long and
1.5 cm. broad. The next discovered specimen was obtained by Dr. John C.
Merriam in 1900. It is not quite perfect, but has the nervation very
well preserved. The sepals are about 2 cm. long and nearly as broad.
The two remaining examples were obtained by myself in 1901.
The original specimen, as may be noted under the
synonymy, was first tentatively referred to Marsilea, and was later
placed under Porana by Lesquereux, who correctly recognized its nature.
Lesquereux, however, was in error in supposing that the sepals were
"connate to above the middle." They are undoubtedly free and
overlapping, as shown by the present drawing. (See Pl. IX, fig. 6.) The
example secured by Dr. Merriam is, as already stated, not perfectly
preserved, but as nearly as can be made out, it consists of only three
sepals, although the fourth may be present, concealed under the others.
They are clearly free, however.
The fossil forms referred to Porana consist of the
more or less leathery sepals and are usually five in number. Two species
have been described from the United States by Lesquereux, both coming
from Florissant, Colorado. Porana Speirii a is a five-lobed
connate species, while P. tenuis b has never been figured, but is
described as having the sepals separate to the base. The first is very
distinct from the form under consideration, while the latter can not be
well compared.
On first examining these specimens, especially the
one collected by Dr. Merriam (Pl. IX, fig. 7), they seem to be referable
to a Cornus of the type of C. florida or C. Nuttallii
Aud., but the absence of any marked indication of the flowers in the
center apparently precludes their reference to this genus.
At the suggestion of Mr. Charles Louis Pollard, of
the United States National Herbarium, these fossils were compared with
various species of the genus Hydrangea, and the resemblance between them
and the sterile flowers so characteristic of this genus was so striking
that they have been referred to Hydrangea.
Eight fossil species of Hydrangea have been described
from the European Tertiary, but none of them approach closely to our
form.
Locality.Van Horn's ranch, South Fork of
John Day River, 12 miles west of Mount Vernon, Grant County, Oregon.
Collected by Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Nat. Mus., No. 8515), and by
Dr. John C. Merriam (Pal. Col. Univ. Cal., No. 854). Also obtained from
a gulch half a mile northwest of the Belshaw ranch, the next ranch east
of Van Horn's, by F. H. Knowlton, July, 1901 (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos.
8994, 8995).
a Cret. and Tert. Fl., p. 172, Pl. XXVIII, fig. 15,
1883.
b Idem, p. 173.