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John Day Fossil Beds National Monument View of the Painted Hills (Photo by Sue Anderson)

SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTION OF SPECIES.


Family OLEACEÆ.

PHYLLITES sp.

Pl. XVII.

The recent material from Cherry Creek contains the single fragment figured, which is just sufficient to show that a leaf of immense size was present in these beds. It is a segment, evidently from near the middle of the blade, showing a width of at least 22 cm. Apparently little or none of the margin is retained.

So little of this leaf is preserved that it is impossible to conjecture as to its affinity.

Locality.—Cherry Creek, Crook County, Oregon. Collected by Knowlton and Merriam, July, 1901.

FRAXINUS INTEGRIFOLIA Newb.

FRAXINUS INTEGRIFOLIA Newb., Proc. U. S. Nat. Mus., Vol. V, p. 509. 1883; Later Extinct Floras, p. 128, Pl. XLIX, figs. 1—3, 1898.

This species is represented in all the collections from Bridge Creek by a large number of examples which agree exactly with Newberry's types. When the lower surface of the leaves is exposed the nervation shows clearly, but when the upper surface is the one exposed it is impossible to detect a trace of the nervation. This shows conclusively that the leaves were very thick and coriaceous. The upper surface is also minutely wrinkled, as would be the case with a thick, leathery leaf. From these considerations I am inclined to doubt the correctness of referring them to Fraxinus, but for the present they may be so retained.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon (U. S. Nat. Mus., Nos. 7062, 7090) and Maj. Charles E. Bendire (U. S. Mus., Nos. 7062, 7090).

FRAXINUS DENTICULATA. Heer?

FRAXINUS DENTICULATA Heer? Newberry, Later Extinct Floras, p. 128, Pl. XLIX, fig. 6, 1898.

More or less doubt still attaches to this form.

Locality.—Bridge Creek, Grant County, Oregon. Collected by Rev. Thomas Condon.

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