DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR FrantO-IX K. Lan-e, Secretary United states geological sur\'ey George Otis SiiiTH. Director Professional P.\per 91 THE LO^^TR EOCEXE FLOEAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA BT EDW-\RD WILBER BERRY WASHINGTON GOVKRKMEXT PRIXTIXG OFFICE 1916 DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Franklin K. Lane, Secretary UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY George Otis Smith, Director Professional Paper 91 THE LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA BY EDWARD WILBER BERRY WASHINGTON GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 1916 CONTENTS. Iiil rodiK'tion 5 Scope of report 5 Area covered by report 6 Outline of geologic history 6 The Midway (?) flora from Earle, Tex 8 Midway formation 8 Study of tlie stratigraphy 8 Character and distribution 8 Local sections 9 Relations of the flora 9 Systematic descriptions 11 Order Urticales 11 Order Platanales 13 Order Ilanales 13 Order Resales 14 Order Myrtales 15 The Wilcox flora 21 Wilcox group 21 Study of the stratigraphy 21 Nomenclature 29 Faunas 30 Character, succession, and areal distribu- tion 33 Strati<;raphi<; relations 36 The plant-bearing outcrops 38 Sections in Mississippi 38 Grenada, Grenada County 38 Oxford, Lafayette County 39 Holly Springs, Marshall County 41 Early Cirove, Marshall County 42 Hurleys, Benton County 42 Potts Camp, Benton County 43 Sections in Tennessee 44 Grand Junction, Fayette County 44 La Grange, Fayette County 45 Pinson, Madison County 46 Henry County 47 Sections in Kentucky 50 Mayfield, Graves County 50 Wickliffe, Ballard County 51 Sections in Arkansas 52 Crowleys Ridge, Clay, (ireene, and Poinsett counties 52 Benton, Saline County 53 Malvern, Hot Spring County 54 Ouachita County 54 Sections in Louisiana 54 Shrevei)ort, Caddo Parish 54 Coushatta, Red River Parish 55 Naborton, De Soto Parish 56 Sections in Texas 57 Old Port Caddo Landing, Harrison County 57 Sabine River, Sabine County 58 Calaveras Oeek, Wilson Coiinty 58 Local distribution of the Wilcox flora 60 Page. The Wilcox flora — Continued. Character and ecology 72 Composition of the flora 72 Physical conditions 133 Correlation 140 Nomenclature 140 Correlation of local sections within the Wilcox group 140 Relation to Cretaceous floras 145 Relation to the Midway ('.') flora 146 Relation to the Claiborne flora 147 Comparison of Wilcox flora with other American Eocene floras 147 Purpose of the comparison 147 Flora of the Raton formation 147 Flora of the Denver formation 148 The Fort Union flora 148 Flora of the Greenland Tertiary 149 Relation to European Eocene floras 149 Distribution of Wilcox plants in other for- mations 153 Systematic descriptions '. 162 Order Pyrenomycetes (V) 162 (Jrder Lyco])odiales 163 Order Filicales ,164 Order Cycadales 169 Order Coniferales 169 Order Graminales 174 Order Aralea 175 Order Arecales 176 Order Scitaminales 181 Order Juglandales 182 Order Myricales 188 Order Fagales 189 Order Urticales 193 Order Proteales 207 Order Aristolocliialos 211 Order Polygonales 212 (Jrder Chenopodiales 213 Order Ranales 214 Order Papaverales 218 Order Resales 219 Order Geraniales 251 Order Sapindales 260 Order Rhamnales 277 Order Malvales 285 Order Parietales 291 Order Thymeleales 296 Order Mvrtales 314 Order Umbellales 327 Order Primulales 332 Order Ebenales 333 Order (Jeiilianales 340 Order Polemoniales 345 Order Peisonalos 346 Order Rubiales 348 Incertae sedis 350 Index 4G7 3 UAlti>'^>' 3 I ILLUSTRATIONS. Page. Plates I-III. Fos.'iil plants from Yoral years of liohl aiul dllico stu(li<^-^ of tlio fussil ])lants of th(< Southoru Coastal Plain and treats of tli(i lowtir Eocono, inplnding IxhIs thought to 1)0 basal Eocoik*. TIk! main body of th(i material oxamiuod comos fnuu Ixwis embraced in the stratigra))hi(^ iiuil known as the Wilcox group; tho remainder was ol)taine(l from strata legarded as a part of the Midway fonuation, although they may ])ossibly be of Wilcox age. The Midway is a typically marin(! series of deposits throughout nearly the whole extent of its outcrop and is consequently poor in plant remains, whereas the Wilcox (-.(miprises littoral and (istuarine sediments over wichi areas and contains one of the most al)undant and varied fossil floras known to science. Both tliese floras are of the greatest importance alike to the geologist and tlie biologist. To the geolo- gist they furnisli for the first time a means for direct paleobotanic- comparisons betwe(!n the nmch disputed jdant-lxuiring formations of the Rocky Mountain ])rovince and the ma- rine Tertiary formations of tlus Atlantic and Gidf waters. To the biologist they furnish ocologic, distributional, and jihylogenetic data of vital bearing upon succeeding and existing floras. Wlien William Ma(dm'(< mad his "Observa- tions on the geology of tiio United States" before the American Philosophical Society in ISOO, he n!f will l)e shown in the subsequent discussion of tlu' Wdcox group. At the maximum of the Wilcox transgression, whicii followed this pe- riod of emergence, most of this area was again submerged, but the whole upper part of the cmbayment was a region of lagoons and shift- ing sands with littorsil and piUustriiie deposits, marine faunas not having been found north of l!ititud<> .33°, while the deposits of Wilcox age extend to latitude 37° at least. THE MIDWAYC?) FLORA FROM EAIU.K, TEXAS. MIDWAY FORMATION. STUDY OF THE STRATIGRAPHY. Interest in the study of the Midway foniiti- tion has been confined wholly to its geology and palcozoology. I know of no mention of fossil plants, aside from lignitic material, except Glenn's ' statement of their occurrence in a cut on tlie Southern Railway just east of Middle- ton, Tenn. With regard to the nomenclature of tlie Mid- way, it is to be noted that Jlilgard - in 1860 divided the Tertiary of that State into Great Northern Lignitic, Claiborne, Jackson, and Vicksburg, the first including as its basal mem- ber the so-caJled Flatwoods clay. Li 1864 Saf- ford •■' proposed the name Porters Creek group for the basal Eocene in west Tennessee. In 1887 Smith and Johnson'' differentiated in southern Alabama three formations, which they named Midway (basal deposits of Mid- way group, later called Clayton limestone), Black Bluff ( =Sucarnoochee), and Naheola or Matthews Landing, retaining them as members of Hilgard's Lignitic group, the Mid- way taking its name from Midway Landing on the west bank of Alabama River in Wilcox County, Ala. In 1894 the paleozoologic studies of Harris ^ led him to propose the term Midway stag(' for these and synchronous deposits in adjoining States. These constitute tlie Mid- wayan stage of Call's correlation paper " ])uh- lished two years later. The dclailed liislory of the study of these deposits, both before and sub- sequent to this date, is not within the province of this sketch of the nomenclature. Tlie Midway is singularly poor in remains of land plants, which abound in subsequent Eocene deposits, especially those of tlie Wilcox and C'laiborne groups, so that the study of the ' Olcnn, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 164, p. 32, 1906. ' Hllgard, E. W., Report on the Reolocy and agrioullure of Mississipjii, pp. 110-111, iK(;n. 'SulTord, J. M., Am, Jour. Sci., 2d ser., vol. 37, p. 3(iS, 1801. •Smith, K. A., and Johnson, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Hull. 4.!, p. is, 18X7. ' Harris, O. D., Arkansas Geol. Survey Ann. Uept. for 1892, vol. 2, pp. X, 0, 22, 1K94: Bull. Am. Paleontology, vol. I, pp. 11-13, 1S96. « IJall, VV. II., U. S. Geol. Survey Eighteenth Ann. Rcpt., pt, 2, table opp. p. 334, 1S9S. 8 flora (•ontrit)iites but little to the elucidation of the Midway dei^osits, much less than it does to any other Tertiary horizon of southeastern Nortli .-Vnierica. CHARACTER AND DISTRIBUTION. Except for tiiin exposures of the Black Mingo formation carrying Midway invertebrates in the Santee en called Porters Creek clay. They consist of more than 200 feet of dark clays, with some limestones and glauconitic sands. In Marshall County, Ky., the belt of outcro])piiig deposits of Midway age, which is 10 to 12 miles in width, turns westward, crossing Ohio River into Puhuski County, 111. It is cut out by the MIDWAY FORMATION. 9 Mississippi miuI Cache Rivor bottoms or cov- crod witii ]M('ist(U'i'ii(> deposits west of tlie Illinois area, altiioiigii Sliepard idenlilies it in at least one well in southeastern Missouii. Tlie Midway deposits reappear in Independence County, Ark., from wliicii locality they may be traced southwestward with hut few lireaks. In the vicinity of Little Kock tlu> Midway, wliich fiiere consists of calcareous sands and fossilil'er- ous limestones, (iv(>rlaps tlie Cretaceous and rests on tlu^ Paleozoic. The Midway is extensively developed from Arkansas southwest\\arrous concretions. According to l)und)le ' if ex- tends an undetermined distance into Mexico. There is an erosional miconfornuty at the base from Georgia to the Kio Grande, although it is largely obscured by the lithologic similarity between the U]^per Cretaceous and tlie basal Eocene. LOCAL SECTIONS. As has been already stated, the Midway in its tj'pe area contains few if an}^ determinable plant remains, altliough lignitic inclusions are widespread and carl)onaccous clays and less finely divided remains of former vegetation testify to the nearness of .shores covered with a luxuriant plant growth. All the determinable Midway ( ?) plants have conu^ from a single outcrop near Earle, in Bexar County, Tex., and only two local sections are here presented. At Earle," about 11 miles du(? south of San Antonio, in a guUy just south of Medina River, a hard calcareous sandstone carrying fossil leaves has been quarried. This rock is the indurated portion of a greenish-gray cross- bedded, rather line sand formation. The whole thickness is exposed for more than 40 feet, but the country is flat and exposures are rare and disconnected. iVlong Medina River, about o\ miles west of the leaf-bearing out- crop, at a slightly lower stratigraphic horizon, ' Dumble, E. T., Science, new .ser., vol. Xi, pp. 232-2:!l, 1«11. - 1 am indebted to L. W. Stephenson and Alexander I>eussen for col- lections and notes on this locality. Deussen has collected Midway invertebrates, ;ind in his opinion tlierc is little >loubt of tlu^ Midway age of the plant-bearing bed at Earle. Tiie otdy other section of de|)osits of Midway age wortii mentioning in I lie present comiection is idong the Soutliern Railway _' miles (\isl of Middlclon, in Hardeman County, Temi. \\ tliis locality a low exposure in the Po/tcrs Creek clay shows about 10 feet of yellowisli weatliered, slightly glauconitic sand, grading down into ti frial)le sandy micaceous di'ab clay with ferruginous lilms, thtit carries botli broken Iciives and casts of invertebrtites. The dral) clay is exposed for about 4 ftn-t. None of the leaves are specifically determinable, but at least two s])ecies of I'^icus and sevend other genera are re])resented. .Vboiil half a mile west of this outcrop ii siindy micaceous glauconitic clay of tlu^ same :ige conttuns a considerable Midway faima. RELATIONS OF THE FLORA. The flora thus far found in Midway deposits is so extremely scanty that it affords little basis for (>xtcndcd comparisons with other floras of about the same age or those im- mcdiattdy older and younger. However, as the protiability of the discovery of extensive |)lant-bearing deposits of Midway age in the future is slight, certain conclusions may be deduced from the present collections. Only 10 species are described in the systematic section devoted to this flora, all leaves of dicotyledont)Us plants, including representa- tives of the families Moracejp, Platanacea>, Lauracea\ Anoiuu-ca', Papilionacea> and Com- liretacca'. Tlie family Moracea? is the most abundant , four species and fragments of other unidt'iitiliable f(_>rms having been obtained at different localities. When comparisons are made with the immediiitely antecedent flortis of the Upper (^retaceous in this and other areas a very great discontinuity is at once apparent, in spite of the smallness of the known Midway (0 flora. The areal distribution of the Upper Cretace- ous (lc])osits of southeastern North Anu'i'ica has been studied in detail during the last six or seven years by Mr. L. W, Stephenson, who is an experienced and assiduous collector of fossil plants. I have also been over most of the area, so that the failure to discover fossil plants can not be attributed to th(> lack of careful and 10 LOWEK EOCl.NK IM.OKAS OF SUL'TIIEASTERX XDRTII AMERICA. intollisent work. The initial Tppcr (Yotacoous deposits ill this area, represented by tlie Wood- bine sand of northeastern Texas and the Tus- caloosa formation of northeastern Mississippi and western and central Alabama, have fur- nislieil an abundant flora, which 1 have re- cently monographiMJ. The succeeding Eutaw formatit)n or its equivalents' has furnished a considerable flora in central Alabama and western Geor than 2,000 feet of marine strata, represented by the Selma and Ripley formations or their equivalents, which are practically without plant remains. The Selma is a lithologic rather than a chronologic unit and represents an immense deposit of argil- laceous chalk in a region where at that time terrigenous materials appear to have been re- duced to a minimum. This in a measure accounts for the absence of fossil plants, al- though the waters are known to have been shallow, for certainly none have ever been dis- covered. I have never seen the trace of a leaf impression or a piece of petrified wood, and even small lignitized sticks are extremely rare. The Ripley deposits at many places exhibit the appearance of near-shore sediments of terrig- enous material and are commonly somewhat carbonaceous, but they have not yielded a representative flora. In western Georgia and in western Tennessee, where they most mark- edly show a shallowing of the Cretaceous sea, some few determinable plants liave l)een found. These plants show some aflinities with those of the upper part of the Montana group of the Rocky Mountain ])rovince but not the slightest hint of Laramie adlnities. The conclusion seems reasoiial)I(', in spite of the negative char- acter of the evidence, that the Laramie flora is unrepresented in southeastern Xortli America. In otlu^r words, the emerged area in this region available for study at the present time was also above the sea during at least a j)art of the time when the Laramie deposits were being laiil down in the Rocky Mountain province. This fact is of greatest importance, for lliough there is an evident physical break between the Rip- ley deposits and those of the Midw.iy, this break does not show intrinsic evidence of any great magnitude. The faunas, however, which are so much more representative^ than the floras in both the Ripley and tiie Midway, are decidetUy difl'crent, and the little floral evi- dence available indicates a very great floral change between the Ripley and the Midway. If there were no corroborative evidenc(\ though, as I have just stated, there is considerable, I would be obligetl to predicate an interval of great magnituile to account for the evolution and intermigration of floras which intervened between the Ripley and (lie earliest plant- bearing Eocene. There is then little in common lietween the Midway (?) flora of Earle, Tex., and the Cre- taceous flora. The genera Ficus, Platanus, Cinnamomum, Asimina, and Laurus occur in both, but they are all long-lived genera, which appear at the base i>f the Upper Cretaceous and continue to the present time, and all but the genus Asimina have a very large number of species. None of these Midway ( ? ) .species occur in the Cretaceous of this or any other area, in spite of the fact that both the L^pper Cretaceous flora in this area as woU as that of the Midwaj' (?) contain plants of similar low coastal habitats and warm humid climatic conditions. Only 2 of the 10 Midway (?) species are new, and the genera to which they are referred are not even represented in described Cretaceous or Eocene floras. The other S species have been found also in other places. The following species are found in the overlying deposits of the Wilcox group: Ficus denveriana, Ficus sp., and Terminalia Tiilgardiana. The follow- ing species occur in the Raton formation of the Raton Mesa coal field in Colorado and New Mexico: Ficus occidentalis, Ficus denveriana, Platanus aceroidrs latifolia, and Tcrminnlia Iril- f/ardiana. Five of tlie 8 species or ."JO per cent of the known Midway (?) flora occur in the Denver formation of the Denver Basin of Colorado. These are Ficus denveriana, Ficus occidenfaJis, Cinnamomum affine, Laurus wardiana, and Asimina eocenica. This fact is of great ini])ort- ance, as some geologists dispute (lie Eocene age of the Denver formation, but no one can dis- pute the age of the Midway (?) plants, which are underlain l)y beds containing an uncpies- lion)d)l(' marine fauna ami these outcrop on tiie landward side of all the Tertiary leaf- bearing dej)osits of southeastern North Ain(>r- ica from Cii.'il 1 .'ilioorhcc ivivcr lo (lie mouth of the Ohio and soulliwestward to the Rio Grande. SYSTEMATIC DESCHIl'TKIXS. 11 The Midway ( '.) flora furnislics hiil lucagor (lata for conjccturi's ri-ijanling the pliysical coiulitioiis undor ■wliicli it e;r(>w in soutlicin Toxas. The plants arc all Idrins whose nioilerii i-ei)resentatives ilourisii in a warm humid cli- mate in low-lying coastal lantls, and such evi- dence as may he deduced from so few species indicates that temperatures wei-e iiigliei' (luring the initial Eocene than during the tleposition of the Upper Cretaceous in this region. The European floras most similar to that of the Midway ( are those, likewise poorly represented in marine deposits, of the Montian and Thanetian stages in the so-called Paris Basin in northern France, Belgium, and south- eastern England. SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS. Order UKTIC ALES. Family MORACEa;. Genus POUROUMA .\ublet. PouKOUMA TEXAXA Berry, u. sp. Plates I :ui(l II. Description. — Leaves of large size, trilo])at(^, petiolat<3. Maximum size observed, 21 conti- metors in length by 20 centimeters in witlth from tip to tip of the lateral lobes. Margins entire, slightly undulate. Lobes conical and pointed, directed upward, separated by broad, shallow roundetl sinuses whicli reach less than one-third the distance to the base. Base broadly (truncately) roimded, the margins curving dow^lwar(l at the petiole. Petiole long and stout. Primaries three in numlx^r, stout, diverging at angles of about 30° from the extreme ])aso. In some specimens the outer laminw join the lateral primaries some distance above tlutir base. Midrib stoutest of the three, straiglit. Laterals nearly straight, more or less curved outward, distad. Sec- ondaries numerous, thin, approximately ])ai-- allel, regularly spaced, branching from iIk; primaries at angles of about 35° to 4.5°, ratluir straight in their course, abru[)tly arcliing at- tlie margin to join the secondary next abov<*. The mididations of the margins of the lolies follow closely these camptodromc arches of the secondaries. Tertiaries thin, mostly ])ercur- rent. Texture coriaceous. These large, rigid, coriaceous leaves are striking objects and strongly suggest a rela- tionship with those protean forms from the tapper Cretacitous rc.fei'riMl t-o th Les(iucroux, Leo, The Tprti:iry flora, p. 237, pi. .39, figs. 2-4, 1S7S. * Le.squereux, Leo, The flora of the Dakota group: U. .S. Oeol. Survey Mon. 17, p. 183, pi. 31), fig. 5; pi. 31, figs. 2, 3; pi. 32; pi. 33, figs. 1-4, IS92. '' lleer, Oswald, Flora tertiaria Helvetia;, vol. 3, p. 35, pi. 109, fig. 7, 1859. 1: LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NOKTll AMERICA. Lauru3 utaf.ensis. Lesquereux, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc. vol. 11, p. 24, 1888. Ficus goldiana. Lesquereux, idem, p. 25. (Specimen No. 2471.) Ficus denveriana. Cockerell, Torreya, vol. 10, p.224, IIIH). Description. — This spocics was described by Lesquereux from the Denver formation and was bixsed at first on the large h^af shown in figure 5 of Phile XXXII 1 of ■Tlie Tertiary flora." Subsequently leaves of all sizes and .showing a considerable range of variation were referred to this species. It is abunchmt in the western liaK of the Mississippi end)aynient tu-ea and may be recharacterized as follows: Leaves of vari- able size, ranging from 6 to 15 centimeters in length and from 2.25 to 8.5 centimeters in maximum width, which is at or more com- monly below the middle. Broadly ovate in out- line and with a somewhat extended acuminate tip and a broadly rounded, slightly decurrent base. Margins entire. Texture coriaceous. Mich'ib stout, prominent on the lower surface of the leaf. Secondaries of medium size, numer- ous, opposite to jilternate, close or somewhat remotely placed, generally subparaUel, diverg- ing from the midrib at angles of about 45°, camptodrome in the marginal region. The lower pair may be opposite and somewhat stouter, with outside lateral camptoch-ome branches, thus simulating a palmately tri- veined leaf. This is true of some of the Louisiana material as well as of some of the type materiid from the Denver formation, l)ut in general tlie secondaries are idl simdar and subparaUel. This species makes its appearance in the Midwaj' (?) of Texas as well as the basal Eocene of the Rocky Mountain province. It continues throughout the Wilcox in Arkansas and Louisiana, i)ut has not been detected in the Eastern Gulf area. Occurrence. — Midway (?) formation, near Earle, Bexar County, Tex. (collected by Alex- ander Dcussen). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Ficu-s occiDENTALis (Lcsqucreux) Lesquereux. Dombeyopms occidentalis. Lesquereux, U. S. Geol. and Geog. Survey Terr. Ann. Rept. for 1872, p. 380, 187:5. Ficut occidentalis. Lesquereux, Tlie Tertiary flora, p. 200, pi. :J2, fis. 4, 1878. Lesquereux, Harvard Coll. Mus. Comp. Zool. I5ull., vol. IG, p. .50, 1888. Description. — Leaves of large size, orbicular in general outline, with a luuTowed and pro- duced tip. Base truncate or slightly cordate. Length about 12 centimeters. Maximum width, at or below the middle, about 8.5 centi- meters. Margins entire. Texture coriaceous. Primaries stout, jjrominent, tiiree in number, diverging from the l)ase of tiie leaf, the midrib being the stoutest. Secondiuies numerous, stout, camptodrome. Tertiaries thin but well mai'keil, percurrent, foi'king near the middle. The type of this species came from the Den- ver formation at Golden, Colo., and was originally referretl to Dombeyopsis by Les- quereux because of its supposed resemblance to the existing genus Dombeya Cavanailles of the Sterculiaceie. It resembles Ficus filinfoUa and also Ficus harrisiana, which was described by Hollick from the WUcox Eocene of Louisiana. It is not uncommon in the Raton formation of New Mexico. It occurs in a fragmentary con- dition in the Midway (?) collections from Te.xas and is also a member of the succeeding WUcox flora. Occurrence. — Midway ( ?) formation, Earli', Bexar County, Tex. (collected by /Uexander Deussen and L. W. Stephenson). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Ficus sp. Description. — Leaves of large size and ample width, either entire or more or less trilobat(>. Length at least 20 centimeters. Maximum width about the same as the length. Margin not preserved. Leaf substance subcoriaceous. Venation open, not stout, tripalmate from at or near the base. Lateral primaries of the same cahber as the midrib. Secondaries suboppo- site and subparaUel. Tertiaries numerous, regular, subparaUel, percurrent. Areolation open, largely quadrangular. Tliis large-leafed sjjecies is represented only l)y fragments. Though it appears to represent a new species it is too incomplete for specific characterization. It is, however, identical with simdar fragments described by me from the HoUy Springs sand of the Wilcox group at IloUy vSprings, Miss. It res(Mul)les a numlier of existing and fossil large-leafed species of the genus Ficus, but it is not certainly a Ficus, altiiough it is clearly a member of the family Moracese. It also suggests the alhed genus Cecropia Linne, which has from .U) to 40 existing species in tropical Amei'ica, wliere they range from Mexico to Brazil. Fttingshausen referred a fossil form fi-oni the Aquitanian of SYSTEMATIC DESCRIPTIONS. 13 Bohemia to this genus, describing it us Cccropia heerii,^ which, in so far as comparisons are pos- sible, is very close to the form under discussion. iVnother species has been described by this author from the same horizon, and lie also records- a species of Cccropia from the lower Eocene (Ypresian) of .Vlum Bay, Kngland, which unfortunately was never describcul or iigurcd. This species is represented by fragments both in the Midway (0 of Texas and tlie Holly Springs sand of the Wilcox group of Mississippi. Occurrence. — Midway ( ?) formation, Earle, Bexar County, Tex. (collect cd by Alexander Deussen). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Order PLAT AN ALES. Family PLATANACEiE. Genus PLATANUS LinnO. Platanus aceroides latifolia I\Jiowlton. Platanus aceroidis latifolia. Knowlton, U. S. Ciool. Survey Prof. Paper iMS.). Description. — This variety of the wiilespread Platanus aceroides of the European and Amer- ican Tertiary is similar to the type but is pro- portionately wider and less elongated, and the margin is less prommently toothed, the teeth being numerous, small, and rather l)lunt. It is represented by several incomplete specimens in the Midway ( ?) collection, all of wliich agree admirably with the complete and abundant material from the Raton formation of New Mexico and Colorado, on which Knowlton based this new variety. Occurrence. — Midway (?) formation, Earle, Bexar County, Tex. (collected by Ale.xander Deussen). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Order RANALES. Family LATJRACEffi. Genus CINNAMOMUM Blume. CiNNAMOMUM AFFiNE Lesciucreu.x. Plate III, figure 2. Cinnamomum ajjim'. Lesquereu.x, U. S. Gaol, and Geog. Survey Terr. Ann. Kept, for 1869, p. 196; idem for 1872, p. 383; idem for 1874, p. 401. Lesquereux, The Tertiary flora, p. 219, pi. 37, figs. 1-5, 7, 1878. Description. — Leaves ovate-lanceolate in out- line, somewhat variable in form and decidedly 'Ettingshausen.C.von, Die tossile Flora desTertiiir-Becken.s von Bilin: K. Akad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. CI., Dcnkschr., vol. 26, pt. 1, p. 82, pi. 27, fig. 7, 1867. » Roy. Soc. London Proc, vol. 30, p. 232, 1.S80. variable in size. Apex and base acuminate. Primaries three, slightly suprabasilar. Dimen- sions of Texas specimen: Length, 8.5 centi- meters; maximum width, in lower half of leaf, 2..") centimeters. This species was describcil by Lesquereux from (ioldcn, Colo., and ('arbou, Wyo., and it appears to be not at idl uncommon in the earlier Eocene of the Rocky Mountain province. It ranges in size to a maximum which led Les- ciuen^u.x to suggest its identity with (Mnua- momuni mississippiense of the Wilco.x group. The species is repn^sented in Texas l)y the single fragmentary specimen ligureil, which is identical in every particular with the original specimen collected in the West.'' Cinnamo- mum leaves are notoriously polymorphous, ami the smaller leaves of this species may be com- pared with those of the widespread European species Ciii na in oinuin la nceola t u in , L '. scheuchzeri, and C. polymorphum. Occurrence. — Midway (?) formation, Earle, Bexar County, Te.x. (collected by ^Vlexander Deussen). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Genus LAURUS Linne. Laurus wauuiana Knowlton. LauTiis ocolcoides. Le.squereux (not Massalongo, 1858), The Tertiary flora, p. 215, pi. 36, fig. 10, 1878. Laurus Wardiana. Knowlton, U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 152, p. 129, 1898. Description. — Leaves of rather large size, elongate-lanceolate in general outline, taper- ing gradually upward to the acuminate tip. Base narrowly cuneate. Length about 17 centimeters. Maximum width, in the basal haK of the l(>af, about 3 centimeters. Margins entire, more or less slightly undulate. Texture coriaceous. Petiole short and stout. Midrib stout, prominent on the lower surface of the leaf. Secondaries relatively thin, numerous, evenly spaced, subparallel. They diverge from the midrib at angles of about 5.")° and are rela- tively little curved until the marginal region is reached, where they are camptodrome. Tertiaries ()b.solete. Both secondary and ter- tiary venation is obscured by the fact that my material shows only the upper surface of leaves. Notwithstanding the coriaceous leaf sub- stance, both systems of venatioii may have been well marked on the under side of the leaf, as is so common in modern Lauracese. ' LKiquereu.x, Leo, The Tertiary flora, pi. 37, fig. 4. 14 LOWEK EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Thiri species is rare. It was descrihecl by Lesquereux from a single specimen found in tlie Denver formation at Golden, Colo. The Te.xas material is scant}' and broken but, for- timately, shows all parts of the leaf, which are in exact agreement with the type. As conimonlj- u.sed by palcobotanisls the term Laurus represents a form genus inherited from tlie days when its modern use was not restricted. Tlie fo.ssil species of Laurus are not doseh' related to the existing species of Laurus but represent tlie modern genera Persea, Oreo- daphne, Mespilodaplme, Xectandra, and others. In my discussion of the succeeding Wilco.x flora, where ample materials were available for study, I have endeavored to refer the numerous species of Lauracese to their proper genera but do not think it wise to attempt any closer generic determination of this species. It greatly resembles a nmuber of existing tropical American species of Oreodaphne and Nectandra. Occurrence. — Midway ( ?) formation, Earle, Bexar County, Tex. (collected by L. W. Ste- phenson). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. Family ANONACE^ai. Genus ASIMINA Adanson. AsiMiNA EOCENiCA LesquerciLX. Asimina eocenica. Lesquereux, U. S. Gaol, and Geog. Survey Terr. Ann. Kept, for 1872, p. 3S7, 1873. Lesquereux, The Tertiary flora, p. 251, pi. 43, figs. 5-8, 1878. Description. — Lesquereux in L878 described the species as follows : Leaves very entire, lanceolate, equally gradually taper- ing downward to a short, thick petiole and Tipward to a point; nervation pinnate, camptodrome. I liave seen a large number of specimens of those leaves, varying in size from 8 to 15 centimeters long and from 2 J to 4 centi- meters broad in tlie middle, where they are tlie widest, and there oblong, gradually narrowing upward and down- ward. The consistence of the leaves is somewhat tliick but not coriaceotis; tlic midrib thick, the lateral veins numerous, parallel, all under tlie same angle of divergence of 50°, slightly curved in traversing the lamina, generally simple or branching oncre toward the borders, which they follow in a series of bows, formed by anastomoses with veinlets or brandies. The nervilles are distinctly marke, pi. 44, 1878. Iliillick, in Harris, (J. 1). and N'calch, .\. (!., .\ pre- liminary rcjiort on the geology of Loui.-iiana, j). 282, pi. 3!(, 18!J!). Knovvllon, in Lindgron, U. S. Cieol. Survey I'rof, Paper 73, pp. GO, Ul, 1911. Magnolia lauri/olia. Losquoreux, .\m. I'liilos. Soc. Trans., vol. 13, p. 421, pi. 20, fig.s. 2, 3, l.SGO; U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, vol. 11, p. 2'), 1888. Quercus Lgrllii. Lescjuereiix (not lleer), .\m. Pliilos. Soc. Trans., vol. 13, p. 415 (part), pi. 17, fig. 3 (not figs. 1 and 2). Discriptlon. — Leaves medium to large, oblong-ovate in general outlin(\ A])e\ not preserved in any of the material. Base nar- rowly or broacUy cuneate. Leiigth ranges from 15 to 25 centimeters. Maximum width, at or aliove the middle, ranges from 4 to 10 centimeters. Margins entire, more or less irregularly imdulatiC. Leaf substance thin but coriaceous. Only fragments of the petiole jjreserved; it was evidently short antl very stout. Midrib stout, more or less curved, prominent on tlie lower surface of the leaf. Secondaries relativ(dy thin, numerous, sub- parall(d, aljout 20 rather regidarly spaced, op- l)osite to alternate pairs. They diverge from the midrib at angles of 40° to 70°, averaging about 50°, curving slightly and regidarly. Camptodrome close to the margins. The ty])e material of this species was col- lected by llilgard from the Wilco.x at Hurleys, Benton County, Miss., and first figured by Les- quereux in the second Arkansas report. It can not be foimd in the remains of the Hd- gard collection at the University of Mississippi. WTien Lesquereux came to describe and illus- trate this material he differentiated two spe- cies, although there is obviously only one form represented. The species is abundant in the Midway( *) of Texas, rather widespread in the Wdcox, and occurs in the lower Eocene of Fishers Peak, N. Mex. It has also l)e(>n re- corded from the Fort L^nion formation of Mon- tana and the Eocene of Lassen County, Cal. In the small collection from Earle that has been available for study there are .ten frag- mentary buli characteristic specimens of this species. Occurrence. — Midway {'() formation, lOarle, Be.xar County, Tex. (collected by Alexander Deussen and L. W. Stephenson). Collection. — U. S. National Museum. PLATES I-III. 5024:!°— 16 2 17 PLATE I. Page. Figures 1, 2. Pourouma tcxana Horry, from Midway (?) formation ;it Earle, Tex 11 18 U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 91 PLATE i FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE MIDWAY (?) FORMATION OF EARLE, TEX. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 91 PLATE II FOSSIL PLANT FROM THE MIDWAY (?) FORMATION OF EARLE, TEX. PLATE II. rage. Pourouma irxana Berry, leaf from Midway (?) formation at Earle, Tex.; outline restored , 11 19 PLATE III. Page Figure 1. Terminalia hilgardiana (Leaquereux) Berry Figure 2. Cinnamomum affine Lesquereux Figure 3. Dolichiles deussnti Derr\- All the specimens are from the Midway (?) formation at Earle, Tex. 20 U. S. GEOLOGICAL SUFiVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER l:« 'H tl"' . D., Second report of a geological reconnaissance of the middle and soulhem couiuies of .\rkansa.s, pp. 317-319, pi. 6, 1860. ' Lesquereux, Leo, Am. Philos. Soc. Trans., new ser., vol. 13, pp. 411-430, pi. 14-22, 1SI!9. WILCOX GROTTP. 23 Lesqucreux. Present work. Juglans safforduma (type i Juglans saffordiaiia. Magnolia hilcardiana Losqiiereux l Magnolia laurifolia (typo) '.[ [Terminalia hilganliana. Magnolia lesleyana (typo) Terminalia lesloyana. Magnolia ovali.s (type) | Magnolia cordifolia (tyjie) .' [^ "mbretum oralis. Asiniina leiocarpa (type) AKimina leiocarpa. Phyllites truncatus (typo) Miinu80i).s oolignitiea. Tliese species he regarded as most intimately ' 'Geology of TcMiiiessee. " Lesquereux's article related to the Miocene flora of Europe, alt lioiigii of 1859 on the plants from Somerville, wliich Hilgard had clearly recognized tlieir position had not been illustrated, was reproduced and in the Eocene section of Mississippi. illustrated,' and three species were described Tlie same year that Lesquereux's report wms but not figured from La Grange, Tenn. The pubhshed saw the publication of Sallord's following forms were listed: LesquereiLx. Present work. Laurus rarolinensi.s Midiaux Nectandra lancifolia. Prunus caroliniana (Midiaux) Inga mississippiousis. Querciis myrtifolia (Mirhaux) Sophoi-a lesquereuxi. Fagus ferruginea (Michaux) (?). Salix densinervis (Lesquereux) Eugenia densinervia. Quorcus crassiner\-is (Unger) Dryophyllum tennesseensis. Quercus saffordi (Lesquereux) Banksia saffordi. Andromeda duliia (Lesquereux) Diospyros brachysepala. Andromeda vaecinifolia' afRnis (Lesquereux) Cassia glenni. Elseagnus imequalis (Lesquereux) Chrysobalanus inwqualis. Sapotacites americanus ( Lesquereux) Bumelia americana. Salix wortheni Lesquereux Myrcia wortheni. Ceanothus meigsii Lesquereux Zizyphus meio-sii. Juglans saffordiana Lesquereux Juglans saffordiana. R. PL Loughridge, in his report on the Jackson purchase region,^ reproduced Lesquereux's list from Safford's -Geology of Tennessee," with copies of the figures, poorly done and somewhat reduced. Tliis list is as foUows: Lesquereux. Present work. Quercus crassinervis Dryopliy Hum tennesseensis. Quercus saffordii Banksia saffordi. Quercus myrtifolia Sopliora lesquereuxi. Andromeda vaccinifolise afilnis Cassia glenni. Andromeda dubia DiospyTos brachysepala. Prunus caroliniana Inga mississippicnsis. Elseagnus ina;qualis Chrysobalanus inaeqtialis. Sapotacites americanus Bumelia americana. Salix? densinervis Etigenia densinervia. Quercus lyellii Nectandra lancifolia. Fagus ferruginea (fruit) (?). Loughridge also hsted ^ the following forms from Wickliffe in Ballard County and Boaz in Graves County, Ky. These were based on liis collections and the determinations were made by Lesquereux. Lesquereux. Present work. Wickliffe, Ballard County, Ky.: Myrica elsenoides Myrica elseanoides.* Myrica copeana Cupanites louglu-idgii. FicuB multinervis Ficus myrtifolius. Sapindiis falcifolius Ficus wilcoxensis. • Saflord, J. M., Geology of Tennessee, pp. 425-42S, pi. K, 1869. - Loughridge, R. H., Report on thegeological and economic features of the Jackson's purchase region, pp. 196-198, Kentucky Ocol. Survey, 1888. "Op. cit.,p. 198. * This specimen comes from Boaz and not from WicklilTe, as Loughridge states. 24 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Lesquereux. rresent -work. Wickliffe. Ballard County, Ky.— Continued. Sapindus dubius Mixed forms bearing this label and number represent Engelhardtia ettingshauseni. Exostema pseudocaribseum, Banisteria wil- coxiana. Ficus wilcoxensis, and Carapa eolignitica. Sapindus angiistifolius Sapindus missisFippiensis. Laurus califomica? Mespilodaphne pseudoglauca. Quercus saffordii Banksia saffordi. Juglans rugosa Juglans schimperi. Salix an?iista Sapindus linearitolixis. Salix media Xot recognized . Ailanthus leaf fragment Not afterward referred lo and specimen lost. Boaz, Graves Coxmty. Ky.: Sapindus falcifolius Ficus -n-ilcoxensis. Quercus ner\-ifolia Banksia saffordi. Quercus cuspidata Dr>opliyllum tennesseensis. Quercus califomica Mespilodaphne pseudoglauca. Ficus multiner\^is Ficus myrtifolius. In 1888 a large number of determinations made by Lesquereux were arranged by F. H. Klnuwltoa for publication in the Proceedings of the United States National Museum.' The Louo'hriilge collections are briefly described, but only the new forms are figured. The Wicklifl'e list was given as follows : Lesquereux. Present work. Myrica elseanoides n. sp Myrica ela;anoides.= Sapindus angustifolia Lesquereux Sapindus mississippiensis. Sapindus dubius Unger Specimens bearing this label and number represent Engel- hardtia ettingshauseni, Exostema pseudocaribasum. Banis- teria wilcoxiana, Ficus wilcoxensis, and Carapa eolignitica. MjTica copeana Lesquereux Cupanites loughridgii. Juglans rugosa Lesquereux (No. 2490) Juglans schimperi. Salix angusta Alexander Braxm Sapindus linearifolius. Salix media Heer (Ko. 2593) Not recognized. Quercus saffordii Lesquereux Banksia saffordi. Porana sp Not a fossil but a ferruginous stain. The Boaz Ust now included the following species: Lesquereux. Present work. Ficus multiner\-is Ficus myrtifolius. Laurus califomica Mespilodaphne pseudoglauca. Sapindus falcifolius Alexander Braun Ficus wilcoxensis. Quercus cf. Q. cuspidata ( Rossmassler) Dryophyllum tennesseensis. Unger (No. 2573). Quercus neriifolia Alexander Braun Banksia saffordi. In the late eighties and early nineties Mr. The rest remained imtouched in the National L. C. Johnson made several collecting trips Museum until I took up the elaboration of these through Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana floras. and sent in some fossil plant material from Lesquereux's notes on the plants from the following locahties: Hatchie River, near McLees and Campbell's quarry were also ar- Shandy, in Hardeman Coimty, Tenn. ; Baughs ranged for publication by F. H. Knowlton and Bridge, Wolf River, Fayette County, Tenn.; appeared in volume 11 of the Proceedings of Vaughans, near Lamar, Benton County, Miss. ; the United States National Museum. Waterford and Early Grove, Marshall County, The plants from McLees, which is 2 mdes Miss.; McLees, near Mansfield, Ue Soto Par- north of Mansfield, La., are few m number and ish, La. ; and Campbell's quaiTy on Cross poorly preserved in a lithified ferruginous sand- Bayou, Caddo Parish, La. stone. Lesquereux => identified the foUowmg Only the material from the last two locahties forms : seems to have been studied by Lesquereux. .This specimen is from Boa.. > U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. U, pp. 11-13, 1888. ' V. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 11, p. 25, 1888. WILCOX GROUP. 25 Lesquercux. Present work. Magnolia laurilolia P'^li''^ ""^'^^--^ (^'"- ^^-^^ iTorniinalia hilgiirdiana (No. 805). Ficus spectabilLs Ficu.s deuveriana. Aralia fragment Vralia iiotala. Platarmsguilk'lmsB Not numbered in report nor contained in the National Museum collection. From C:ini])l)i'll's (|Uiirry, Cross Luke, Caddo Parisli, La., lie gives the following list; ' Lesquereu.^. Pre.sent work. Sapindu.s angiistifolius Lesquereux Sapindus formosus. SapLnduB caudatus Lesquereux No. 2601 (?). Sapindus coriaceus Lesquereux No. 2G02 (?). Magnolia laurifolia Lesquereux Terminalia hilgardiana. Laiu-us socialis Lesquereux Mespilodaplme pseudoglauca. Laiirus utahensis Lesquereux Firus den veriuna. Rhamnus clebTimi Lesquereux Rhamnus clcbumi. Rhamnus eridani Unger Nectandra laiicifolia. Carya antiqiia Newberry Hicoria antiquorum. Quercus angustiloba Alexander Braun Not determinable. Qtiercus moorii? Lesquereux (?). Ficus goldiana Lesquereux P'icus denveriana. Ficus goldiana var Ficus harrisiana. Ficus spectabilis Lesquereux Ficus denveriana. Pliragmites oeningensis Alexander Braun Not determinable. In Knowlton's account - of the fossil woods pit at Benton, Saline Comity, Ark., and were collected by the /Vrkansas Geological Survey collected by R. E. Call in L891. Call also made two of the new species, Cupresslnoiylon caUi collections from liicks's pit at tliis place, but and Laurinoxylon branneri, appear to have they were not studied at the time (U. S. Geol. come from the Wilcox of Crowleys Ridge m the Survey localities 5S2, 583). He also made northeastern part of the State, although its collections m 1891 from Atchison's clay pit exact stratigraphic position was not deter- at Perla, near Malvern, Hot Springs County, mined at that time. which were also not studied at that time (U. S. In 1894 Harris^ mentions the following Geol. Survey locality 584). plants from Benton, Saline County, Ark., from In 1895 T. W. Vaughan < published an article determinations by F. H. Ivnowlton: on the geology of eastern Texas, for which Magnolia laurifolia Lesquereux. Kiiowlton furnished a list of plants determined Quercus retracta Lesquereux. from collections made by Vaughan from ferru- Quercus moorei Lesquereux. guious materials at Old Port Caddo Landing I have not been able to find these specimens on Little Cypress Bayou m Harrison County, and so have omitted them from future con- Tex.: sideration. They came from Henderson's clay '^^^^' following species were listed: Knowlton. Present work. Salix tabellaris Lesquereux (a single doubtful leaf) Apocynophyllum tabejlarum. Magnolia laurifolia Lesquereux (a fragment) Terminalia hilgardiana. Magnolia ovalis Lesqueretix Combretum ovalis. Juglans appressa Lesquereux (?). Ficus schimperi Lesquereux Ficus schimperi. Ficus sp. nov. Nos. 1 and 2 Ficus vaughani and plani- costata maxima. Cinnamomum aiRne Lesquereu.x (common) 1^,. „ „. ...... U mnamomum atnne. Cinnamomum nussissippiensis Lesquereux / Laurus or Litsea sp. nov Oreodaphne obtusifolia. Juglans (?) sp. nov Persea longipetiolatum. 1 Lesquereux, Leo, op. eit., pp. 24, 25, 188S. ^Knowlton, F. 11., Arkansas Geol. Survey Ann. Kept, for 1SS9, pp. 249-2(iO, pis. 9-11. IS91. ' Arkansas Geol. Surx'ey Ann. Rci)l. for 1S92, vol. 2, p. 56, 1894. 'Vaughan, T. W., Am. Geologist, vol. 16, pp. 304-309, 1895. 26 LOWER KOCENK FLORAS OF SOUTHEASIEKN NORTH AMERICA. X'aufjhan correctly referred these deposits to Red River Parisli, La., and smaller collections the "Ligiutic" ( = Wilcox), and Ivjiowltoii from several localities in the iiamediate vicinity stated that they were probahly of the same age of Shreveport m Caddo Parish, La. These as the Denver formation of Colorado. Harris were serit to Arthur Ilollick,- who contributed and Veatch in their subsequent pubhcations an illustrated pajter lo the preliminary report also referred them to the "Lignitic or Sabine" on the geology of Louisiana by Plarris and ( = Wilcox\ Veatch. The Held work of G. D. Harris and A. C The largest and most interesting collection Veatcli in Louisiana resulted in a large coUch;- was from Coushatta and included the foUow- tion of fossil plants from the ferrugmous con- ing forms: cretions exposed on Red River near Coushatta, Ilollick. Preient work. Amiromcda delicatula Lesquereux MespLIodapline cou.shatta. Andromeda eolignitica HoUick Mespilodaplme eoliguitica. Apocynophyllum sapindifolium Hollick Apocynophyllum sapindifolium. Artocarijus dubia Hollick Artocarpus dubia. Artocarpus lessigiana (Lesquereux) Knowlton. . .Arlocarpus lessigiana. Oelastrus veatchi Hollick Celastrus veatchi. Celastrus taurinensis Ward? Celastrus taurinensis. Cinnamomum buchii Heer Cinnamomum buchi. Cornus studerL Heer? Cornus studeri?. ■ CrJ^^tocarya eolignitica Hollick Cryptocarya eolignitica. Ficus artocarpoides Lesquereux? Ficus artocarpoides?. Fraxinus johnstruin Heer? Fraxinus johnstnipi?. Hex? affinis Lesquereux? Hex? afBnis. Juglans rugosa Lesquereux Sapindus coushatta and Juglans berrj'i. Juglans scliimperi Lesquereux Juglans sehimperi. Laurus primigenia Unger Oreodaphne mississippiensLs and Nectandra pseu- docoriacea. Magnolia hilgardiana Lesquereux Terminalia liilgardiana. Magnolia lanceolata Lesquereux Magnolia angustifolia. Persea speciosa Heer Persea longipetiolatum. Quercus microdentata Hollick Dillenites microdentatus. Rlianmus clebiirni Lesquereux Rhamnus coushatta. Sapofcicites americanus Lesquereux Not determinable. Tetranthera pr:ccursoria Lesquereux Oreodaphne coushatta. Toxylon longipetiolatum Hollick Persea longipetiolatum. Ulmus tenutnervis Lesquereux Dillenites ovatus. From clay concretions at Vmeyard Bluff on Cross Bayou, Caddo Parish, La., the following forms were recorded: Hollick. Present work. Pteris pseudopinn;i>formis Lesquereux Pteris pseudopinnseformLs. Artocarpus le.ssigian.i (Lesquereux) Knowlton. . .Artocarpus lessigiana. Ficusharrisiana Hollick Ficus harrisiana. Cinnamomum sezannense Watelet Oreodaphne obtusifolia. Daphnogene kanni Heer? Cinnamomum postnewberryi. Hilgard,' in 1887, mentioned well-preserved cutting of the Red River, which in the last 15 leaves and fruits which lie had collected on the years has practically removed the plant-bearing upper Red River in 18CU and dei>osited at the beds at Coushatta. University of Mississippi at Oxford. These col- From clay beds at Slaughter Pen Bluff, one- lections were never studied and have since been half mile below Vineyard Bluff, the following lost. They may have come from Coushatta or were recorded: from some similar outcrop between Coushatta — and Shrcvcport subsequently destroyed by the ' noiiick Artiu,r, m Hams, o. d., and veateh, a.c a preliminary 1 1 J J J report on the geology ot Louisiana, pp. 276-2S8, pis. 32-48, 1899. 'Science, vol. 9, pp. 5.35-536, 1887. WILCOX GROUP. 27 Hollick. Present work. Poacites sp. Ilollick Poacites sp. Cyperites sp. Jlollick Cyperites sp. Ficus planicostata I-e.s<|Uereiix Ficus jjlanicostata maxima. Cinnamomum schouchzeri Iloer ? Cinnamomum postuewberryi. Ilex sp. Hollick Ilex sp. From a gray sandstone, similar to that at Campbell's quarry oti Cross Bayou, exposed in a cut oil the Kansas City Soutliern Kailway (Kansas City, Pittsburg ct Gulf Kailroad), 1 mile west of Shreveport, tlie Inllowing speeies was identified: Hi'llii'k- Pre.sent work. Sapindus anfiiist ifolius I.osqucreux Sapindu.s mississippiensis. At this time Harris and N'eatch were still in F. 11. Kimwlton,- who I'lirnislied the following doubt regarduig tlu^ exact age of these outerops lists of determinations: and were inclined to consider them "Low.-r The present r„lle.-ti„„ embraces fossils fr,„u tour lo.ali- Claibornc. IloUiek matle no determination of ties, as follows: their age beyond the opinion tliat tliey were l. Columbus, Ky. This material, a white sandy clay, early Tertiary. contains two species of Quercus and apparently a single In 1906 L.'C. Glenn published a paper on the P*;"®' f ^.^•^f' """'^/'f them, so far as I can make out, , , ^ J. m IT' beuig identical wath the forms mentioned by Lesquereux underground waters of Tennessee and Ken- ,.,,„„ j^;^ ,,,^.^^1;,^ p„,bably a more extended search tucky west of Tennessee River ' which con- among li%-ing species would .show affinities with these, but tained valuable contributions to tlie geology of this I have not been able to give at this time.' that region. During the progress of the field ''■ nickman. Ky. This is also a sandy clay, and em- work for this report several plant localities were '"■^'''^ "''''''" 'T'" r •"'°]'' ^"'"'l TY:"" Salix? and Meni- ,. 1 ^1 ^ 1 • -111 1 svermum canadense Lmne and the balance a compound discovered that have since yielded a large le^f of what appears to be J'ecoma m&an. Linn6 or some- amount of important material. Small collec- thing near it.' tions of fossil plants were made from four locali- 3. Wickliffe, Ky. The largest and best lot, affording ties, only two of which prove to be of Wilcox lie following forms: age. These received a preliminary study by ICnowlton. Present work. Salix angusta Alexander Bravin Sapindus linearifolius. SaUx sp Sapindus linearifolius. Quercus saffordi Lesquereux Banksia saffordi. Quercus neriifolia Alexander Braun Bank.sia saffordi. Quercus moorii Lesquereux Dryophyllum moorii. Quercus n. sp Dryophyllum tennesseensis. Myrica copeana Lesquereux Cupanites loughridgii. Eucalyptus n. sp Sapindus eoligniticus. Sapindus angustifolius Lesquereux Sapindus formosus. Sapindus dubius? Linger Sapindus formosus. 4. Near Grand Junction, Tenn. The same kind of material as the last, containing the following: ICnowlton. Present work. Monocotyledonous plant (fragments) Sabalites sp. Salix angusta Alexander Braun Myrcia bentonensis. Quercus (2 species) Banksia saffordi. Juglans saffordiana? Lesquereux Cassia glenni. Sapindus angustifolia? Lesquereux Myrcia bentonensis. Sapindus sp (?). Cinnamomum? sp Melastomiles americanus Ceanothus meigsii Lesquereux Zizyphus meigsii. Acacia sp. (nov. ?) Mimosites variabilis. 1 Glenn, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 164, IDIMJ. 'Knowlton, F. H., in Olenn, L. C, op. cit,, pp. 38, 39. " These outcrops have recently been shown to be of early Pleistoame age. SccHerry,E. W.,U. S. Nat.Mus Proc.,vol.4s,pp. 293-30:S,pls.l2, 13, 1915. 28 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. In addition to the localities and collections ali-eady mentioned, small lots, consisting of only one or two specimens, have been received from other sources but have heretofore re- mained unstudied. They comprise the follow- ing materials: Three or four specimetis were sent to the United States National Museum by T. O. Ma- bry, who collected them about twenty years ago from the plant-bearing exposures in the railroad cut just nortli of Oxford depot, Lafay- ette County, Miss. Two or three specimens were sent to the United States National Museum in 1896 by C. T. Simpson from Frierson Mill, De Soto Parish, La. A few specimens in clay ironstone were re- ceived at the United States National Museum in 1889 from J. W. Kelsey, who collected them at KeLseys Bluff east of Early Grove, Miss. A small collection made by A. C. Veatch between 3 and 4 miles below Hamilton on Sabine River, Sabine County, Tex., was depos- ited at the New York Botanical Garden. A small collection was sent to the United States National Museum in 1889 by J. C. Bran- ner, at that time State geologist of Arkansas. This included a determinable specimen from a well near Texarkana (U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 8608, collected by Prof. Moseley) ; a specimen from.scc. 28, T. 2 S., R. 14 W. (U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 8610, collected by R. I. Ailly); several specimens from Hardys MiU near Gainesville, Greene County (U. S. Nat. Mus. Nos. 8605, 8606, 8609, collected by J. C. Branner) ; and a specimen from Scarboroughs in the vicinity of the Hardys Mill locahty (U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 8607). These were examined by Lester F. Ward, who mentions "Magnolia and an ericar- coous leaf" in a letter quoted in part by Call ' in his geology of Crowleys Ridge. During 1911 and 1914 Berry published sev- eral preliminary paj^ers based on the field work which has resulted in the present report. The first ^ showed that the type exposures of the Lafayette formation in Lafayette County, Miss., were of Wilcox age. The second ' was devoted to a description of a new species of Engelhardtia fruit from Early Grove, Miss., 1 Call, R. E., Arkansas OeoL Survey Ann. Kept, for 1889, vol. 2, pp. 96,97.189L 5 Berry, E. W., Jour. Geology, vol. 19, pp. 219-2.56, flgs. 1-4, 1911. a Berry, E. W., Am. Jour. Sci., 4th ser., vol. ai, pp. 491-190, flgs. 1, 2, 1911. the fii-st authentic record of this genus from the Tertiarv strata of North America. Tlie tliird ' included a brief general account of the Wilcox flora, enumerating numerous genera that were represented and giving a clear indication of its wonderful diversity and richness. The fourth '' described the occurrence of fruits of the Nipa palm in the Greinuhi formation, the upper for- mation of the Wilcox gi'oup, of Grenada, Miss. It is the first and only known occurrence in the Western Hemispliere of the genus Nipadites, which is comnidii in the Eocene of the Old World. A preliminary sketch ° which formed the basis for the treatment of the ecology and dis- tribution in this Work was read before the American Philosophical Society in 1914. The following forms that are given in the lists on the preceding pages must be dropped from the literature, as they are based on frag- mentary and not certainly determinable mate- rial that was subsequently lost or else on abso- lutely undeterminable remains. One specimen is not even of an organic nature. Fagus fcrruginca Lesquereux, Am. Jour. Sci., 2d ser., vol. 27, p. 363, 1859. Recorded from Somerville, Tenn., and specimen lost. Obviously not a Fagus. Juglans appressa Lesquereux, Am. Pliilos. Soc. Trans. , new ser., vol. 13, p. 420, pi. 20, fig. G, 1869. Recorded from Hurleys, Miss., and specimen lost. Not deter- minable. The same remark applies to the identifi- cation of this species by Knowlton (Am. Geologist, vol. 16, p. 308, 1895) from Old Port Caddo Landing, Tex. Magnolia laurifolia Harris, Arkansas Geol. Survey Ann. Rept. for 1892, p. 56, 1894. Recorded from Benton, Ark., and specimen lost. Phragmites oeningensis Alexander Braun. Determined from Cross Bayou by Lesquereux (specimen No. 2532). Based on a fragment of a palm ray. (Not determi- nable.) Platanus guillelmx Lesquereux, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, vol. 11, p. 25, 1888. Recorded from McLees, near Mansfield, La. Not numltered in the text or present in the collection. Popuhu mutabilis var. repando-crcnata Lesquereux, Am. Philos. Soc. Trans., new ser., vol. 13, p. 413, pi. 18, figs. 4-6, 1869. Based on undeterminable fragments recorded from Hurleys, Miss. Parana sp. Lesquereux, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, vol. 11, p. 13, 1888. Based on a ferruginous stain. Quercus angusUloba Lesquereux, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc, vol. 11, p. 25, 1888. Based on an undeterminable fragment from Cross Bayou, La. < Rerry, E. W., Am. Philos. Soe. Proe., vol. .50, No. 199. pp. 301-315, 1911. '• Berry, E. W., Am. Jour. Sci., 4th ser., vol. 37, pp. 57 00, 1914. 6 Berry, E. W., Am. Philos. Soc. Proc., vol. 53, pp. 129-250, 1914. WILCOX CROUP. 29 Querms chlorophylla Losquproux, Am. Philos. Sof. Trans., new spr., vol. i:i, j). 4 Hi, pi. 17. fig. 5. Figure 5 dop.^ not represent thi.s si)ecie!< nor is it determinable. The speeiineius shown in ligiiros G and 7 are referred by me to Minmsops and Pisonia respectively. Qucrrus relracta Lesquereux, idem, p. 416, pi. 16, fig. 5. This fragment is undeterminable. The specimen shown in figure 4 has been referred to Myn-ia ht'iUonensis The record from Benton. Ark., given by Harris (op. cit.) is based on material since lost. . 21. lieronlpd from Cross Bayou, La. Not determinalilc. Sapindus coriaceus Lesquereux, idem. PicrcmU'd from Cross Bayou, I-a. Not determinable. NOMENCLATUEE. The terminology which saiutinus the name Wilco.x for thi.s group of formations is not of long standing, the various iiichided deposits, either individually or collectively having re- ceived many names, ])oth lithologic and geo- grapliic, of differing shades of meaning. As is usually and of necessity the case in geologic studies, most of the earlier names were loosely applied, without precisely defined liniits or adequate lithologic or paleontologic character- istics. It is unnecessary for the purposes of this study to go back farther than 1860, the date of publication of Ililgard's ''Report on the geology and agriculture of Mississippi." In this work the Wilcox and underlying de- posits of the Midway formation in the Missis- sippi area are termed the ''Northern Lignitic group," usually shortened to simply "Lig- nitic."' Not oidy because it is a lithologic term, based on an area where marine faunas are in general absent, but also because it in- cluded younger deposits it has been abandoned in more recent years. It was adopted by Smith - for the Alabama area and well char- acterized in L8S7 with various subdivisions, largely paleontologic, named, in order from the top downward, Hatchetigbeo, Bashi, Tusca- homa, and Nanafalia. In this usage it also in- cluded the underlying Midway. Harris ■' in 1894 used "Lignitic" but gave it the restricted paleontologic basis of the Wilcox as used at the I nilcard, E. W., Report on thegeology and agriculture of Mississippi, pp. 110-123, IN60. sSmith, E. A.,and John.son, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Bull. 43, pp. 18, 38, 1887, and many subsequent publications of the Alabama Geological Suri'ey. ' Harris. G. D., Am. Jour. Sci., 3d .sor., vol. 47, p. 304, 1894: Bull. Am. Paleontology, vol. 2, No. 9, 1897. pre.sont time. Meanwhih^ .SafTord * in 18.56 and later, ti-s a result of liis studies in western Ten- nessee, liad proposed tlie ttu'in "Orange sand or La Grange: gr()U|)." The ttu'in "Orange sand" wtxs afterward used by Hilgard for the deposits in Mississippi subse(iuently referrtnl to the Lafayette forma- tion and not in (he sense of the original pro- poser of the iiaiiie, who uscul it in the sensein which Ililgard uschI "Lignitic." The fact that much if not ail of Ililgard's Orange sand or Lafayt^ttt^ in Mississippi is really of WUeox age flirt lier conipli<'at(w a difTicult rpiestion of taxonomy. Safl'ord's term "Orange sand or La Grange group" is objectionable, because it included surflcial deposits of the so-called Lafayette,-' somt^ Cretaceous materitils, and the younger sands and clays of west Tennessee, which are probably of lower Jackson age. This was in 1864. In 1869 Ililgard " proposed the name "Mansfield group" for the Wilcox of nortli- western Louisiana. This uint was, however, without a paleontologic basis and of less extent than the Wilco.x as now defined. The "Cam- den series," proposed ]>y Ilill ' in 1888, included not only Ililgard's Manslield but Cretaceous and Jackson deposits. Meanwhile Heilprin * had proposed the term "Eolignitic," which is open to the same objections as the term "Lig- nitic," and, unlike that term, lias never been accorded a very extensive usage. Dall " in 1898 adopted the term "Chickasaw or Cliicka- sawan stage," proposed by Hilgard'" in 1871 as the ecpiivalent of his "Northern Lignitic," assuming that the "Lignitic" as delined by Hilgard was the exact equivalent of the "Lignitic" of southern Alabama. As it em- braces younger Eocene deposits, especially at the supposed type locality of the Chickasaw BlufTs, and is thus historically inappropriate, it also has been al)aiuloneiL In 1906 Veatch " proposed the name "Sa- bine," because of the development of a marine fossiliferous series of outcrops tilong Sal)ine » Saflord, J. M., Am. Jour. Sci., 2d ser., vol. 37, pp. 369-370, 1864. '• Hilgard, E. W., and Saflord, J. M.. communication in .\m. (ieolo- gLst, vol. S, pp. 129-131, 1S91. 6 Ililgard, E. W., Am. Jour. .Sci., 2d .ser., vol. 48, p. 340, 18B9. ' Uill, It. T., Arkansas Geol. Survey Kept, for 1888, vol. 2, pp. 49-53, 1888. 8 Heilprin. .Vngelo, Contributions lo tlie Tertiary geology and paleon- tology of the tTnitcd State-s, Pbiladelphia, 1884. 5 Dall, W. II., U. S. Geol. Survey Eighteenth Ann. Kept., pt. 2, table opp. p. 334, 1S98. i» Ililgiird, E. W., Am. .Tour. Sci., 3d .ser., vol. 2, pp. 391-.396, 1871. ■1 Veatch, A. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 46, pp. 34-3(i, 1906. 30 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERX N'OHTIf A:MERICA. River in Sabino (\iunty, Tex., unci Sabiue Pai"ish, La. The.'^e outcrops also represent but a part of tlie Wilcox as at present deliniited. ■'Sabine River or Timber bolt beds" had also been previoush* used by Peiu'ose in 1S90 for dept)sits in eastern Texas that included niate- riiUs of Claiborne and Jackson as well as Wilcox age. The same year the term Wilcox was used in a paper by Crider and Johnson ' on the underground waters of Mississippi. Since that date the more consistent supervision of the committee on geologic names of the United States Geological Survey has caused the general adoption of the term Wilcox for this group of deposits, from their fidlest and most varied development m Wdcox County, Ala. FAUNAS. The Wilcox marine faunas are kno\ra only from the seaward deposits of tliis age in south- ern ^Mabama, in the eastern Gulf area, and in northwestern Louisiana and along Sabme River, in the western Gulf area.- The following brief accoimt of the general character of these faunas and their relation to the sediments is based on the Alabama section and is followed by a brief synopsis of the animal remains fomid in the upper embayment region. The paleozoologic data relatmg to the Alabama section were compiled and interpreted by Dr. J. A. Gardner, of Johns Hopkins LTniversity. The Wilcox moUuscan fauna is rather monot- onous in general aspect, in spite of the four faunules that have been differentiated. Prob- ably the most important factor in determinuig the general character of the marine moUuscan life in an area where long time intervals, range in latitude, and marked climatic changes are ehminated is the depth of the water. The Wilcox sea seems to have been quite miifornily shallow from its opening to its close. At no time is it at all probable that the depth ex- ceeded 25 fathoms. The minimum depth is indicated by the constant jiresence of Can- ccllaria, Ostrea, Corbula, Pholas, and the like, the maxinuun depth by the relative abundance through the wholes Wilcox interval of the larger univalves chiefly characteristic of the sublittoral zone. There is no evidence that the slight change in the character of the sedi- ' Cridcr, A. F., and Johnson, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 159, p. 9, 1906. 2 A small faunule has recently been discovered in MLssLssippi by E. N. Lowe. nients during Baslii time involved any per- ceptible deepening of the waters, and it is mucli more probable that changes on the land were the determining factors. The Hatche- tigbee check lists, indeed, offer the only evi- dence of any modification of the depth suffi- ciently pronomiced to be reflected in the fauna. The httorid fades is so much more prominent, relatively, m this final epoch of Wilcox time and the sublittoral facies so much less promi- nent that a considerable shallowing may be safely postulated. Tlie later faunal studies of the Wilcox as a rule have been desultory or little more than compilations from the work of the earlier inves- tigators, particularly from Com-ad and Lea. Harris, in his "Lignitic stage, "^ makes the most ambitious attempt at a monographic study. His paper iiears many of the marks of rather hurried and superficial work, but he does bring together in a fairly satisfactory manner the results ah-eady obtamed, and his mistakes, though rather numerous, are so obvious that they are not misleading. .Ud- rich has added very materially to the knowledge of the faima in numerous short articles pub- lished from time to time.* In one of his longer papers^ he gives some check hsts which, though published in 1886, include the majority of the species thus far described. The work on the undertying Midway and over- lying Claiborne fatmas is even more fragmen- tary and unsatisfactory, so that altliough the Wilcox is recognized by both the paleozoolo- gist and the stratigrapher as a clearly differ- entiated group, comparative figures would not afford satisfactory evidence of the differentia- tion, as their percentage of error woidd be too high. The literature of the formational fau- nules, though meager, is, however, consistently meager, and tables can be dra^vn up and com- putations made which, though far fi\)m being entirely accurate, yet convey a general im- pression which is on the whole not misleading. The Nanafalia MoDusca recorded in the literature constitute an ill-defined group of a])out forty species, the denizens apparently ' Harris, G.V., Bull. Am. Paleontology, vol. 2, pp. 195-294, 1897; idem, vol. .i, pp. 3-128, 1899. ' -Mdrich, T, H., Cincinnati Soc. Nat. Hist. Jour., vol. 8, pp. 145-153, 1885; Bull. Am. Paleoiitolocy, vol. 1, pp. 55-84, 1S95; idem, vol. 2, pp. 169-192, 1S97; idem, vol. 5, pp. 1-24, 1911; Nautilus, vol. 11, p. 27, 1897; idem, vol. 11, pp. 97-98, 1898; idem, vol. 17, p. 19, 1903; idem, vol. 21, pp. 8-11, 1907; idem, vol. 22, pp. 74-76, 1908. ' Alabama Geol. Survey Bull. 1, pp. 7-60, 1886. WILCOX GROUP. 31 of waters not exfcodiiiji; 1.') to 25 fathoms in ns])icuously prolific that the horizon is commonly known as the Ostrea thirssc bed. The abundance of this oyster not only conclusively estabhshes the in- shore character of the deposits but also serves as a fairly accurate Nanafalia horizon marker. The affinities of the fauna as a whole are vague and generalized. Of the 40 or 41 species and varieties only 1 species and 1 variety are re- stricted to the Nanaf aha formation. Of the 39 remaining forms, 9, or approximately 2.5 per cent, range from the Midway to the upper Wilcox or higher and have no significance in close correlation; of the 30 Nanafalia species occurring at not more than two liorizons only 4, or 13 per cent, are restricted to the Midway and Nanaf aha; the other 26, or approximately 87 per cent, run from the Nanafalia up to a higher horizon, of which 5, rouglily 19 per cent, are not known except in the Nanafalia and Tuscahoma formations. The fauna is, there- fore, obviously Wilcox in its alHnities and marks the initiation of many of the mi^st characteristic Wilcox univtdves ])ut cxliibits no peculiarly close relationship with any one of the later horizons. The Tuscahoma is generally rather l)arren, but at Bells Landing and Greggs Landing, on Alabama River, and at Tuscahoma, on Tom- bigbce River, extensive collections have been made and worked up by Aldrich, Harris, and others. The check lists consulted record 168 species. Of these species 121, or approxi- mately two-thirds, are univalves. The fauna is well diversified, includes botli herbivorous and carnivorous gastropods, and indicates rather warm, shallow waters, not exceeding 40 fathoms, abounding in plant and aiiiniid life. The unusiially lai'ge size attained by the indi- viduals collected at Bells Landing' suggests a pecidiarly favorable environment, in which the inhabitants existed under optimum con- ditions. The best represented geiu'ra are among tiie larger unividves, nota])ly the fusoids, fulguroids, tritons, and Cassidae. Among the bivalves tlie taxodonts are rela- tively rather numerous. Corbula also occurs in considerable numbers along vdth the id)i((ui- tous Venericardia. Tlu^ Tuscahoma, unlike the Nanaf.dia, is clearly differentiated from the formations abovc^ and below. Of the 165 spe(ues recorded 7!), or nearly 50 per cent, are restricted to the Tuscahoma. Of the remain- ing So forms 35 range both above and below the horizon and may be disregarded by the stratigrapher, leaving 49 species to be consid- ered. The Tuscahoma mafks the lower limit of range of 33 of these and th(> upper limit of range of 16. These figures may appear more signifi- cant than they really are, for the Bashi fauna, whicli succeeds the Tusciahom^i, has been stud- ied in much greater detail than the Nanafalia below it. However, the critical work that has been done on the Bashi makes all the more nota- ble the fact that almost half of the species recorded from the Tuscahoma are peculiar to it. The Bashi formation ("Woods Bluff") pre- sents the largest ami most diversified fauna ^ known from the Wilco.x, notwithstanding the entire lack of evidence of any a])])reciable increase in the depth of the water. On the contrary, the larger univalves, the fusoids, tritons, and Cassida\ are relatively less numer- ous tlian in tlie lower Wilcox. Many of the smaller genera, however, abundantly repre- sented in the littoral and laminarian zones of our recent seas ocH'.ur in very consid('rabl(\ num- bers. For example, 20 species of pleuroto- niids, 3 of Canc.ellaria, 2 of Nassa, 2 of Ceri- tliium, and 3 of Corbula. Th(> decrease in the number of the genera pecidiarly characteristic of the sublittoral zone is, however, merely rela- tive, for 8 species of Fusus, 4 of Acteon, and 4 of Volutida) have been recorded. Tii(> change in the chai'acter of the fauna is probably due not to any marked change in the depth of the 'Aldrich, T. 11., Alabama Oeol. Survey Bull. 1, pp. 54-5.'j. 1886. 2 This fauna has recenlly been discovered in east-central Mississippi by E. N. Rose. 32 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. water but to the finer sediments then in proc- ess of deposition, which iiflorded a more favor- able habitat to the mud-loving faunas tlian had either the Tuscahoma or Nanafjdia. The Baslu fauna recorded in the available check lists numbers approximately 200 species. Of these species 107, or more than 50 per cent, are peculiar to the formation, 42 of them range both above and below it and so lose their value for close correlations, and of the 42 remaining forms 25 range upward to the Baslii from older beds and 17 range upward into younger de- posits, thus implving that the affinities with the Tuscahoma fauna are closer than with the Hatchetigbee. The Hatchetigbee fauna is the most obvi- ously shallow-water fauna recorded from the Wilcox. A few new forms are introduced, which later become prolific, but it chiefly rep- resents the reduced remnant of an earlier life. The capuloids, Trochida?, and NaticidtB are relatively a Uttle more abundant, and Ostrca is represented by 5 species instead of only one or two, as at the earher horizons. The known Hatchetigbee mollusks number approximately 84 species, of which 27, or a Uttle less than one-third, seem to be peculiar to the horizon; 19 of the remaining forms occur in the over- lying Claiborne group and at some lower hori- zon in the Wilcox; 33 of the 38 remaining species limited in range to the Hatchetigbee are not known from secUments later than the Wilcox, and only 5 of the 38 range from the Hatchetigbee upward into the higher forma- tions of the Eocene. West of Mississippi River the studies of Harris and Veatch have demonstrated the presence of marine fossihferous Wilcox in Louisiana and tilong the Texas bank of Sabine River. Harris ' in 1899 listed 16 species of Pelecypoda and 25 species of Gtistropoda from these deposits. Some of the outcrops — for example, those at Marthasville, La., and at Pendleton, Tex. — are regarded by Harris as lower Wilcox ; that at Sabinetown is correlated with the Baslii formation of the Alabama sec- tion. As has already been suggested, the in- sufficient character of the work thus far done on the paleozoology of the Alabama Wilcox makes it impossible to determine the actual range of the species and to what extent their recorded occurrences are the result of envi- ronmental conditions and not of chronologic viilue. The rang(> of the forms found west of the Mississippi and the mingling of lower WU- cox or even Midway forms with upper Wilcox forms renders it almost certain that the Ala- bama faunules as at present known are indi- viduiiUy of slight stratigraploic significance. There is thus no satisfactory paleozoologic evidence for cjuestioning the correlations based on the far more satisfactory data furnished by tlie fossQ plants. The large area of Wilcox in Mississippi,- Ar- kansas, and Texas, and the deposits of Wilcox age in Temiessee and Kentucky, have not fur- nished any marine fossiliferous outcrops. The absence of animal fossils over tliis vast area has always been a source of wonder. It miglit at least be expected that the remains of insects woidd be found associated with the leaves in the fuie-te.xtured clays, but no remains of tliis sort have been found in any of the Coastal Plain formations earher than the Pleistocene. It is not difficult to account for their great variety in a deposit like that at Florissant, Colo., where the bulk of the sediments are volcanic ash and where solfataric vents existed in the immecUate vicinity of Florissant Lake, but their entire absence in the clays of the Wilcox is certaiidy remarkable. To be sure they may eventually be discovered, but the area of outcrop has now been carefuUy ex- amined over many square miles -nathout suc- cess. The Wilcox flora indicates climatic con- cfitions from which a largo insect fauna can be postulated, as all the insect orders except the Lepidoptera are recorded from pre-Tertiary deposits. The following obscure traces of insects are all that the Wilcox deposits have afforded up to the present time. The commonest type of fossil indicating the former presence of insects is fm-iushed by the galleries constructed by the larva? of the TLneidse (Lepidoptera) in the leaves of several species. Th(>se markings are shown on the leaves of the following species: AnoTM ampla, Oarapa eolignitica, Coccolobis eolignitica and C. uviferafolia, Combretum ovalis, DryophyUurn moorei and D. tennesseensis, Ficus scliimpcri and /''. vaughuni, Terminalia Jiilgar- diajM, Zizy phus falcatus and Z. meigsii. (See 'Harris, G. D., and Veatch, A. C, A prelimiuary report on the geology of lK)uisiana, pp. 290-291, 1899. 2 A small faunule has recently been discovered in Mississippi by E. N. Lowe. WILCOX (iROIiP. 33 Pis. XXIII. XXXI, XXXVIII, XXXIX, aiul XCII.) A spcH'iincn of the .so-callod seed, tube, or cone gulls, coininonly |)ri)(luci'(l hy spcoies of Cccidoniyiii (Dipt era) and occasionally liy the Aphidida\, is shown on a ligurod leaf of Ehamniis (Pi. CXI, (ig. 1). The so-callcd peti- ole galls produced hy some species of Ileniip- tera and more commonly liy the gall ilies (llyiiienoptora) are representetl in tiui illustra- tion iii Cnlrcia purtjcaren.sis (P\. LVI, fig. 2). The figured leaf of Intcorea prepaniculata (PI. 0\'II, fig. 5) is hadly riddled in a nianuf^r sugg(>sting the work of some Wilcox species of leaf-cutting bee (Megachilida' of the order H^Tiienoptera) . The uniformity in size of IIh^ holes lends support to such an interpretation, although it is possible, that these are due to a brood of leaf-eating caterpillars. No traces of Coleoptera have been seen, and it is also sti'ange that the groups with aquatic lar\a' likc^ tlie Oilonata and Ephemerida have not hU't some traces of then- former presence. At any rate the few obscm-e traces mentioned in the foregoing paragraphs show that there could have been notliing abnormal in the Wilcox insect fauna. With the exce]>tion of teeth of Crocodylus grypus Cope, a Wasatch species, recently found in Texas, no traces of vertebrates except a few fish scales, as at the Piu'vear locality, have been discovered. Poorly preserved Unios occur in the clays of the Holly Springs sand or nuddle Wilcox at Oxford, Miss., thus confirming the presence of a WUcox estuary at this locality, indicated also by the hthology. An undeterminahh^ (\>r- bula( ?), a genus characteristic of shallow naariue or estuary muds, is ])resent in the beds of middle Wilcox (HoUy Sjirings) age near Grand Junc- tion, Tenn., thus proving that the upper em- bayment deposits were marginal and not con- tinental in character. The poorly preserved remains of a large myriapod or possibly an isopod are associated with the fossil ])lants at Holly Springs, Miss., and 1 i mUes west of Grand Junction and at HoUy Springs and Puryear, Tenn. Miss M. J. Rathbun is of the opinion that these remaiiis are related to the isopotl genus Ligyda Rafinesque (Ligia Fabricius) represented by the common Ligi/da haudiniana, which lives among driftwood and seaweed in the littoral zone. Two of the best specimens are shown on Plate CXI, figures 7 and 8. CHARACTER, SUCCESSION, AND AREAL DISTRIBUTION. After the rhcckcred nonicnclatorial history of tiu'se d(>])osits previously sketched in part, geologists have agre(>d that the term Wilcox group is their naost suital)le designation, as they ar(> tyj)ically dcV(>loped along Alabama River in Wilcox County, Ala. By typical is not to !)(' understood ty|)ical in litholog\', for the type of sediments of tlie upjier embaymetil is much more extensive, l)ut typical in the sense that the sections exposed along Alal)ania and Tombig])ee rivers arc flu^ most com|)let(>, covering the whole chronologic interval of Wilcox sedimentatimi and sharply set off from the uppermost Miilway l)elow and from llie Tallahatta ])ulirstone, tlie basal formation of the Clai])(>rne gi'oup, al)ov(\ Tiu^ Wilcox de])osits in general consist of more or less extensive; lenticular beds of sands and clays. The sands are commonly cross- ])edd(Ml and ferruginous, and in places contain clay l)alls. The clays are commonly carbona- ceous and their carbonaceous matter in ])laces forms consideral)lc 1)eds of lignite. In Alabama and along Sabine River in Texas the deposits assume a marine character with glauconitic sands and thin shell marls, and in Louisiana calcareous concretions are not un(!()nnnon. Both lithologic and faunal considerations have suggested the segregation of the Wilcox dej)ositrS in Alabama that I have termed typical into the Nanafaha, Tuscahoma, Baslii, and Hatchetigbee formations. The Nanafalia formation, termed originally tlie "Coal Bluff sands and hgnites" by Smitli, from the bluff of that name on Alabama River, receives its name from the typical section at Nanafaha Landing on Tombigbee River. It consists of sandy glauconitic beds that alter- nate with grayish calcareous clays, commonly fossiliferous enough to be termed shell marls, and that carry a large and distinctive fauna, of which the small Ostrea thirsx is the most abun- dant form. These marls are extensively indu- rated. At the base of the formation, and imme- diately a])ov(^ the Naheola formation of the Midway group, occurs a bed of lignite 5 to 7 feet in thickness, which has been traced from Pike County, Ala., westward beyond Tombig- bee River, and doubtless is represented by the 50243—16 -3 34 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. uucortainly correlated lignites at the base of the Wilcox nortluvard through the greater part of the outcrop in Mississi])pi. The Nanafalia fonnatiou maintains a rather uniform thickness across Alal)ama of aliout 200 feet. The lignite bed at its])aseis a most im- portant factor in the interpretation of the geologic history of Wilcox time, for it unques- tionably indicates a relatively extensive emer- gence at the close of the Midway, an emergence marked by the withdrawal of marine waters and faunas from the neighborliootl of the mouth of the Ohio southward beyond the present outcrop of the fonnation in southern Alabama, a distance of over 400 miles, and by the occupation of the surface by extensive swamp vegetation, as the lignite was clearly formed at the place of growth of terrestrial vegetation. The Tuscahoma formation, formerly termed the "Bells or Greggs Landing series," consists of about 140 feet of gray or yellowish cross- bedded sands and sandy clays massive below and laminated above, generally poor in fossils except at two horizons where glauconitic shell marls carry an abundant and distinctive fauna. The lower horizon is exposed at Greggs Land- ing on Alabama River and the upper at Bells Landhig on Alabama River and Tuscahoma on Tombigbee River. The Bashi formation, fonnerly termed the "Bashi or Woods Bluff series," from Bashi Creek in Clarke County and Woods Bluff on Tombigbee River, where the glauconitic and higlily fossihferous horizons in the formation are exposed, consists of about SO feet of calca- reous glauconitic sands and sand}- clays. The shalloAving of the Wilcox sea in this area, first apparent in the upper part of the Tuscahoma formation, culminated in an emergence which is marked by the 2-foot bed of lignite that marks the base of the Bashi formation. The Hatchetigljee formation, named from the bluff of that name on Tombigbee River, consists in the region of maximum thickness near the river of about 17.5 feet of brown, pur- plish, and gray laminated sandy days, and cross-bedded, more or less glauconitic and cal- careous fossihferous sands. It thins both east- ward and westward from the type locality and is overlain uncoiiformahly by the characteristic sediments of the Tallahatta bulu-stone, the low- ermost formation of the Claiborne^ group, a horizon which is well marked lithologicidly across Alabama and mirtliwcstward thi"ough Mississippi. A large numi)cr of detailed local sections and lists of animal species of the Wilcox formations are given in the various reports by Dr. E. A. Smith,' of the Alabama Geological Survey, and his associates T. H. ^Vldrich, L. C. Johnson, and D. W. Langdon, jr., the major outlines of which, first puhhshed in 1SS7, seem destined to stand. Along Chattahoochee River the Wilcox is represented l)y less than 200 feet of glauco- nitic fossihferous sands and dark, laminated, commonly lignitic clay. The clay is at some places rather hard. Several possible expla- nations of the thinness of the Wilcox along the Chattahoochee and eastward in Georgia suosits to those found in Alabama and Tombigbee River sec- tions, which would not be the case if there had been a marked difference of physical condi- tions in the west Georgia area. In addition the extensive interval of emergence at the close of the Wilcox and a transgression of the basal Claiborne wliich I have claimed on general grounds finds local confu-mation in the Geor- gia region in the admittedly great overlap of the lower Claiborne deposits and in the phys- ical evidences of unconformity between the Wilcox and Claiborne observed by Veatch and Stephenson.^ From Chattahoochee River northeastward poorly fossUiferous exposures of the Wilcox are identified at intervals over a belt 5 or 6 miles in width as far as Flint and Ocmulgee rivers. If the Wilcox was ever present in eastern Geor- gia it is now deeply buried beneath the Clai- borne overlap. Deposits carrying a small fauna suggesting the Nanafalia formation, and 1 Smith, E. A., and Johnson, L. C, Tertiary and Crotaceous strata or the Tuscaloosa, Tombigbee, and Alabama rivers: T. S. Cool. Survey Bull. 43, 1887. Smith, E. A., Johnson, L. C. uml Langdnti. !>. W.. jr., Report on the geology of the Coastal Plain of Alabama, -Mabama Geol. Survey, 1894. s Georgia Geol. Survey Bull. 26, p. 228, 1911. ■\VILCOX GROUP. 35 coiiscquoiitly rcfcrrod to th(> Wilcox grou]), are roprcsciitcd ill tlic Santoo drainage hasiii of South Carolina t>y tlu' Wiiliainshur^ I'oniia- tioM, Mliicli is tlu> easternmost known outcrop. The Acjuia formation of t!ie middle Atlantic slope in Maryland and \'iri;inia is un'(uestion- alilv in ])art contemporaneous witii the Wilcox of tile Soutliern Stales. It represents, iiow- ev<'r. either a (hfl'ereiif LCeoloLjic proxince or an area of sedimentation separated hy a consiiler- abl(> (>as1ward extetisioii of Koecne land in the North Carolina iH'i,Mon. its fauna and lithol- o<;y lieiiote typically marine (h'])()sition, and as only two vague ft)rms ascrilied to Caroolilhus represent the terrestrial llora. it lias little int(>r- est in the present t'onneclion.' West of Tonil)igl)e(" Kiver in Alahama the strike of the Wilcox formations swings around to the northwest ami hecoiiies due north in Mis- sissippi. The formational units of Alaliaina lose their identity within a short distance from the Mississippi line l)y a gradual transition into sands and clays without marine faunas but containing an abundant representation of the terrestrial flora. The Wilcox deposits form a belt in northern Mississi[)pi in places .5tJ miles wide and underlie all tii(> State exc(>pt the northeastern tier of counties. Lithologically these beds are divisible info ihi'ee formations, which Lowe ^ has named the Ackerman beds (at the base), the Holly Springs sands (middle formation), and the Cirenada beds (at the top). The Ackerman formation,^ named from the to^\^l of Ackerman in Choctaw County, is pre- vailingly argillaceous and consists of about .300 feet of dark-gray lignitic and ferruginous sandy clays, beds of lignite, consiilerable concr(>- tionary and bedded carbonate of iron, and fer- ruginous sandstones. A 6-foot \n'x\ of liter devoted to local sections. Tile Grenada formaliun, n.-imed from tlie town and county in nortii-centi-al Mississippi, is prevailingly ai'gill.iceous and consists of about 200 feet iif |)iiikish ol' yellow to cimcolate, sandv micaceous laminated (days and i'ei-rugi- nous sands, givatly resembling lithologically tiie llatehetigbee formaliun (if .Mabama. It has not l)een found to contain any i-emains of inxcr- tebrates. This formation dues nut contain any considerable amount of lignite, and deleiiuina- ble fossil pliuits have been found only at tiie, type locality. In passing northward into Tennessee the out- cropping strata carrying a AVilcox llora strike somewhat east of north, appearing as a broad belt fi-om 30 to 60 miles in widtli. The lower (Ackerman) formation of tiie Wilcox group of Mississippi has not been recognized in Tennes- see. Tiie strata of Wilcox age in Tennessee form an indivisiiih^ unit- fliat corresponds in great pai't, iiotli lithologically and paleobo- tanically, to the middle formation (Holly Springs sand) of the Wilcox group of Missis- sippi. The beds consist of interbedded sands, clays, and lignites, but the lignites are much less developed than in tiie basal Wilcox of Mississippi and Alabama. The bedding dif- fers greatly from ])lace to place and numer- ous local unconformities are emphasized i)y redeposited pei)i)les and l)alls from contem- poran(H)us clay lenses. Tiie sands are fine lo coarse and range from white to orange or red. The clays range from pure gray plastic clays to sandy lignitic clays. Mfist of tluMn are higii in silica and contain an ai)undant flora. (See pp. 40-42 forsections.) Tlie thickness has not been determined but is proi)ai)ly from .lOO to 600 feet. Li tiie deep well at Memphis, 2.5 miles W(!st of fiie western outcrop of strata of Wilcox age, these beds were reported to be between 7.50 and 800 feet in fiiickness. Tiie heavy beds of lignite, so ])idminent in tiie upper beds of Wilcox age near tiie iiead of tlie embay- nient from Maylicdd, Ky., westward, are appar- ently represented l)v tiie fiiick beds of lignite in the upper part of i\w strata of Wilcox ago reported from numerous wells in the western parts of Haywood and Weakley counties, Ten n. 36 LOWER EOCEXK FLORAS OF SOUTITEASTERX XORTil AJIERICA. Tlu> strike of the beds of Wilcox aported frt)m several outcrops. Deposits of Wilcox age extend aci'oss Texas from the Saliine .southwcstward to the international boundary and on across the Eio Grande an indeterminable distance into Mexico. West- ward fi'om Sabine Kiver, that is. landward from the Eocene sea, the complex of sands, clays, lignites, and marine fossiliferous calcareous glauconitic marls of tlic Sai)ine section merge in a short distance into pi-actically unfossilifer- ous littoral deposits nnide up of intertunguing lenses of sands, lignitic selenitic clays with traces of leaves, and lignit(>s. Large concre- tionary masses of hard sandstone are character- istically developed in some areas. These lig- nitic and littoral sands and days have an esti- mated thickness of 500 to 600 feet. The upper- most Wilcox in northeast Texas consists of stratified white and red sands and sandy clays, entirely unf ossilif erous and free from any consid- erable cjuantity of lignite. These sands con- stitute the Queen City beds of Kennedy.' West of Colorado River no detailed studies have been made, but deposits of Wilcox age are extensively developed along the Rio Grande as coarse sands overlain l\v fine micaceous sand- stones, which are succeeded l)y alternating beds of shales, sandstones, aud workable lignites. The whole thickness is estunated to be at least 850 feet. These data complete a brief sketch of the lithologic character, succession, and areal dis- tribution of the deposits of Wilcox age, from their easternmost occurrence in Georgia to the place where they cross the Rio Grande into Mexico, a distance of nearly 2,000 miles along the strike. STRATIGRAPHIC RELATIONS. The stratigraphi<' relations of I lie Wilcox group ai-e relatively simple. Tlu'ougliout its known extent it overlies the (l("|iosits of the Mid- way formation and is in tui'u overlain by those of the Clail)orne gi-oup. Tlicse relations have always been considered to t)e those of conform- ity, l)ut there are many indications of a long interval of erosion between the Midway and the Wilcox, and a less conclusive amount of data indicates a similar interval lietween the Wilcox and the Claiborne. Considering first the un- 1 Kennedy, William, .\ctid. Nat. Sci. riiiladelpliia I'roc, \(p. 135-136, 1,S95. WILCOX GROUP. 37 Gonforinity ])etween the Miihvuy and Wilcox, I am awaro of only one or possibly two local- ities where liiroct ])hysical evidouce of an erosion interval is available. The fii-st locality is in the vicinity of Fort Gaines, Ga., wiiere numerous pothole-like depressions in limestone of the Midway formation, in places 20 feet m depth, are filled with Wilcox deposits. A second locality widely removed from the pre- eedin Blud' and the line between Maverick and Wet)b coun- ties, according to information communicated hy L. W. Stephenson, marine fossiliferous beds of limestones, clays, and glauconitic sands of Midway age are separated by a marked erosional unconformity from tlie o\-erlying beds provisionally regarded as of Wilcox age. The Wilcox consists of 200 to 2.50 feet of u-regularly bedded medium to coarse grained sandstone, with subordinate tliin laminated layers and laminar of gray clay, many thick massive lenses of sand, more or less lignitic, and much fragmentary vegetable material. At one place a well-developed basal conglom- erate 2 to o feet tliick, is largely made up of pebbles of h'on carbonate derived from the underlying Midway. In so vast an area, where all the studies have been of a reconnaissance nature, breaks in the sedimentation will prob- ably not be easily recognizable in the field, par- ticularly when the general lilhologic similarity bet<\eeu shallow water and littoral sediments of different ages is borne iu mind. Besides the faunal changes that mark the transition from Midway to W^ilcox, wliich are considerable, and the floral changes, which are inade(juatcly known because of the paucity of the Mid- way ( ?) flora, it may be noted tluit succeeding the Midway, during which time mariiu; faunas penetrated northward at least into Tennessee, there was preserved at the base of the Nana- falia formation an extensive bed of lignite from .") to 7 feet in thickness. That this was formed in place (autochthonous) by terrestrial vegetation and that tlur marine waters had withdrawn southward beyond tlur present out- croj) is almost certainly estaldished. It may also be noted tlial northward along the contact of the outciop of the Wilcox beds with the Midway successively younger Wilcox betls rest on the Midway, so that the middle Wilcox (Holly Springs sand) of Oxford and IIoUv Springs, Miss., several huiulred feet above the base of the Wilcox in that latitude, are the ex- treme basal deposits of the beds of Wilcox age in Henry County, Tenn. These horizons can be traced i)y the lithology and are strikingly confirmed l)y tiie distribution of the flora in the eiLstern Gulf area. In addition the well records available for studj' show that the Wil- cox as a whole becomes tliicker down tlie dip, a sure indication of either erosion or of deposi- tion (luring an ailvance and subsequent retreat of the Gulf waters. In tlur western (iulf area the floras ar(> not sulhciently rei)resented for exact correlation. Nevertheless, as shown in the discu.ssion of the local sections and of correlation, all the floras across Arkansas and Louisiana westward t(j Wilson County, Tex., are not older than the Holly Springs sand (middle Wilcox). The de- posits containing these floras commoidy lie but a short distance above the top of the dejiosits of Midwaj' age, as at Benton and Malvern in iVi-kansas or along Calaveras Creek in 'Wilson Count}', Tex. Tbe well records in the Naborton oil field of western Louisiana show that thick bephenson ' at sev(>ral localities in western Georgia; on tlie littoral character of tiie basal beds (Tallahatta buhi-stone) of the Claiborne ' Veatch, otto, and Stephenson, L. W., Georgia Gool. Survej' Bull. 26, p. 228, 1911. 38 LOWER EOCEXE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN XORTH AMERICA. <;jroup; on the luulouhtod fjreat overlap of the lower Claiborne in Georgia; on the very great change in faunas, and especially in floras, in passing from the Wilcox to the Clail)orne, for of over 300 known species of Wilcox jjlaiits less than half a dozen have been discovered in the extensive floras of the Claiborne. Evidence of the northward thinning of the Claiborne, indi- cating deposition during transgression and n-- treat of the watere is furnished by the sections along Crowlej-s Ridge. Ark. The section on Boli- var Creek containing Wilcox plants is discussed on page 52. A considera])le l)ed of lignite lies at or near the base of the Claiborne at numerous localities in Ai'kansas, Louisiana, and Texas." The conclusion is reached that the relations of land and water in this area between the end of the Upper Cretaceous and the dawn of the SECTIONS IN MISSISSIPPI. GRENADA, GRENADA COINTY. An abundantly fossiliferous outcrop in a bluff on llie right l)ank of Bogue Kiver half a mile al)ove the wagon bridge and 1 mile east of Grenada, in Grenada County, Mi.ss., was discov- ered by E. N. Lowe, State geologist of Mi.ssis- si])pi. It is of considerable importance because of its location so far south in theembavment area and also because it is so near the top of the Wil- cox group, for the overlying Claiborne outcrops within a mile or two to the west, and the plant- bearinn; horizon is hence within 100 feet of the contact of the Wilcox and the Claiborne. The whole section is about 1.50 feet in thickness, but the upper and more sandy portion is mostly concealed by slumping and vegetation. Along Southerr, Alabama Upper embaymer.t -— _ ^^___^ Emergence at close of Wilcox (Hatchetigbee ^^:==- Wilcox group j Bashi Tuscahoma Nanafalia La Giang'J =- S. / Naheola Midway— Wilcox emergence N. Midway group < Sucarnochee I Clayton Porters Creel< Upper Cretaceous emergence "^^^"^ Figure L— Di ijn"am showing oscillations of the strand line iu the Mississippi embayment during earlier Eocene time. Claiborne or middle Eocene were as shown in figure 1. THE PLAXT-BEARING OUTCROPS. The individual sections in the Wilcox group that are exposed to observation are nowhere of very great thickness but hi many places can be augmented by well records, and as the attitude of the deposits is so uniform through- out most of the region in wiiich tliey occur it is possible to trace the different horizons from place to place in spite of the very great lateral variabilit}' of the materials. The following sections of plant-bearing out- crops arc considered in geogi-aiiliic order from! lie southernmost, in Mississippi, northward around the head of the embayment and then southwest- ward across Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. 1 See Berry, E. W., Erosion intervals in the Eocene of the Mississippi embayment: U. S. Geol. Survey Prof. Paper 95, pp. 73-82, 1915 (Prof. Paper 95-F). the river the bluff shows about .30 feet of lami- nated brownish, more or less indurated, sili- ceous clay that contains white, somewhat mica- ceous sand films, slightly iron stained and much less micaceous than the material around Ox- ford, Miss. The clays carry considerable com- minuted lignite and abundant plant remams, especially about 1,5 feet above the base. (See PL VI, A, p. 44.) I have identified the follow- ing 6.3 species, which I collected from this out- crop with the assistance of Dr. E. N. Lowe: Anucardiles grcvillcafolia. Ai)ot'yii()i)hylhiiii mississii)])iciisis. Apocynopliylluiii Ki]iindil'olLum. Aralia aceril'olia. Aralia jorgcnseui. Arlor-arpus puugeus (?j. liaiiksia saffordi. Jiiiiuclia greuadensis. CiL'iioiuyces pestalozzites. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 91 PLATE IV .1. EXPOSURE OF FOSSILIFEROUS CLAY OF WILCOX AGE IN THE LAGRANGE FORMATION AT PURYEAR, TENN. B^ EXPObURE OF FObblLlFEROUb CLAY IN THt HOLLY bPlilNGS SAND AT OXFORD, MISS. U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 91 PLATE V .1. CALCAKEOUS CONCRETIONS IN SANDS OF THE WILCOX GROUP, SHREVEPORT, LA. I. ■•■ y.. vx- ,. :v.- Ss^- -*W1-T B. LIGNITE BALLS OR CONCRETIONS IN SANDS OF THE WILCOX GROUP AT LEIGH, TEX. PLAXT-BEABIXG OUTCROPS. 39 Canavalia eofeuica. but 10 Loguiniuosir, 4 L!iuriic(>:r, And 3 Moni- Canna pocoriiia. q^-^^ FiftecMi spooios sire poculiiir to this Cappariseo.eiii.a. localitv. Thov arc ivfciTod to the <;oucrii Caroolithus u'l't'iiadcnsis. • . "in" \ r d r i' Can,oUthu.pilo,ar,.„i,le«. Apocynopl.yllu.n, Aral.a, Bunic-ha, ( arpo- CanioUtliufi soi.horites. lithus, Cassia, Danx-rgitcs, iMii^i-ma, ^l^ml- Cassia gleimi. sops, Myrcia, Nii)a(liU>s, Phyllitc-;. i\w\ Tcr- Cassia low-ii. niiiialia. None of llicin arc generic type-; ])c- Cassia missLssippit'iisis. ^.^jjj.^j. ^^ ^]j,. i,,,.,,^^ oxccpt Dalhcrijitcs and „, • , , • ■• Xina( itcs. A ivfcrciu-c to the tabic ol ilis- Chrvsol)alaiuisiuicriiuUi.s. ^>i| .i m. , , i • Chrysophylhim (i.-ifolia. tribiitioii shows that 10 oi tlic Grcnaila species, Citliarexyloacolifiuiiicuiii. or 17 per cent, appear m the Ackcrnian for- DallKTsitcKclliptiiiiciluis. matiou or l)asal Wih'ox, and that 'A'.i sjjccics, Dalbei-ites ovatus. ^j, -^ ,,,,|^, ,,|,j, ,.„„,in()n to the I'urvcar Dilleiiitos tetracoraldlia. -i i-, Dillenites t«xonsis. locality. Diyophyllum ].uiyeai(Mi.si8. OXFORD, I.AI'AVETTE COCXTY. Dryophyllum touut'sst'ousis. Engclliardtia ottiusshauseui. rp^^^ scc^tious ill and around Oxford are of Fu°usmon of the fossil FicuK imryearensis. plants they contain but particularly since the Fraxiiiusjoliiistrui)!. so-callcd Lafayette formation was named from Gleditsiopliyllum ccii'ouunim. Lafayette (Vnintv, Miss., and the railroad cuts Juglaus«dunii)cri. ^^ Oxford wer(> considered the tvpe section of -,.,„., ... , . this formation bv IIi!u;ard, ballord. Smith, and Mem))livl!()ules eltingshaasem. • , n • i MespilodaplHie coligmtica. McG(>(^' There are no deep wells in the county Metopium wilcoxianum. which would serve to givn^ the distance above Mimosites varialnlis. ^l^e l)ase of the Wilcox, but a rough estimate MimuEops nussis.sipi.ion,sis. ^1^^,^^,^ -^ ^^ |,^, inHweeu ;]00 and .S.')0 feet. The Myrcia lieutciuensis. ,. , , , , ,. , , tit-i r ,, , ,/ . , . littoral character of the Wilcox sediments at MvTria greiiadeusis. • ,, , • i /• i i M>Tka wilfoxonsis. this horizon IS well shown ui the lew selected Nectaudra lancifolia. sections that follow. (See PI. IV, 5.) Nectaudra pseudocoriacea. Nipaditee burtiui aml)onatua. Section east of nnnoii Cmtral liailroad, one-half mile north Oreodaplme ol)tusil-c)lia, of depot ol Oxford. ^_^^^ Phyllites wilcoxeiisis. j 2,.^^^^ j.^.^^^ 1_ 2 Planera creuata ( ?) . 2. Rather noarso Ijrou-a stratified sand -1- G Proteoidas wilcoxensis. g^jj^ Springs sand : Ptens pseudopuuuetormis. 3 q,.^^, ^^ ^,,1,;,^ s^iiipcous clay masses oi greater Khamnus cleburui. ^^ ^^^ s\zaA'i's liave Ix'cn found in them, possibly because they do not lend tlieniselves to exploi- tation. The leaf remains are not especially a])un massive cla_\s and rei)resent a is irregular and neighboring exposures show consideraljle flora. Palm lea\-es are especially pellets or larger disconnected masses of clay, abundant and large, some being several feet in Tliese features arc due primarily to current diameter bedtlmg and weathermg and are intraforma- tional, as is conceded bv McGee. This rela- I (, they are very difficult to collect. The following species occm- here : Railroad cut. tion is indicated by tracuig the exposure up the near-by ravine to the northeast, as shown in the following section. The strata included in the preceding section are overlain hi this local- ity bj' t3']:)ical leaf-bearmg clays of tiie Wilcox. Section in ravine at Oxford about ii)0 yiirds north o/ the coiirlhoune . Feet. 1. Bro-.vn loam 0-1 Holly Sprlflgs sand: 2. Loam grading into reddisli compact, rather fine sands with a few scattered pieces of limonite (probably not a ])rimary feature); the sands become looser and are buff toward the base 9-10 3. Similar stratified sands, lighter in color and more aigillaceous than material in No. 2, carrying small clay pellets at the base; about 5 4. Grayish sandy clay, more or less ferruginous stained and containing some scattered thin iron crusts 3- 4 5. Brownish stratified sand similar to that of No. 2, containing layers of gray laminated clay grading into brownish or bluish lami- nated clay 5- 6 G. Laminated clays passing gradually into darker, more massive, and somewhat more micaceous clays, in places very arenaceous and containing numerous leaves of plants. L'O Bed Xo. 6 grades horizontally into the Apocynophyllum tal)ellarum. Ficus vaughani. Orco])anax oxfordeiisis. Sabalites grayaiuis. Sapindurt oxforden,: is. Ravine. Acacia wilcoxensis. Apocynophyllum wilcoxense. Caenomyces laurinea. Cjenomyces myrtle. Csenomyces pestalozzites. Caenomyces sapotse. Canna eocenica. Cinnamon! u ra mississippiensis. Cinnamomum vera. Dryophyllum tennesseensis. Ficus ci7inamomoides. Glyptostrobus europseus. MjTcia bentonensis. MjTcia vera. Neclandra lowii. Nectandra psendocoriacea. Oreopanax oxfordensis. PatfodendroTi americannm. Pithocolobium oxfordensis. Sabalites grayanus. Zizyphus meigsii. This horizon is comparable to tlw buff clays carrying »Sa])a,lites which tmderlio tihe clay lens at Puryear in Henry County, Temt, and wlt'ch have furnished the very large flora described lighter sandy laminated clays exposed along from that locality. the raiL-oad immediately south of the first I give only one other section at O.xfoi-d, one section and are at the same level as the lower that shows even more conclusively than the sands m that section. The massive argilla- preceding section that th(> Wilcox m this county ceous beds in the ravine are somewhat bluish is indivisible and tluit there is nothing cor- in color but on drying become brownish responding to a Lafayette formation in La- banded ringing clays. The gray films of sand f ayette CountJ^ Section ofllolhi Springs sand in cut. of Illinois Central Railroad 1 mile north of Oxford depot. Feet. 1. Yellowish argillaceous stratified sand, grading downward into No. 2; about 10 2. Grayish and pinkish sands, much cro.ss-bedded, with clay laminoe 10 3. Medium coarse, much cross-bedded micaceous sand.s alternating in 2 to 4 foot beds with 2 to 3 foot beds of very thinly laminated greenish or pinki.sh gray clay containing fine .sand films, the whole about 25 I McGee, W J, U. S. Geol. Survey Twelfth Ann. Kept., pt. 1, p. «7, fig. 58. 1891. PLAXT-BEARIXG OUTCROPS. 41 Deep wells arc ]iirkin<; ihroui^hoiit l.afay(>tit'(' County. The only record tluit I can lind is that of the city well at Oxford, given by Cridor and .lohnson ' on the aiithority of W. N. Logan and ^V. R. Perkins. It furnishes a welcome addition to the surface ex])osures in this vicinity, Section of Wilcox at Oxford, Miss. 00 Sand and clay Clay Clay .Sand 1 to 6 from section exposed in ravine (ci) Continued downward from city well record Figure 2.— Section of Wilcnx deposits at Oxford, Miss. and sliows tliat the Wilcox has a niiiiiniuin thickness of at least oOO feet at this ])(>int. The record is as follows : Record nf cit'i veil al Urfortl. .\tisn. ('I;u ami sand Sand (lay Soai)st(ini' (clay I llanl sand.-itono. Feet. . 90 . to . 17 .50 ' Crider, A. F., and Johnson, L. C, U. S. Geol. Survey Water-Supply Paper 15'.l, p. Co, 1900. In ligure 2 is given a diagram of the section as nuvisured in the ravine north of the court- house, together with the downward contijiua- tion of the beds as shown in th(>. record of the city well. IIOI.I.V SI'lilNG.S, MARSHALL COUNTY. Botli tlie potteries at Holly .Springs obtain their clay from n(>ar-by exposures in tlie same liill al)out 11 miles cast of tlie town. The small op(Miing an the south slope of this hill shows the following sequence of materials: Secliiiii (ij Ilolhj Sprinys sand al Iloih) S/trings, Miss. Feet. J. Brownish .sandy luam; about 5 2. Gray sandy clay bocoming purer, more distinctly bedded, and darker toward the base, where it carrie.s fnndy i)r(werved impressions of leaves; exposed JO The leaf-bearing portion is 1 to 2 feet thick and is underlain by more sandy materials. The following species occur here: Anacardites marshallensis. Bumelia lanni^inosafolia. Cffisaliunia wilcoxiana. Caesalpinitos niississippiensis. Canavalia eucenica. Capparis eoceniea. Cassia emarginata. Cassia fayettensis. Cassia wilcoxiana. Cedrela wilcoxiana. Cinnamonnnn oljovatus. Cinnaraomum vera. Citharexylon eoligniticiim. Dillenites serratus. Dryophylhim tennesseensis. Drypetes prelateriflora. Engelhard t ia et tingshausen i . Ficussp. Ficus myrtifolius. Gleditsiophyllnm entadalormis. Gledit.''io]ihyllnni fructuosum. Guettardaelliplicifolia. Lsigunciilaria ])r<'racpmo8a. Nectandra pseudocoriacea. Oreodaphne ini.ssissippiensis. Oreodaphne obtusifolia. 42 LOWER KOCEXE FLUiUS OF SOUTHEASTEHX NOHJ U AMEKICA. Paliurus auiiusUi^. Celastrus minor. Paliurus mL-<.sLs,iaiM)rtana. Sophora wilcoxiaiKl. EAHI.Y GROVE, MAK.SIIAI.E COLXTY The larger opLMiiiiij (lu llic iiortli slope shows 3 to 5 feet' of l)r<.wnish argillaceous sand, under- ^arly Grove is situated in northeastern Mar- lain hv about 20 feet of grav stratified clav in ^^'"^'1 CVnmty, Miss., at an elevation between l).-ds that are alternatelv oif different degrees ^''^ ^'''^ ^OO feet, less than 15 miles directly of purity or sandiness. " At the base of tlie "1""? ^^"^ ^^'''^^ '"""^'1 °^ ^^^'^ Pl'^"^ locality at exposure in a near-bv ravine the following ^oUy Springs. The exact locality is at Well- species were collected: !^o''"^' ^^o"* ^ ^^^^^ southeast of the town and ,, . . ^ just east of the public road, where extensive Cassia emai-gmata. n- i i i 1 ■ , Cedrela wilcoxiana. gullies have been eroded m tlie upland. The Celastnis bruckmauuifolia. following section is exposed: SfClion 0/ lloUij Sjiriiif/s sand iil Enrli/ (Sroic. Miss. Feet. 1. Orange, brown, yellow', and gray compact coarse cross-bedded sand, grading downward into Xa 2 ! \..' 15 2. Gray, more or less ferruginous stratified sand ; thin iron crust at base 15 3. Gray, pinkish, and white arenaceous laminated clay, containing in places thin iron crustsand poorly preserved impressions of leaves, grading downward into No. 4 8 4. Brownish-drab, rather pure clay, thickly laminated, and containing thin films of fine liglit sand with well-preserved leaf impressions; exposed 4-5 A small collection was made here in 1S.S9 by Hetcrocalyx saportana. L. C. Jolmson from Xo. 4, and three specimens ^^'^^ vomitoriaiolia. from No. 3 were collected bv W J McGec Inga imsstssippiensis. Lvcododites ( .') eoligniticus. shortly afterward. McGee's specimens are Mimosites variabilis. Cassia eolignitica Berry, Engelhanltia (Oreo- Paliurus mississippiensis. munnea) mississippiensis Berry, and Sapindus Sapindus linearifolius. mississippiemis Berry. I visited this locality Sapindus mississippiensis. in 1910 and 1913 and collected mucli material hurleys, bextox coi'XTY. from the lower member. A study of this col- rp^jg y^^^y.^y^ l^lo,^^, ^s Hurlevs schoolhouse, lection and that made by Jolmson furnishes ^nd formerly in Tippah County ])ut now in the foUowmg list of species: Bentim Comity, was discovered by E. W. Antholithus marshallensis. Ililgard before the Civil War, and his collection Avicennia nitidaiormis. formed the basis for a number of species Bumclia pseudotenax. described by Lesquereux in 1S69. Bumelia wilcoxiana. The outcrop is 4 miles west of the town of iBsa pinia ^M ( oxiana. Blue Mountain, Miss., and had not been re- Canavalia acuminata. ■ • i -i • i- 1 1 t-. at t Capparis eocenica. Visited untd it was rediscovered by E. N. Lowe Cassia eolignitica. in 1912. I visited it in company with Dr. Cassia glenni. Lowe in 1913. The schoolhouse has long since Cassia mar.,hallensis. disappeared, and its site, on the summit of a low Cassia teniiesseensis. ' 1 'ii • • 1 1 t^i ^ t-> i /-11 1 /-\ ^ , , hill, IS occupied by l^lat Itock Church. On Cedrela mi.ssi.ssip])iensis. ' . Celastrus eolignitica. the slopes of the hill the leaf-bearing clay iron- Celastrus veatchi. stone outcrops as an almost concealed ledge Engelhardtia ettingshauseni. about 20 feet below the top of the hill, overlain Engelhardlia mis.sis.sippiensis. ^^. |,j.p^^,j ,,j. rp^ijiigh^ ^^^^^.^ oj. j^^^ hlduraled Euonvmus splendens. " 1 mi i /• i • i ■ n Exostemapseu.locarib«;um. f'"l- ^he leaf-bearing layer is generally Ficus mjTtifolius. "'ee fi'om sand and is laminated and high in Glyptostrobus europaeus. iron. Below this stratum lies an undetermined PLAXT-BEARIXG OUTCROPS. 43 thickness of gray saiidv clavs of (he Ackcrinan Kluimnus marginatus. formation of the Wilcox -roup. Tlie outcrop ]Rha.nnu.raar,.mu.tusai>i.-ulat,.s. IS pro])ably less than 100 foot above the base Terminalia KsLvana. of the Wilcox, as tiie contact witii the Sucar- noochee clay of the underlying Midway group Of these 31 species only tiie followuig 10 arc is onl_y about IV miles to the east. The fol- peculiar to this outcrop: A-s/dtnium Iturlci/- lowing species occur at (liis outcrop, wliich (usis, Admimi leiocarpa, Binnclia Jturlej/ensl's, throughout the systematic portion of my work Conlla {?) loini, Knr/nun hilfianliana. Far/ara is referred to sinijily as '•Hurleys:" hudeijensis, Glf(litsioj)hiilhim hihiardianinn, L>/- , . , , qodiiim, hinervntnm, Pisorna chloroiihi/lloides, At^plemuin liurli-vciisia. ,7,7 • , • 7 ^ 'ivr, ■Vsimina leiocarpa """ Jinamniis mcmnnatris ajnculaiiis. len Btimt'lia hurleyonsia. species are common to Puryear, 1 additional to Bumelia pseuilotonax. Wickliffe, and 1 additional to Boaz, making a Coml. return ovalis. 1,-,^.,! ,,f jj speci(>s that rang(> from beds near Cordia (') lomi. ^j^^, ,^,^^^^ j^^ jj^^^ yf ^,^^ ^yjj^^^ DiUeiutes ovatus. ' " Drvoplivllum moorii. Eul-emahiL^araiana. '•"■TS ^-AMP, HKNTON (OUNTV. Fatrara hurleyensis. „,, . , . , i, • -.r 1 n Ficus monodon. The iron ores that occur m a belt m Marshall, Ficus occidentalLs. Benton, and Lafayette counties, Miss., in the Ficu.s purycarcnsis. lower ])ai'l of tlie Wilcox group bear an inti- FioiLs Pchimperi. ,-)^,,(j. i-elatiou to tlic palustrine and lagoon Glediisiophylh.m hik-ardianuni. rhara<-tcr of carlv Wilcox plivsical con.litions. Ma^'iiolia leei. '" southern Benton County these ores are Mespilodaphno colisnitira. Worked ui a small Way in a h)cality known as the Mimuso])s eolignitira. Potts Camp district .' Tliev occur ill the Acker- MjTcia be„tonen.is. ^^^^^ formation, tile lowest" of the three forma- M-\Tica ohranoidos. . . i . '1 1 -.tt-i t -m- ■ Kectandra lanrifolia. tlOllS Ulto which the \A llcox group ot MlSSlS- Nectandra pseudocoriaroa. sippi is divided. The general character of Oreodapbne obtusifolia. tj^^gg ly^,^\^ i^. indicated by the following section Oreodaphne piirvoaronsis. « ,, i 1 -i i j' \ i : , m, ,,.< ,,,t Osmanthus podatu.s. o^ ^^'^' cut 1 mile east of Ack.M-man m Choctaw Pisonia clilorophylloides. County, as given by Crider and Lowe: Scclion of Aclcrman foriDdtion 1 mile cast nf Arhcrman. .Vi>s. 1. Sandstone and sands wliirh have been cemented inlo a ferruginoii.s maw capping the ridge: in Feet. ])laees this sandstone is 10 to 15 feet thick -'J 2. Yellow stratified sand 1" :i lied of lignite, which is nut contimnnis Imt changes laterally into a dark lignitie clay; more or less sand and mica throughout the mass of lignite and lignitie ela^- ■) 4. Dark-blue clay weathering to gray '' j 5. Impure lignite ^ G. Choeolato-colored joint clay '^ 7. Tliin band of ferruginous sandstone i 8. Dark-blue clay, similar to that of .\o. -1 -1^ 9. Laminated dark clay *' 10, Laminated clay in whii'h thin ferruginous Ininds alternate with soft chocolate clay 5 11. Gray micaceous joint clay, weathering to white 5 In the Potts Camp area extensive exposures bencnith whicii is a 10 to 20 incli seam of car- are lacking. Reddish sands a few feet in thick- bonate or spathic iron, underlain by an undc- ness overlie a 15-mcli more or less nodular termined thickness of clay. This ore is of seam of brown oxide ore, which was probaljly nearly theoretic purity and marks a horizon deposited as carbonate. This is underlain by that can be traced for several miles in discon- about 40 feet of gray, more or less lignitie clay, tinuous exposures. It beare every indication ' Lowe, K, N,, Preliminary report ou the iron ores of Mississippi- Mississippi Oeol, Survey liull. 10, 19i:i, 44 LOWER EOCENE FLOIUS OF SOUTHEASTERN NOI!Tll A.MEUR'A. of havino; been nearly if not entirely contiinious at the time of formation and furnishes strikina; evi(h>nce of the pakistrine character of the early Wilcox, the low surface of the Wilcox mainland, the absence of terrigenous materials m the Wilcox lagoons at this time, and tlie liighly ferruginous character of I lie run-off, jiossibly derived from the glauconite of the Upper Cre- taceous mamland to the east. Iron salts in the presence of carbonic acid and certaiji bacterial organisms are converted into ferrous carbonate and deposited directly from solution. The ferric hvdroxide formed would So far as I have observed, these iron carbon- ates arc unfossilif(>rous, and they lie somewhat above the leaf-bearing ferruginous sandstone at Hurleys. More than two l(>vels are developed at other localities, and these levels are probably not exactly synclironous throughout northeastern Mississipi)i. SECTIONS IN TENNESSEE. GRAND .JUNCTION, KAYETTE COUNTY. The beds numberetl 1 to 6 m the following section were measured about 1 mile south of be reduced to ferrous hydroxide by the action Grand Junction, Fayette County, Tenn., at an of the decaying organic matter and the carbon elevation of about 570 feet above sea level, dioxide freed m the accompanying reactions The rest of the section (beds numbered 7 to 9) woidd unite with the ferrous hydroxide, form- is taken from a well record at Grand Junction ing the normal ferrous carbonate. given by L. C. Glenn.' Section of beds of Wilcoz age near Grand Junction. Fni/ettc Counti/, Tenn. 1. Yellowish loamy stmtifiod .«aud becoming coarser below, in places purplish; contains a few Feet. ferruginous .sand-fillod ' ' bombs " ; thickens to the east 2-15 2. Small white clay lens 0-2 3. Buff to gray stratified sand 3 4. Gray clay, more or less sandy and generally thinly laminated, with ferruginous films or a few thin iron crusts; in places a pure hard ringing white clay 15-20 5. Iron crust not far above base of formation -iV~ i 6. Coarse gray to brown sand similar to lower part of bed No. 1 . with here and there argillaceous bands an inch or two in thickness 7. \Mute sharp sand §. Wiite plastic clay 9. Reddish sand, coarse at top and l>ottom and finer in the middle, penetrated 5- 6 20 2 139 Brown compact sand 10' xReworked gray clay l'-4' Cross-bedded brownish sand with much angular pea gravel and iron crusts 5'-lo' Pinkish ferruginous leaf impressions are (lis- The plant-bearing daj- is obviously a lens, tributed throughout bed No. 4, usually between since it thins within a short 'distance both to the clay laminie, and arc as a rule poorly pre- the north and to the east. There is a gradual served. A few better-preserved remains have horizontal transition to the east from this clay to brownish sand, and the sands contahi transported masses of the gray clay, indicating two local unconformities at different levels in the beds of Wilcox age. Some geologists consider these reworked clays as proof that the upper part of the section represents a thin stratum of the socaUcnl Lafayette lying nn- conformably upon the Wilcox. Those who arc^ disjiosed to accept this interpre- tation are confronted in the ])receding sectitni by two Lafayette formations separated from each other by an unconformity fuUy as marked as that at the base. PI Plaht^bearing~gray^jay£"- Gray loosesand Transition tocoarse brown sand with some reworked gray clay FiGUEE 3.— Diagrammatic section of Wilcox deposits near Grand Junction, Tenn furnished the following determinabh^ species, among which Euonymus splendcnn in all sizes is by far the most abundant form: Cercis wlcoxiana, Grewiop.sis tonno.sseensis. Combretum ovalis. Oreodaphne obtusifolia. Euonymus splendens. Tcrminalia lesleyana (?). About 100 feet southeast of tlu> plant-bearing section the gullies expiise the section showTi diti- grammatically in figure 3. 1 Glenn, L. C Un(ioi(,Toiiiitt(' Couiil v tuc all cxtciisivelv {2;ullic(l anil show V(>ry similar sections. Ininieilialejy sovilli of tiie town of La Grange (seo PI. ^'l. />l the foUowin<; section is o.xpdscil: Siclion of }>(ds of Wilcox agt soulli oj La drunqi , Ttnn. Feel. 1. Soft, Idd.so lijjlit-yclldw to li;j;ht-c;ray sands, c-ros-s-boddpil 15-18 2. Layer of soil, dark with orijanie trial tcr i li<;iiitic sand ) 1 3. Ma.ssivo Ix'd of brick-re there is a clay lens of irregular .shape S or III feel in maximum thickness 100 In some of thi^se sections Ix'lwcen Grand 'luiielion and La Graiiijc tlie g'"ay sandy clay (of Wilcox a<^e» constitutes the tip])cr ineinlicr and is nnderlaiii liy tlie coarse, ci-oss-heddeci. and casc-iiardcned l)fown sands (so-called La- fayett(^). In other sections those sands lie at the top and reach a ina.Niinnin ol)sei've(l tliieix- Is nesri of 25 to oO feet. I fail to linil any e\i- lower Eocene and the Pliocene. Li fact there is no evidence of ero- sion exce])t tlie fancied evidence common to all sliallow-water deposits of this sort where The lower ])art of tlie section was iiiciiuh'd by McCiee in tiie so-called Lafayette formation, which throughout northern Mississip|)i and wi^stern Tennessee lie considered as nsnaily tri- partite, the upper division l)eiiig massive case- hardened loamy iirick-red sand and tiie middle and lower divisions l)eing softer lirightcr-coloriMl sand, c-onuuonly carrying clay houses or be( containing impressions of leav(>s. He would place tlu' lower 100 feet of tlie above section in tlie middle and lower divisions of the La- fayette and regard the entire Lafayette at La Grange as 200 feet or more in tliickn&ss. Glenn ' considered that beds Nos. 1 and 2 represent the Columbia, No. 3 the Lafayette, and No. 4 the Wilcox. In my judgment only clay lenses of different sizes are inclosed in Wilcox materials are present. This wtus th^ sands of varying lithology and bedding, type locality of Safford's Lagi-ange formation, About halfway between Grand Junction juul anil his early coUectioixs contained the follow- La Grange, Tenn., near tlic eastern border of ing plants: Banksw saffordii (Lesquereux) Fayette County, 1 J miles west of Grand June- Berry, lUiamnus margiiuitus Lesquereux, Ter- tiou, a soutiierly sloping hillside inimedijitely minalki Itilgardiana (Lesquereux) Berry, and south of the public road is incised with old Zizi/pJiiis wngsii (Lesquereux) Berry. I am gullies, now almost entirely covered by a growth able to add Euonymus splemlens Berry as a of scrub. The section is not well exposed but result of my visit. Impressions of leaves are proljably does not dillVr materially from tiie as a rule scattered and poor. section at La Grtinge. l\i -.i small stream clian- About one-fourth of a mile west of the town nel a brownish-drab laminated plastic chi}' sand is quiirried from a large open ])it that W(>11 carrying well-preserved impressions of leaves ihustrates the extreme lateral variation of the is exposed at intervals from 10 to 20 feet below materials of Wilcox age. Orange sand; iron the level of the road. Tiiis same clay lens a p- crusts; drab, somewhat lignitic sands (Glenn's parently extends upward to about 8 feet above "old soil layer"); and pinkish sandy clay with the level of tli(> road and is overlain by 2 to leaf impressions occur at aU levels and replace ,3 feet of brownish or reddish sandy loam, each other within short intervals. Just west of L. C. Glenn made a collection here in 1905 and the sand ])it I obtained the following section: Section of hcfh about onc-fourtli mile nest o/ La Grange, Tenn. Fcot. 1. Brownish sand grading into next member 20 2. (iray sand 5-8 3. Yellow ferruginous argillaceous sand 10 4. Gray sandy (day; about 10 1 Glenn, L. C, op. cit., p. 36. I made several collections in 1910 and 1913. The forms itlentified from these collections are: Anaearditew serratus. Aristolochia wilcoxiana. Banisteria wilcoxiana. Banksia saffordii. CiBuoinyces annulata. Caenomyces ca.ssia.\ Cassia emarginata. 46 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH A.MERICA. Cassia eoli^iiiiica. Cassia fayottonsi.s. Cassia silonni. Cassia mai-shallensis. Cassia mississippiensis. Cassia tennossoensis. Celastnis eoliirnitioa. Combretantliites cocenica. Euonynms spliMi criteria tliey offer for (K'termining ing more or less silica in tlie form of rock the conditions of sedimentation. flour, probably deri\cd from tlie disintegra- Scclion al nil Jk niih.t .south of I'uiiimr, Tcnn., worhid In/ MamUc-Sdnt Co. Feet. 1. Brown Iciam with seal tercel in'!)l)los 5 2. Gravel IkmI of aiii;ular chert ami rouniled quartz pebbles as miu-h :is 3 inches in diameter with semi-indiirated l'ndirulatum. (^rotouoidiyllum eocenieura. Cnpanitcs eoligiuticus, Dalhcrgia cDiM'uira. Dalbergia mouospermoides. PLANT-BEARING OUTCROPS. 49 Dalbergia teimcsseensis. Dalbers^ia wilcoxiaiia. Dilh^uitcs tetra<-crafi>lia. DioHpyros brachy«'i)alii. Diospyros wilcoxiaua. Do(lona3a knowllxjui. Dryojjliylhiin aiiornalum. Dryo|)hyllniii ijurycaroiisls. Drj'ophyllum teuuo«seousis. Drypetes prekoyoiisis. Echitouium laiic<'()latuiu. Eni,'olluirdt ia ct 1 iurjslui usou;. Eiii;elliardtia inirycamisis. Eugenia purycaiciisis. Euonymus .splciidcns. Fiigara eocouica. Fa>,'ara puiyearensis. Fious monodou. Ficiis planicostata maxima. Fifus pseudolmcdiafolia. Ficus pseudi)poj)ulus, Fifus pseudocuiipidata. Ficus puryean'usis. Ficus puryearcusis olongata. Ficus schimpori, Ficus vaughani. Ficus -wilcoxensis. Fraxinus johnstrupi. Fraxinus \viIcoxiaua. Gloditsiophylluin constrict uin. Glcditsiophyllum ellipticum. Glcditsiophyllum coccnicum. Glcditsiophyllum minor. Gloditsioi^liyllum ovatum. Guettarda ellipticifolia. niraea wilcoxiana. Icacorea prejjauiculata. Inga puryearensis. Juglans schimiicri. Knightiophyllum wilcoxianum. Laguncularia jircracemosa . Laurophyllum juvcnalLs. Leguminosites prefoliattis . Leguminosites reiiiformis. Leguminosites suljovatus. Magnolia angustil'olia. Magnolia leei. Maytenus puryearensis. Melastoraitos aincricanus. Mes])ilodaphno coushatta. M<'.>ipilcidaphnc olegans. Mcsjjilodaphne eolignitica. Mcspilodaphne pseudoglauca. Mespilodaphne ))urycarensLs. Mfitopium ^vilcoxiaMum. Mimositos acaciafolius. Mimositos variabilis. Mimusops eolignitica. Mimusops siebcrifolia. Myrcia bentonensis. Myrcia parvifolia. 50243°— 16 i Myrcia puryearensis. Myrcia vera. Myrcia worthonii. Nectandra lancifolia. Nectandra jweudocoriacea. Nectandra i)ury('arensLs. Nectandra sp. Ny.ssa eolignitica. \yssa wilcoxiana. Oreodaj)line oblusifolia. Oreodaphne p.seudogtiiiineusis. Oreodajjlme ])Uryearensis. Orecjdaphne wilcoxensis. Oroopanax minor. OsMiaiilhus jx'datus. Paraengi'lliardtia eocenica. P('r.sca longipctiolatuin. Pi.-^onia eolignitica. Pisonia [luryearensis. Pilhecolobium eoceiiicura. Proteoides wilcoxensis. Pseudolmedia eocenica. Psychotria grandifolia. Beynosia pricnuntia. Reynosia wilcoxiana. Rhamnus ooligniticus. Rhamnus marginal u.'i. Rlianmus puryearensis. Sabalitcs grayamis. Sapindus eolignit icus. Sapindus formosus. Sapindus knowltoni. Sapindus linearifolius. Sapindus mississippieucsis. Sapindus jweudaffinis. Sideroxylou ellipticus. Sideroxylon premastichodendron. Simaruba eocenica. So])hora heinyensis. Sophora mucronata. Sophora puryearen.sis. Sophora repandifolia. Sophora wilcoxiana. St(^rculia puryearensis. Stcrculiocari)Us sezannelloides. Tcrminalia hilgardiana. Terminalia lesleyana. Ternstnemites eoligniticus. Tcrnstroemites lanceolatus. Ternslroemitcs ovatus. Ternstroeraites preclaibornensis. Trapa wilcoxensis. \'antanea ^vilcoxiana. Zizyi)hus falcatus. Zizyphus nieig.sii. The list includes ISl species, an almost un- precedented number from a single horizon at a single locality, and moreover most of these species are represented by numerous specimens. 50 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. There is only 1 species of fern (Aneimia), 1 Myrtace.-e, Rhamnacefe, and Combrctaoere. Of gymnosperm (Arthrotaxis and 1 monoeot}'- Uie Aelverman or lower Wilcox flora, as reprc- Tedon, a palm (Sabalites), which is, liowever, sented hy the 31 species identified from Hurleys, very abundant in the basal ])art of the section. 15 are found at Puryear. The Holly Springs Among the 176 species of dicotyledons the most or middle Wilcox flora of northern Mississippi, abundant genus is Ficus with 10 species. There as represented by the localities from Oxford, arc 27 species of LeguminostB, the largest Miss., nortliward toGrandJunction, Tenn., has genera being Sophora and Gleditsiophyllum, 37 species common to Pmy ear; the latest known each witli .5 species, and Dalhcrgia and Cassia, Wilcox flora (that from the Grenada formation). represented by the 63 species from Grenada, Miss., has 32 forms common to Puryear. The relative abundance and botanic character of these common species show clearly that the base of the beds of Wilcox age in northern Tennessee is of the same age as or is slightly younger than the Holly Springs sand or middle Wilcox of nortliern Mississippi. each with 4 species. In indiviilual al)unihuice species of Sophora and Gleditsiophyllum out- number all the other Leguminos.T. The family Laurace;\} has 17 species, 4 in Nectandra, 4 in Oreodaphne, and 5 in Mespilodaphne. Oreo- daphne obtusifolia is the most abundant laura- ceous form. There are 8 species of Sapindaceaj and 6 species each of Anacardiacete, Sapotacete, Section (It BrcffHoiv pit, 1 mile southurst of Ihnni. Term. Feet. 1. Alternating beds of brown and white argillareous sand 8-10 2. AMiitesand 2- 4 3. Cross-bedded ferruginous sand with some iron crusts at base -1- 5 4. Lens of gray plastic clay with faint impressions of leaves; exposed (in places shown l)y boring to be 16 feet tluck) -1-10 5. Coarse gray quartz sand at east end of pit ; exposed 4 Tliis is an exceedingly interesting section, l)ut it is difficult to correlate in the absence of fossil plants. There is a great yarioty of macerated The whole section is probably of Wilcox age. The leaf remains are complete but very faint, since the leaf substance has neither been pre- served nor replaced nor even stained by ulmic or ferric precipitates. Their condition suggests that scattered leaves may have been present throughout many of these gray clays of Wilcox age and have failed to leave tangible evidence of their former presence. The following species were identified from bed No. 4 at this outcrop: Dryophyllum tennesseensis. Nectandra lancifolia. Sabalites grayanus. SECTIONS IN KENTUCKY. jMAYFIELD, GRAVES COUXTY. About 3i miles southwest of Maj-fieUl, be- tween the Illinois Central Railroad and May- field Creek, in Graves County, Ky., are the extensive clay pits of the Kentucky Con- struction & Improvement Co. The section ex- posed is as follows: Section of day pits .5i miles southwest of Ma;/ field, Ky. Feci. 1. Buff to reddi.sh sandy loam 4-8 2. Buffgravel 5-10 3. I.ight-buff cross-bedded sand 8-10 4. Black compact, somewhat argillaceous lignite 3-12 5. Prab plastic clay with four very carbonaceous lay- ers; about 22 6. Light plastic, somewhat sandy clay; exposed C plant debris in the section, but I found no iden- tifiable remains. I was told on good authority that at times in small areas of certain layers of bed No. 5 the workmen imcovered leaf impres- sions, but unfortunately none were exposed at the time of my visit and no specimc^ns had ever been saved. This section was studied by Glemi in 1905, but not described, although ho gives a photograph of it.' He refers tlie upper part to the Columbia, the midcUe part to the Lafayette, and the basal part to the Wilcox. I see no reason to doubt the Wilcox age of beds Nos. 4 to 6. Beds Nos. 1 and 2 are undiiuhtcdly of Pleistocene age. Bed No. 3 is imconformablc with both the underlying and overlying beds. It is lithologically like so many light-colored cross-bedded santis tlu-oughout the ^Vilcox area that have been called Lafayette that I am in- clined to refer it to the Wilcox. At the town of Mayfield (elevation 4S0 feet) a well furnisluw additional data bearing on tins section. The driller's record is as follows: ^ Record of veil at Mail field, Ki/. Feet. Claylikc loess 12 Orange sand and gravel 278 TMn parting of pipe clay. Wliite water-bearing sand 50 < fUenn, L. C, op. eit., pi. 7,B. = I»lem, p. i:JG. PLAXT-BEARIXG OUTCROPS. 51 WICKI.IFFE, HAI.I.AT;!) COX'NTY. Apparently there is no trace of the hgnitic materials and <'lay lenses of the pn^ceding section, which is less than 4 miles (Ustant. Fossil plants were discovered at WicldifTe These clay lenses shed an interesting light on 1)V R. II. Loughi'idge, atid in his report on the the local conditions of sedimentation during Wilcox time and show that after a considerai)le thickness of littoral sands were dc^posited (lie waters became wholly or ])artly pond(Hl, form- ing a lagoon where clays were deposite-d. Jackson's I'urchasc region, published in 18SS, 12 species were recorded on the authority of Lesquereux. The geology was discussed at considerable^ lengtii. Tlie plants occur in a clay stone in low exposures in branch bottoms Swamp vegetation cliaracterized (Ik^ upward in the soutliern ]iart of the town, and the sec- fluctuation of level and is nuirked by (be car- tion is so tiiin that it has no significance in the bonaceous beds of the section, whic^h show five present connection. Tlic cuts along the Illi- slight npward movements separated by five nois Central Railroad, however, furnish more shght subsidences and followed by a sixth up- extensive exposures of deposits of Wilcox age ward movement, marking a retransgression of in this region. In tlie east side of the cut Uttoral sands. The area has been above water that is south of tlie town and immediately since early Eocene time, excejit for the Pleisto- nortii of niilepost 371-59 the following section cene depressions, and has bciui greatly eroded, is exposed: Section of he of day stone I have determined the 6. Clay or sand; about 10 Louglxridge ' discussed sections in tliis same ridge which were situated somewhat west of those just given. At that time the railroad ran along the river bank, which is now ntuch washed and overgrown. The new right of way following species: skh-ts the eastern instead of the western edge Anacardites metopif.dia. of the ridge, (ilenn - gives well records (quoted Banisteria pseudolaurifolia. from drillers' recollections) from which it up- Bani.stotia wikoxiana. Banlcsia saffordi. Banksia tenuifolia. Carapa eoUgnitica. * Louehridge, R. H., Report on the geological and economic features of the Jackson's purchase region: Kentucky Geol. Sui-vey, pp. 4T, 48, 233, IgSS. 2U. S. Geol. Survey Waler-Supply Taper 1(14, pp. I2o-12«, 1900. 2 Op. cit., p. 42. 52 LOWER EOCEXE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Cassia fayettensis. Cassia gleniii. Cassia inarshallensis. Cupanitps eoligniticus. Cupanites loughridsii. Dryophylluin iiiouiii. Dn'ophylluin ])uryi'ar('iisi.s. Dryophylluin U'UiK'Ssccusis. Ensolhardtia ettiiitrshausoni. Exostema ))scnuli >cai"iba'Uin . Ficus denveriaiia. Ficus mjTtifolius. Ficus wilcoxensis. Inga ■wickliHeiisis. Juglans beiTja. Juglans schimperi. Mespilodaphne pseud oglauca. Miinosites variabilis. Sapindus eoliguiticus. Sapindus formosus. Sapindus linearifolius. Sapindus mississippiensis. These species indicate a stratigraphic posi- tion at about the boundary between the Holly Springs sand or middle Wilcox and the Grenada formation or upper Wilcox of the northern Mississippi section, or slightly higher (younger). SECTIONS IN ARKANSAS. CROWLETS RIDGE, CLAY, GREENE, AND POIN- SETT COUNTIES. The age of the light quartzitic sandstone which outcrops as a series of ledges at so many points along the western side of Crowleys Ridge, m northeastern Arkansas, has been a puzzle to geologists since the days of Owen, who m his first report compared them with the Potsdam of the early Paleozoic. Many sec- tions are given by R. E. Call in his report on Crowleys Ridge," where they are correctlj^ re- ferred to the Eocene. He collected a few leaves from one of these outcrops in 1889 at Hardys Mill, near Gainesville in Greene County.- I have determined the following forms from this locality : Anona ampla. Aralia notata. Asplenium colignilica. Ciiinamomum i)08tnewberryi. Ficus eoligiiitica. Ficus vaughaiii. Mespilodaphne coushatta. At the classic locality on the. Lane place, described originally by Owen and sulisecjuently by Call, the fragments of the quartzite in tlie bed of the gully contain fragments of dicoty- ' Arkansas Geol. Survey Ann. Kept, for 1889, Tol. 2, 1891. 2 Idem, pp. 95, 96. ledonous leaves and of a fan palm (presum- ably Sahalitcs (/rfii/inius Les(iuereux) as weU as fossil rootlets (rhizomorplis). P^vrtlier to the north along the west escarp- ment of the ridge in Clay County, about 4 miles southwest of Boydsville, a small exposure, only about 6 feet in thickness and 10 to 1.5 feet in horizontal extent, occurs on the heavily wooded slope at the head of a branch that is usually dry. This outcrop was discovered by L. W. Stephenson and visited by me in 1910. The materials are stratified and more or less indurated, medium fine gray sands somewhat stained with iron. Impressions of leaves are common, but the variety of forms is not great. The following species have been deteiTnined : Ancimia eocenica. .Vpocyiiophyllum labellarum. Banksia tenuitolia. Dryophylluin tennesseensis. Ficus denveriana. Nectandra lowii. Nectandra pseudocoriacea. Sabalites grayanu.s. Sapindus linearifolius. These forms in conjunction with the sunilar leaf-bearing materials from Hardys Mills effect- ually settle tlie Wilcox age of these sandstones of Crowleys Ridge. Though the flora found along Crowleys Ridge is too limited for exact correlation within the Wilcox it falls in the up- per instead of the lower half of the group. The southernmost locality on Crowleys Ridge at which the Wilcox lias been identified paleo- botanically lies on the west side of the ridge along Bolivar Creek, the main affluent of L'Anguille River. This section is discussed at length in Call's report.^ The following section taken by Stephenson * in 1912 is not composite like that described by Call: Section on Bolirar Creek, Ark. Pleistocene (loess): Keet. 1. Loam, probably creep from a liigher le\el, brownish color 1 Pliocene (?) (Lafayette formation): 2. Gravel, proliably cree]) from a higher level. . 4 Eocene (Claiborne (?) formation): 3. Weathered brown fine argillaceous sand ,3 4. Fine light-gray, faintly laminated argillaceous sand 11 5. Fine light-gray massive sand 44 G. Fine chocolat«-colored argillaceous, faintly laminated sand 41 7. Dark-colored, very fine, very argillaceous sand 4 "Call, R. E., The geology of Crowleys Ridge: Arkansas Geol. Survey Ann. Rept. for 1889, vol. 2, pp. wl-ss, 1891. * Stephenson, L. W., unpublished report. PLAXT-BEARINd Ol-TCKDl'S. 53 Eocene (WiI(-ox group I : Feet, upper part of the section. From bed No. 4 8. Dark-brown to hla.k lignite 5 Stephenson colleeted the followhig plants: i). Brown argillaceous ligiiitic sand 1 JO. Dark chocolate-colored tough clay, lignitic in Ficu.s ptieuilohncdiai'olia. vipjier portion ; in [lUiccs in the ui>per 2 feet Juglans schiniperi. contains numerous jjoorly jireserved ligni- PaUeodendron araericanum. tized leaves and impressions of leaves 3 Sapindiis mississippiensis. 11. Very tough, light greenisli-gray clay 2 8o,,hora wilcoxiaua. Tlie liij;nitic heil (No. N ) and hcds Nos. 1(1 .i.i 1,1 - ■ 1 ■ . ... 1 .\ltlioiit,ni t lie nialei lal is \J B Owen, I). I)., Second report of a geological reconnaissance of the middle and .southern counties of Arkansa.s, pp, 12.s-i:i3, ISOO. 2 Harris, G. !>., Arkansas Geol. Survey -Mm. Kept, for 1S92, vol. 2, p. 63, 1S94. > Jolmson, L. C, Report on the iron regions of norlhom Louisiana and eastern Texas: n. E.v. Doc. No. 19.'), .Wth Cong., 1st sess., p. IS, ISSS. < Lerch, Otto, Louisiana E.xper. Sta. Bull., 1S92. ' Vaughan, T. W., Am. Geologist, vol. 13, p. 205, 1S9.''). « Veatch, .V..C., Louisiana Gool. Survey Kept, for 1><9'J, p. V."'), 1900. ' Harris, G. D., U. S. Geol. Survey Ball. 429, 1910. PLAXT-BKAKIXG OUTCROPS. 55 Jolinson roforrod it to IIil9.) The Vaughan n^ferred it to the ''Lignitic"; Veatch section is as follows: Section at Slauglitir I'tn Bluff, Shnveport, La. Feot. 1. Jledili.-^li loam, firadiuf; dnwii into ycllowisli artjillareout* aiisendoglauca. Museum, as weU as the Harris and Veatch col- Ne- Ficus harrisiana. resents the condition in 1S9S, when the bulk Oreodaphnoobtiisifolia. of the fossil jjlaiits were collected. The river Pteris pseudopiniucformis. j^ rapidly eroding these cliffs, and they are There are several deep wells at Shrevejiort gjii,i tg ji-^ve receded about one-fourth" of a whose records are incomplete, though they „,ii,. h,>tween Veatch's visit in 1S98 and niv are discussed by Harris in comiection with visit in 1911. The section exposed at present the numerous de(-p-we]l n^cords from the near- j^ substantiaUy tliat as ipioted below, except by Caddo oil field. Tiicy show a thickness of ^j^^^^ ^j^^, ij.o,^ concretions are inu HolUck, Arthur, Louisiana Oeol. Survej- Rcpt. Jur IMfti, pp. 27o-.'>s, ihc SCCtlOll IS aS loUoWS: ' pis. 32-lS, I'.IOO. 2 Lesquereux, Leo, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. U, pp. 24-23, 1888. ' Veatch, A. C, op. cit., p. 200. 56 LOWER KOCENE FLUUAS OF SOVTHEASTERN NOltTU AMERICA. Sedion exposed on Jied Rieer near Cntishatta, La. Feet. 1. Soil grading iiilo grange, buff, or gray saiul. stratified and mure or loss cross- b(>ddod, with scat- tered clay pellets and lainiiiie 20 2. Brown laminated clay with thin gray saud partings, becoming nearly black below and con- taining poor casts of I.eda, Xucula, Lucina, and Venericardia near the base 10 3. Brown laminaled clay with two or three courses of iron concrelioMs, many of them large and containing impressions of leaves 20 4. Black laminated clay with gypsum crystals 6 5. Dark sand with a few thin layers of black clay 3 6. Black laminated sandy clay with gypsum crystals, exposed 3 The fossil plants come from ])e(l No. 3 and, O. B. Hopkins, L. C. Cliapman, and E. H. as previously stated, were not abundant at Finch from a large number oi localities within the time of my visit, but Veatch made some a few miles of the town of Naborton. Accord- remarkably fine collections from these con- uig to these geologists the plants were found cretions in 1898, which are preserved at the in the upper part of the section of the Wilcox New York Botanical Garden. These were of western Louisiana and their determination reported on by HoUick^ in 1900. I have of the geologic horizon is striking^ confirmed restudied these collections, and the following by a study of the flora. I am indebted to is a revised list of the 31 determinable species: Messrs. Matson and Hopkins for the following Apocynophyllum sai)indifolimn. composite section: Artocarpus dubia. „ ., . . ,„., j- ,- »t i . t^ ... Composite section of \iiimx tormatxon near A'aborion, De Artocarpus lessigiana. o , 7, ' ■ i t , ^ Soto Faristi, La. Artocarpus pungens. Celastrus taurinen.sis. Section 1 mile southwest of Zion Hill. Celastrus veatchi. . . . , ^''^'^ Cinnamomum buchii. ■'^^°''' ^^^'^^ g>-ain. varying in color from orange Cornus studeri. "^™"g'^ y^"°^ '<> ^''^y " CrjTtocarya eolignitica. ^and, med ium gram, piu-e, orange colored 17 Dillenites microdcntatns. ^and, same .is below, ^^^th small pebldes of light- Dillenitesovatus. gray shale 13 Euonymus splendens. Sand, medium grain, pure, orange to yellow 5 Ficus artocarpoides (?). Lignite and bone 1 Ficus denveriana. ^^^^ ^^ Ficus schimperi. Clay, red 2 Fraxinus johnstrupi. Sand o Ilex (?) atfinis Shale, arenaceous, gray, weathering to red clay 7 Ino-a laurinafolia Sandstone, concretionaiy, forms prominent hard Juglaiis berryi. layers Julians schimperi. Shale, arenaceous or laminated sandy clay; weathers Ma'gnolia angustif.Jlia. to fine sandy sticky, deep red clay 20 Me.spilodaphne coushatta. Concretionary layer, calcareous sandy, persistent.. ■ 1 Mespilodaphne eolignitica. Shale, arenaceous, grading upward into clay and Nectandra pseudocoriacea. carbonaceous clay and laminated sandy clay, Oreodaphne coushatta. containing fossil leaves at top 24 Oreodaphne mississil^piensis. Section 1 mile southeast of Naborton. Oreodaphne pseudoguianensis. Persea lonnipetiolatum. Sandstone, hard, ferruginous, with fossil leaves 1 Rhamnus coushatta. flay, stiff, red, granular 25 Sapindus cou.shatta. Lignite and carbonaceous shale 2 Terminalia hilgardiana. Shale, arenaceous, weathering to red clay 10 Shale, gray, arenaceous, some with carbonaceous XABORTOX, DE SOTO PARISH. layers below 13 . , Sand, hard, melium grain, yellow 8 Extensive oil developments m Ue .Soto sandstone, hard, ferruginous 2 Parish, in western Louisiana, begim since the shale, arenaceous, or laminated gray clay, with bulk of this manuscript was prepared, have large concretions and carbonaceous below., 15 resulted in large coUectiotis of fossil plants. Shale - These plants were collected by G. C. Matson, Sandstone, hard, ^'^■^'^''^^"^■■■■■■■■--■■--, "* ^_ •'_ ' Sandstone, soft, grading into arenaceous sliale iHollick, Arthur, op. cit. below 9* PLANT-BEARIKG OUTCROPS. 57 Feet. Nyssa wilcoxiana, S}iale, dark gray, with sandy layers 6 Oreodaphne coushatta. Shale, arenaceous, gray 2 Oreodaphne mississippiciisis. Sandstone and shale, ferrnfrinous jx'hliles and eon- Oreodaphne obtusifolia cretions 5 Per.-ea lonjfipetiolatum. Sandstone, medium trrain, soft, yellow 3 Pislia wileoxensis Shale, sandy, fine -rained, cray 6 Protooi.les ^^•ik■oxensis. „,...., , „ „ V. . Prunus nabortensis. Part of the log of a well near Naborton. Pteris ])soudopinn;el'ormis, G>'i"'^" IS Rhamnus eoushatta. Sand and bowlders 4 Hhamnus eoligniticus. <^'"™l"' ~ Sabalites <;rayanus. Shale and rocks 123 Sapindus formosus. Shale, gumbo, and rock 259 Sapindus linearifolius. Gumbo and howlders 45 Sophora wilcoxiana. Base of Wilcox (?), Sterculia pnrvearensis. Sterculiocarpus eoeenieus. The fop of the Wilco.x is not, shown in lllis Tenninalia hilgardiana. SCCti.in, but it is exposed, and (he overlvin- Ter.ninalia lesleyana. ^„ ., , , ^ • 1 ,- , ■ 1 Ternstrtrmites ovatus. Chuhorne has been recognized further south, Vanianea wilcoxiana. near Natchitoches. The whole Wilcox in this Zamia (?) wileoxensis. vicinity is about 800 feet thick, and the fossil ,.(•. ,, ■ * i • ,i , • 1 T.T 1 . 1- 1 ■ I'lltv-lhree species are enumerated in llie plants around JNaborton are found in a zone j. • i- , V- i ^ i- ^ .i • ' . , , ■ - . , r , 1 loregoing list. iLight are peculiar to this area commencing at a horizon o42 ieet above the i^i i- ^i i ,. ..i ■. r 1 r ii fT-i 1 ,• 1 and tmee range trom the base to the sunimil ol base ot tlte Wilcox and extending about 120 ^, xxt., mi i r i ^ ■ .■ r , , '^ the Wucox. Ihe only torm characteristic ol rr^^ 1- ,, ■ p , , -, ■ ,. , tlic lowcr Wllcox Is thc doubtfullv determined ihe loUowmg lornis have been identuied: t i- rrn ., ■ ' i ■ i ■ .i ^ Lygotluun. there are 3 species whicli m the Anona ampla. eastern Chilf area are confined to the lower , ".,'' . " and middle Wilcox, 16 which are confhied to Anona wilcoxiana. ' ApocjTiophyllum tabellarum. ^lie middle Wilcox, and 12 which arc confined ApocjTiophyllum wilcoxense. to the upper Wilcox. It is obvious that the Araceseites friteli. horizon is very near that of Puryear, Tenn., Artocarpusdubia. namely, at the top of the middle WUcox. Artocarpus pungens. mi n" i i i j.- i^ r T, 1, i •," ihe llora shows an almost entu-e absence of iiombacites wilcoxianus Cinnamomum affine. Legunuiiosas and a surpnsmg number of Cinnamomum oblongatum. Lauraceae. Conocarpus eoligniticus. The section derives its chief importance Cornus studeri. fj.,,^,^ ,l,,, j-.,,.^ ^[^.^^ ^j,^, stratigraphic interpre- Cupanites eolisniticus. ^ . , ,, i i ^ ■ -i i Dillenites microdentatus. ^='^""' =""' ""' P^lw^otamc evidence corrob- Dryophyllum amplum. 01"^^ *':ich other in showing that m this part Dryophyllum tennesseensis. of the western Gulf area approximately 500 Ficus harrisiana. feet of earlier Wilcox sediments are trans- Ficus neoplanicostata. gressed by later Wilcox deposits, thus corrob- Seus''lembf\\dr'^™''' orating the interpretation of the geologic JugUnfldiimiri.'''' ^'^^""''y Pi-esented elsewhere (pp. 30-38). Lygodium biner^•atum. SECTIONS IN TEXAS. Magnolia angustifolia. Meniphylloides ettingshauseni. ^^jp j,,„;.p (..^pi.o landing, HARRISON COUNTY. Menispermites wileoxensis. Mespilodaphne pseudoglauca. The following section at Old Port Caddo Nectandra lanoifolia. Landing, in Harrison County, Tex., is given Nectandra pseudocoriacea. t>,. \'.,,i,,.l..>,, ■ i . L) y * (iiiiiiitiii . Nectandra puryearensis. Nectandra sp. i Vaughan, T. W., Am. Geologist, vol. 16, pp.304, :0.5, 1S95. 58 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Section at Old Port Caddo Landinq. Harrison Counti/. Tex. Feet. 1. Irregulai'ly ^^tratified saiKle and clay; about 10 2. lieddi^h, more or li'.^s rross-bedded sands with ILmonitic geodes and silicified wood 50 3. Sands with bowklors and more or less contorted masses of clay 10-15 4. Interbedded grayish sands and bluish clays with small seam of lignite 55-GO 5. Impure lignite bed. commonly replaced by iron carbonate, ironstone, or impure limestone, and containing ))lant remains 2 6. Thinly laminated, bluish clay and sand: exjiosed 13 A collection was made by Vaughaii front betl siderable interest, because it may be taken Xo. 5, which was tentatively identified by as typical of tiie Wilcox in the western Gulf Knowlton.' His list has ah-eady been repro- region. The details were described in 1902 duced. As revised in the light of the present by Veatch.- Leaf remains are reported from extensive Wilcox collections it furnishes the calcareous concretions just below Harts Bluff following forms: on the Louisiana bank. A short distance Apocynophyllum tabellarum (?). below Hamilton and just above Chambers Asjjlenium eolignitica. Ferry sunilar materials carry leaf impressions, Canna eocenica. and a smaU amount of rather poor material Cinnamomuni affine. .^^.^^ collected. This was deposited at the Combretum oralis. j^t^^,,. York Botanical Garden, where I have Dryophvllum moon. .... „, , . , •,. , , p Ficus pianicostata maxima. Studied it. The only identihablo forms are Ficus schimperi. Grewiopsis tennesseensis Berry, wliich also Ficus vaughani. occm's south of Grand Junction, Tenn., and Grewiopsis tennesseensis. Ltgaimlnosites? amchioldes Lesquereux of the Meniphvlloides ettinsshauseni. -pv ' i tt' i y • i <■■ , „.f <^i,„ ,, '.■ ., . " Denver and l o .' _ j mg large calcareous concretions that contaui None of these are species peculiar to the scattered fragments and more or less distorted Ackerman formation or lower Wilcox of the 1^.^,.^,^ ^^^.^ ^^^^^^^ ^^ y ^j. § ^^-^^^ ^^^^^^ eastern Gulf region: .3 occur in the Ackerman ^1,^ ^i^j^ .^^^^g Sabinetown, where, according to formation and the HoUy Springs sand: 2 are Harris, the marine fossils indicate the Bashi known only from the HoUy Springs sand; 1 is formation. The fossil plants, though too few found in the Ackerman formation and HoDy f^j. ^^^.^^-^^^ correlation, indicate a horizon not Springs sand as weU as in post-Wilcox deposits: ^i^^^, .^^^^^ probablv younger than the Hollv 1, the characteristic Jleniph/lloides ettingshau- Springs sand or midclle Wilcox of Mississippi. seni, is peculiar to the Grenada formation or uppermost Wilcox. The conclusion is iiievit- calaveras creek, wilson county. able that the deposits at Port Caddo are of Alexander Deussen discovered an outcrop late Wilcox age. containing Wilcox ])lants on Calaveras Creek about 500 yarils east of the San ^Vntonio & SABIXE RIVER, SABINE COUNTY. , n t, ■^ ■ vi-i r\ ^ rr xiransas Pass Kailway in Wilson County, lex. The section of the Wilcox strata exposed T'^p section shows the following scqticnco of along Sabine River from the vicinity of Rock imitc'rials: Bluff to a point below Sabinetown is of con- !Veatch,.\. C.Tlie geography and geology of the Sabine River, La.: Louisiana Geol. Siurey, pt. 6, pp. 107-127, 1902. ' Vaughan, T. W., op. cit., p. 308. a Op. cit., p. 123. PLANT-BEABIXG OUTCROPS. 59 Section on Calaveras Creek, Tex. Pleistocene: Feet. Yellow loam 5 Covered 4 Deposits regarded by the author as belonging to the Wilcox group: (iravel 5 Yellow stratified sand 4-10 Compact laminated, brown to gray clay with foasil plants 0- 6 The small clay lens at tlic base of the section jiai'lsoii witli tlie floras of the Wilcox of tlie contains much comminuted vegetai^le matter eastern (lulf area it may be noted that none of and rather poorly preserved impressions of the species from Calaveras CYeek are confined leaves, among which the followuig are recog- to the Ackerman formation or ]o\v<>r Wilcox. nizable: Three species are confined to the Ackerman „ ,. , , ,„, formation and Holly Springs sand; 1 to the Bumelia pseudoteiuix (?). tt n • i i i Calyeites ostryaformis. Holly Sprmgs sand ; and 6 to the Holly Sprmgs Cassia bentonensis. Sand and Grenada fornnition. It seems evi- DiospvTos braohysepala (?). dent that the outcrop is of about the same age Ficus vaughani. ^g (jjogg ^t Benton and Malvern m Ai-kansas, or Gleditsiophyllum coconicum. i . , • . • , ^ i ■ ,, ., / : ,. .,. somewliat younger, and is certandv not older ilespilodapnne colignitica. i Rhamnites berchemiafonnis. than the Holly Sprmgs sand or midcUe Wilcox Sabalites grayanus. of Mississippi. This conclusion receives con- Sapindus bentonensis. fu'mation from the single species DUleniUs Sapindus linearifolius. texaisis Berry, described from near Pope Bend Termmalia leslevana (?). ^, it>- -t)* r\ l i-i on Colorado Ivivcr in Bastrop County, which Of these 12 species 2 are new and therefore occurs elsewhere only at the top of the Wilcox without stratigraphic significance. In com- at Grenada, Miss. GO LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. t-i O o o a, • o < - O ^ X I O m o o H n M o 3 c3 O o I CO o '^ » ^ S o fe -a m -s (U >.. OJ c Ph OS X •:133J0 SBjaABIBO ■JOAia opEJOIOJ 1 ^ ■MAI a amqEg •3m liur.'i oppcciiJOj pio XX C •nojjoqB>v C^- X X X ■ppgsnEjv X y ■BM^Usnoo ■n!H snosjsiJj ■;jod9A9Ji^g X i •< •nJaAiEiv ■nojnoQ f ■:i83J0 JEAnog nirs sipjEH X ■aniAsanTTJO •axn-^sp^oq X = ■2 1 -XiijpunoH S 2 1 uoheoijoj oSnBJStiT If 'aoiiErajoj aauEiHBq 'nonEinioj o3aEi3B7 s •S 1 ►J •JE8ijn,i X •^JnaH ■nosmj ■XpuEqg ■QlXiAJaraog ■83pua sqSnEg ■aSnEJO Bi ■uoijoimr pnEJO XX 'E. 1 s ■3AOio AJ^a 'puES sSuiJdg inoH X •sStnJdg XnOR 'pnEs sSuTJdg Anofj 'tioiiEniJoj nEniJ93i:>v X X ■JEUIEq 'puES sSoiJdg jStIOH •pjojxo , 'pass sSmJdg S.j\ojj XX> X ■pE0JiJ3qjan-qi«ji«n 'uOnElUJOJ HEUIJaJlOV X •mw snEraapo 'uOTiEtaJoj nEaiJ85inv •EpEuaao 'noiiEtnJo; EpEnoJo X X X nl lei I CW -a »: I < £ c c 8 5. 3 : ii i ■ » ■ c . ^ n 1, c 3 ; 8| if 2 ■« S Wl = Ills -z ■ ( C 1- \ m I 'I I c c 5 : E i| J i. a a J '2. 'n si • t -J :il 3 I 1 ;15 3 T 3 1 j "J ■ ft n I' C -J 0^ £ •1 \\ n : e -■J Q = ills 3 ll°£ I I £" j 1. 3 "l J 3 1 .J 8 3 LOCAL DISTRIBUTIOX OF THE WILCOX FLORA 61 XX X X ■ X •X X X 2 0) ■si 06^ 5 £3 «"0 Ml = =11 "-It :d XXX X XX X X X ■ijuan X ■nosma •XpaEqs X ■anJ-iJ^nioS X •aSpua sqSnEa X •93nEJO ^1 '□oiiomif puEio X •pnES sStnjdg Ajioh X X X i i 'noijEaiJoj UEniJaJiov X X X |x X 'JEraEi 'pnES sSoijdg XnoH ■pjojxo 'pnES sStiiJdg jCnoH X X X ■pEoj ijacia9H- C E (2 "• c c -g c 1 'o £ r a > C g J li ? ^ f 5 i u u R Q a I c c c T < J ■J ^ b ? c L a: c < a c c- i 1 '/ c a h 'c t: 1 a a g 1 r 1 "c a 'iJ 1 J 'J c; 1 7z 'Z a: £ c g a c c 1 ■J I 1 c 1 'E J c "a "i c ■g a c c X a n -1 1 c a ■ • ■ : ■ LOCAL DISTlilBUTIOX OF XLIK WILCOX FLOKA. 63 X XX X X XX xxxxx XX XXX XX X X X X X X X XX as 3 eg ~ « o o ^^ f.. fc 1 = J2 O -a >, 5 i.5 g X- I o rc^ f-. 1 b ■- •I |e IS O a II -E ■SI 9i "^ ^ -5 a i ;i be S »1 ft. 5 I .2 s s ■i »a 'noijBtaJoj UBiujsJiov 'noiiBtnJoj nBOTJastDV ! •EpBnsJO 1 'aoijBniJoj BpBuaJO 1 X XX X g i ll 1 1 > t— _0 'a 1 1 1 ,c y 1 c 0" a c £ ■« o: c a 1 '»- > J e •a w 1| ■► a ■- a c c a c- 3 'a C 1 c % 'x 1 ''0 1 '0 c C a "a r 1 E C i J ■J C" tr ?■ C a c c i. 1 .2 1 '■1 1 c c c c c a s "> "e a. 5 J 1 c c 1 a! £ > C a LOCAL DIS'llUBUTIOX OF TllK WILCOX i'LORA. 65 ■X X ■ X X XX X XX XX X XXX X ■ XX X X ■X E fa f 3 -g ;-2 g S g (^"o § S 3 " ^ 3 ^ "^ o d -a '^ 2 m _ Pv t: u a> Si: 2 = Vti •5 E 2^3 ~ a 3 9* t= 8 0^ j: y = o r o-r W) , i: ^ a ii £ ^ 1> O f!l^ 2 a -'2 ■" 3 o £.5.2 S If E 3 X E R ■C o r:: =^"3 ai-S ~ ft c3 a •2 3 50243°— IG 5 66 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTEKX NORTH AMERICA. O "«=> H g ."So (5 ■!j3aij SBJSABIEO -; a • jsAi a opejoioo X ; WAiH smqss ■2nt -puin oppuo )joj pio X 2 •nojjoqB^ X ; •ppBsnuK ■ujitjqsnoo X X XX ; HIH snosjsuj •jjodaAOjqs X :' < ■UjaAlBJ^ •no^naa 3I88J0 JEAJlOa niR sApjiiH •9niAS9mB0 ■am-isp^oa — O •XjiO patiojv 'ooTjBraJoj 93uBJ3Bq if ■aB!PiO!A\ 'aouBinJoj 93aBi3Bi X X ■ZEog 'noiiBinjoj eSuBiSuT g •2 03 1 i g 6- •jraimj XX X XXX XX X X X X X •^jnaH ■nosaTcI ■Apn^qg X ■eniAJdmog •aSpijg sqSnBa •oSnBJO vj nonoimj' puEJO X X |x X 1 a ■9A0JO AJ^a 'paBS sSmjdg inoH X X :X XX ■sStnJds ^nOH 'puES sSmjdg AnoH X X X X X X •sXaiJnH 'noiiBrnjoj nBraJ93(ov ■JBcnBq 'pijBS sSnijdg XnoH X X •pjojxo 'pnBS s2mjdg jSitoh ■pEOj tiJaqjaH-qi^H ^a 'UOIJEUIJOJ nEniJ93iDV 'niK snBni9i03 'noriEinjoj nEraJ93[av ■Epsnojo 'nouBtUJOj EpBnaJO X X ti u « 1 ^ i S. \ \ 1 h -> - 3 c 5 ■ J ; c ; C c i J -> 't "' 5 * 3? "' e ■"' (. X ''■ n c 5 : .gl : -si : «| \ ^ 1 1 " ^^ 3.1 ^ i 1< a i 5 1 -I Q Q I c • ^ • c 3 S H 1 3f - ! 3'c it 3 J 3E c ' e : c : f 5 C ; Q 'o p. i i : S : s \ 'i ? - '- J < .t 3" J i 1 3^ :i c H 35 2 ; • "S : ; ^ "33 . u .a ■ >■ s ^ 1 i-^ ■■ |1 : 3; i gi ^. c • *0 ; c . c 3*1 3 ' 1 + 1 c M 3i 2 : 5 - 2 3 £ - E c : S ■o c : 1 \ t = Ml r 1 :■ t 3 c 'J 3 J 3 ■'c 1 C = 1 1 c 3 S 3 3 1. Q 3 3 •X x LOCAL DISTKIBUTIOX 01' THE WILCOX 1-LORA X X XX X X X X X X X X X X X ■X X X X xxxx xxxxx X XX XX XXX X X XX X xxxx X X X X X XX X XX X X X X XX X X X X X X X XX X X XX c c E E OS ■J, o X ^ — ; to ;- 5 a 01 P r- »- X O 3 Ei 1 a J o tl tc pr.- a; s§ 3 >3 O ~0 3 .2.2 3 3 3 » a >. 2; C a 3.g 'tn'O n p C ffl ° »= Ed m 3 -- fc- O »j o o .■S ^ 'S .o pi I 68 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTIT AMERICA. •!(»ajO SBaaABiBj 1 X 3 •opBjoioj CJ •jaATJi omqcg •Sm 1 1 opprci uo,i pio 1 X X X X X c 5 ■aoyoqcy 1 XX XXX X XX XX XX •ppijsacK X X ;x X |x •tjnBqsnoj j X X XXX XX X X 'inre saosjauj j X ■jaodaAsjqs | X ■^/ X X X X V. < •iuaA[i:ji[ X^ ■uo^uaa; X X •:(sajO jCAiioa I X •lUKsipjTjn X X •aiXiAsouiBo •aniAspj^oa j XX — o •i»!0 panojv 1 X J si ■sWPPiAV „ 1 X •ZEog 1 X c E e 1 © ■jsaljiij 1 XX y xxxxxxxx XX XX X XXX •iJjnaH ■nostnj •iptreits X ■anjAjaraog X •aSppa sqSma X XXX •aSoBJO ^t: ! X ; X : •noijom\£ poBjy X X y. X XX 1 i •9A0J0 S.\K-s_ j 'puES sSuudg /iiioH 1 ■sSnijds A'liOH 1 V 'pnss sSmJdg inoH 1 X X X X •s.CaiJnH 'uoijBnuoj n;jraj93[0v X X X XX 'pnES sgaurtg jChoh I X X 'pnES sSmjdg linoH X X XX X ■pEOj jjaqjan-qiEH ^a 'riOIJEHUOJ nEUIJ3:tOV qnpf saEuzaioo 'aorjEuijoj nBuijsiiov X X •EpEUOJO 'noni3Tmoj EpEnsjo X X XX 1 in c c c c _c 'r C I ■I a. i 6 C 3 t C a p. J _ e IT U a r - 'J C u '5 rj a "a J 'S <■/ 'v c l- T c c cr C r 5 1 .1 c- T c k c c a c- s 'Z c I r c j c a > c r 'E _t "c a > 1 r c C c a £ C c r ■« g E C qi a It r a t c 1 ft LOCAL DISTRIBUTION OF THE WILCOX FLOKA. X 69 X X X X X X X XX X XX XX X X •X X X X XX ■XX X X X X •X X X X X X XX :X C t3 Co-_-, ^ — 2 i^.2 ■K sja J cs;i: &, 1 'Si w i: c MW ;i i~-.^ tji r- o~ ii ~ aw -s-5 s a ■a =J d « Xi O o en -^ r;^ 'S.'S i = ? 3 70 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. 3 a c o I c o "«. & ■:130J3 KTJjaABJTlQ X i ■joAijx opujoioo Zi ■jdAiji &inqt!S -pac'ioppr.oijojpio 1 T- i i •uojjoqtiK ■piagsuEK XX ■BUtiilsnOQ X X ■[I!J1 suosjouj ■}jodaA9jqg [ ■aj8A[i;j^ •uojtwa i X X < ■:!iasj.) JCAjioa •niH s^pJBH •anjASsmtJO ■sin^sp^og; X =2 o 'uoijtiaijoj oSucjSbi MS ■zcoa 'aotjEniJoj aSacjStii a 1 d i 5 1 ■jDaijnj X X X XX XXX XXX X X X ; •ijnaH ■uosraj •^pireqs •anjAjaoios X X •aSppasqSnEa ■sSanjj) B-i •aoiiDimj: puBJO 1 ■8A0J0 "^ya 'paBs sSuijds AIIOH X •s3mjds S.\\o-a 'pn^s sSaudg AnoH X 'noijEniJoj ncuiJaJiov X X X X ; •jEtuET; 'puES sSaudg ^IIOH X ■pjojxo ^ 1 'pacs sSuudg AiiOH 1 X X •pEOj ?J9qi3H-qi'^JI ^d 'uOtJCTUJOJ UCaiJ33(0V 'aontuujoj UEnij33[3V •EpEUdJO 'UOUCTHJOJ EpEoaJO ■;X "X ; X .X X X 1 i s \\ 1 '^ c "a £ 17 3 a it: c ! C c s 1 '5 i: a i 'J "c \ l r 1 c 1 « e : 1 i i i •— f ^ c r r 2^ ■ss : £0 ■ s'i •- \ 1 T I I C £ « c : 1 "^ ; ^1 E '£ c — £ < £ 1. £ ^ C - c c 1 a "a ■ a 'I c r/ '% 'I « s ' OS. „ a c ,1 : ii \ a a c c M J C If -C c •^ t > OJ c .2 i LOCAL niSTIUBrTIOX OF THE WILCOX I'LOKA, 71 X XX X X XXX X XXX X X X X X X X E 9 3 BJQi 0£ o o C3.S =3 >.£ ^^ K _ 72 LOWEE EOCEKE FLOBAS OF SOUTHEASTERN ^'ORTH AMEEICA. CHARACTER AND ECOLOGY. COMPOSITION OF THE FLORA. It is of vittd iinportauce that the determina- tions made in the present study rest on real and not fancifid affinities, for the conchisions jiresented as to chmatic and other physical conditions are largely dependent on tlie cor- rectness of the identifications. I fiillj'' realize that the statistics given under this heading are by no means complete, but I believe that even the imperfect survey here given will be of value not only to paleobotanists and geolo- gists, but to botanists and others interested in the history and the geograpliic distribution of the higher plants. The problem is not so intricate or so insoluble as it might seem to a student who is strongly impressed by the thousands of living and extinct genera- De Candolle estimated that the living flowering plants included about 250,000 species, and if to tliis number be added the herbaceous species living in recent geologic times the number would be enormously increased. The ratio of arborescent to herbaceous types was much gi-eater in the Tertiary period than it is now and the trees were probably more abundant and varied than in the existing flora. They certainly were in all Tertiary floras outside the Torrid Zone, as is sho\vn by the Eocene floras of North America, the Miocene floras of Europe, or, to cite an extreme case, the Tertiary floras of the Arctic and Antarctic regions. Though the arborescent flora of tlie Tem- perate Zone is relatively meager the number of species of trees increases toward the Equator. Maryland presents a cross section of the Coastal Plain, Piedmont Plateau, and Allegheny Mountains, regions which exhibit great differ- ences in cfimate, topography, and soils, and is the meeting ground for plants of northern and southern range, yet it contains oidy about 150 species of trees. On the other hand, Small's "Trees of Florida" (published in 1913) lists 366 native and naturalized arborescent forms, and if Florida exliibited gi'eater variation in altitude the number would be much larger. The trees of the Phifippine Islands, where the range in altitude is much greater, include 665 native species and many additional introduced forms, or more than 10 per cent of the esti- mated totid number of species of flowering plants in the Philippine flora. Even remote oceanic islands, if suificienfly large and shel- tered by topograpliic features from the adverse action of winds, have a large arborescent flora. Thus the Hawaiian Islands have 225 native species of trees, distributed among 45 families, those having the greater number of species being the Eutacete (32 species), Rubiacefe (31 species), Campanulacefe (15 species), Aralia- ceag (14 species), PittosporaceiB (12 species), Palmacefe (11 species), Myrsinacero (11 species), and ^lalvacete (10 species).' Koorders collected 700 species of trees in the Celebes during a visit of four months. He also says that he has specimens of about 1,200 ai'borescent species indigenous to the island of Java, or about 25 per cent of the total num- ber of flowering plants in the flora of that island. In an area of only 3 square kilometers on the small island of Kambangan, off the Javan coast, Koorders collected 600 species of trees that illustrate not only the wonderful abundance of arborescent forms in the Tropics but the mamier in which um-elated species are mixed, so that pure stands, such as we see in the coniferous forests of the Temperate Zone and also in part in the deciduous forests, are unknown in tliose regions. The general physical concUtions of a remote geologic epoch may be more or less completely deduced from the character of the sediments. The approximate run-off from the land and consequently the attitude of the land and the probable rainfall, as weU as any periodicity in these conditions, are all reflected in the sedi- ments. Work like that of Vaughan - on the deposits of tlie Florida keys or tliat of Drew ^ on the part played by denitrifying bacteria in the formation of limestones enable a careful paleobotanist to determine in a measm'e the character of the flora that clothed the marginal lands. In work on deposits that teem with the remains of marine life, as do many of the Tertiary formations of southeastern North Aiiierica, it is possible to arrive at very close approximations of the temperatiu-es of the coastal waters. It may be safely assumed that boreal or temperate floras did not flourish in proximity to tropical marine faunas and that plants reflected their environment in the past as in the present. 1 Rock, J. X**., The indigenous trees of tile Hawaiian Islands, Uonolulu, 1913. 2 Vaughan, T. W., Carnegie Inst. Washington Pub. 133. 1910. ' Drew, (!. II., Carnegie Inst. Washington Year Book 10, 1911 CO^rPOSITlOX OF THK FLORA. Many hotanists love to dwoll on tho tcincrity of tiie palcMjliotanists in dotonniniiig sj^ofios from iiiiprcssions of leaves. I adiuil at tlie outset that Sdiiu^ identilications l)ased on frag- mentary materials are altojietlier too luieertain. Tlici-e is more or less eonverjjenee in foliar cliaraeters in unrelated or I'eniotely related fanulies and tlierc^ may also l)e eonsiderable variation in tlu^ leaves of a sinj^jlc species, but, foliar eliaraeters in general are more fixed than those of almost any oth(>r (ir<;ans of plants. They are subjected to less complex enxiron- mental factors ami always hav(^ i)een. It siiould be remendiered that ehai'acters which are less essential to the ^•ital activities of ])iants, such as the form of the leaf, when once acquired may continue practically un- changed for thousands of y(virs and alFoi'd a surer clue to relationship tlian characters more immediately witliin tlie lieUl of action of nat- ural selection. This is sho\\m by tiie persist- ence of fern fronds on the Paleozoic ]:)lerido- spcnns, by the imiformity of eycad-like fronds from the Permian to th(^ Cretaceous, and by the striking persistence of dicotyledonous foliar types from the middle Cretaceous totlie present. This persistence of type in plants is parallel with tlie persistence of superficial and orna- mental shell characters in the Mollusea from the Cretaceous to the Recent, as noted by Dall. In the Trojjics, where flowers and fruits are often imobtainal)le or beyond reach, it is easy to learn to recognize most trees by their hal>it ami foliage, but most botanists, systematic or otherwise, give little attention to anything beyond floral structure. It is reasonable to conclude that palms and tree ferns are not boreal plants that were in the course of ages restricted to the Tropics, as Xaunuivr once suggested, m an effort to ex- plain tlieir presence within the Arctic Circle on other tiian climatic grounds. Uniformity of cause and effect is the foundation U]ion which rests the whole fal)ric of our knowledge of past events, and it is just as unscientific to assume that the carrying power of water was not con- ditioned by its velocity during the Tertiary period as it is to assume that insolation, hu- midity, rainfall, winds, and all the other factors that constitute the environment of tiu^ vegeta- tion had effects on the flora of ]iast ages dif- ferent in kind from their effects on tlic living flora. In a study like this tlie chief empliasis shoidd be l)ased on comparisons with the existing relatives of tiie fossil forms and not on the study of previously descril)ed forms, numy of tlu'ni from remote regions, in the search f(U' s])eci<'s that appear to l)e similar. Correlation with previously described i)aleobotanic forms should not lie neglected, howev(^r, and no de- scri|)tions are complete unless they include a discussion of the res(Mublances and difi'ereiices of fossil forms that show similarities together with their geologic and geographic distribution. E\iMi the most tri\ial characters of the fossil should be car(>fuUy noted, for all these char- acters are valuabli^ in futui-e studies. The living representatives, t heir habitat , range, and variation are of the groatt^st importance in determining what may be called |)aleiiecologv. It may be assumed that strand plants and upland ])lants will not be found in association without clear evidence of transportation, aiul if such seems to be the case additional study juay reveal the errors of determination. The facts that all floras are dynamic and not static, tiiat all their elements are more or less ]ilastic in their reactions to the infinit ('complex- ity of tlieir en viroiniiei\t . raise some doubt with regard to the melliods and results of ])aleo- ecology, especially as so little is known regard- ing the precise relations between (^xisting plants and their enviroiuuent. At the sanu> time the method used is the only om^ available and it must be considered to ])(^ a legitimate method until negatived in human experience. If it be assumed incorrect, there is no limit to iflle specu- lations as futile as those of medieval times. The Wilcox flora as described in the present study comprises considerably nun-e than .300 species; the exact number is without signifi- cance, since it is so largely dependent on acci- dents of preservation and discovery and since it is also considerably influenced by the evalu- ation of specific characters. The number might readily be increased to 400 if fragments of ncnv forms were considered the basis for the description of species. This fl(H-a is therefore one of the largest floras yet known from a single geologic horizon in a single area, although it is considerahly smaller than the so-called Fort Union floi-a of the Rocky Mountain province, which, how- ever, covers a greater geographic area and a longer interval of time. 74 LOWEK EOCliXE FLORAS OK HOUTilEASTEKN XOliill A.MEIUL'A. Ill oomparisoii with foreign Eocene iloras of similar ajre it maybe noted that Ettingshausen enumerated 72 genera and 200 species from the London chiy of the Isle of Shei)pey' and 116 genera and 274 species from Alum Bay, on the Isle of Wight.- I mention these two English floras specificalh-, because though never ade- cjuately described they are at least partly contemporaneous with that of the Wilcox, as I hope to show in the chapter on correlation, and they therefore offer interestmg details for comparison, as will subsequently appear. The Wilcox flora comprises 1.'34 genera in 63 families and 37 orders. The Thnllophyta are represented by a few species of leaf-spot fungi, but if the student were to follow the fashion set by the older Em'opean paleobotanists the so-called species of spot fungi could be increased many fold, for I hava only picked out for enu- meration certain conspicuous or characteristic types. The Bryopliyta, as is the rule in fossil floras, are entirely um'e presented, although the sediments in many places would have pre- served them in perfection if they had been present, and the assumption is logical that they were either confined to more northern latitudes at this time or were an exceedingly minor ele- ment in the flora. The Pteridophyta, which are such a preponderating element in all fos- sil floras up to the middle Cretaceous, are rep- resented by a doubtfully determined lycopod and six species of ferns. Of the vascular plants in the flora of tropical America, ferns are among the most abundant in specific differentiation, those of the island of Jamaica being especially numerous. Grise- bach enumerated 340 species of ferns in his "Flora of the British West Indies," published in 1864. In Urban's more recent work 182 species of the Pol^-podiaoefe alone are recorded from Porto Rico. Tlie five genera Aneimia, Lygodium, Asplenium, Pteris, and Meniphyl- loides have been recognized in the Wilcox, each represented by a single species, except the genus Asplenium which has two species. Though six species seems a small number of ferns in a subtropical flora like that of the Wilcox, it is just twice as many as have been found in the contemporaneous deposits of Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight, where the remains of 1 Ettingshausen, C. von, Roy. Soc. London Proc, vol. 29, pp. 38S-396, 1879. > Ettingshausen. C. von, itlem, vol. 30, pp. 228-236, 18S0. an extensi%-e floi-a are preservcnl in tlus pipe clays. The explanation of this seeming dis- parity between the abundance of the ferns in the lower Eocene and in the modern floras is readily formulat(Ml and it also indicates the reasons for thinking that the Wilcox fern flora if it were available fur study would be z'ich and varied, comparable at least with the existing fern flora of tlie lowlands of subtropical America. The known Wilcox flora is almost entirely a coastal flora, made up very largely of strand ty]Des. Very few elements in it can be properly considered as derived from inland areas by stream transjiortation. In fact the conditioii of preservation of most of the plants proves that they grew in the immediate vicinity of the places where they are now found as fossils. With a few striking exceptions the existing tropical and subtropical fern floras are floras of humid inland or upland habitats. For exam- ple, most of the Jamaican ferns are found on the Blue Mountains. The most striking excep- tion to this statement is the genus Acrosti- chum, which strangely enough has not yet been positively recognized in the Wilco.x flora, al- though it was widespread along the shores of the Mississippi Gulf in the succeeding middle Eocene (Claiborne) and lower Oligocene (Vicks- burg) floras, as abundant apjjarently as it is in the existing flora of tropical tidal marshes in both the Eastern and the Western hemi- spheres. Another fern typo likely to appear in coastal thickets is the genus Lygodium, of scandent habit, and this genus is represented in the Wilcox flora by both sterile and fertile fronds. It is likewise common in the Claiboi'ne and Vicksburg floras and in Tertiary floras gen- erally. Beside Lygodium the family Schizse- acese is represented by a species of ^\jieimia, which must also be considered to have been a coastal ty[3e in the early Eocene as are some of its species at the present time, since very similar species of Aneimia are found in a large number of Eocene coastal deposits both in this country and abroad. The remaining four species of Wilcox ferns are all rc^ferable to the family Polypodiaceie, which is the dominant existing family of the fern phylum. The two species of Asplenium are types readily matched by existing Central American species. The Pteris, not certainlv identified as a true species of this common CdMI'dSmoX OF Till". FLOHA. To C()sm()])<)litnn typ(^, luul slout coi-iaccdiis fronds and ni.-iy liavc; IwH'n transjioi-tcd, sinc(> it occurs at only two localities in tlio Wilcox, and at onc^ of those it is in a fragmcMttary condilion. This supposition receives some support from its presence in llu^ l)asal Iviceiie of tlui lioci existing genus Meniscium, which has at least one sjK^cies that is close to the Wilcox form. MeiiipliyHoi localities near the top of the Wilcox and its probable habitat is not known. The remains are brok(Mi l)u(: are asso- ciated with a typical strand (iora. It will 1)0 seen that of the Wilcox ferns wlios(^ habitats can Ix^ surmised all are coastal types, and when wo rcM'all that the maiidand was rela- tively low tliroughout Wilcox time it is not surprising that tln^ fcu'us are scarce. By a specialization of haliitat in modern of[uatorial regions a large part of the flora bocouKW ("lu- phytic, the smaUer ferns lioing commonly so. None of the mendx^rs of the! extensive Wilcox flora can be rc^gariled as epiphytes with the pos- sible exception oi Lycopodites? eoligniticus, W'hich is such a rare and poorly represented form that it is without signilicance. Apparently epi- phytes w^ere not conspicuous in the Wilcox coastal floras, so that this possi!)lo source of additional fern species is also eliminated. The Gymiiospermffi, so conspicuous in Meso- zoic floras, are relatively imimportant, lioth in species and individuals, in the Wilcox flora, a feature due to tlunr general relative unimpor- tance in Cenozoic floras and to tlioir intoh'r- ance of the habitats and climatic conditions indicated by the Wilcox flora as a whole. Four Wilcox gymnosperms are referred to the rela- tively moihn'ii family Pinacese and none of the genera are especially close to Mosozoic types. These PinaccaB include the following: Some- what poorly defined petrified wood which does not merit especial comment, representing the genus Cupressinoxylon of Goppert. The genus Glyptostrobus, which contains but two surviv- ing species in tlie river bottoms of eastern Asia, is represented by foliage and seeds i-eferred to Gh/ptostroh'us eumjiwus (Brongniart) lloor. Tliis species is exceedingly conuiion at a large number of localities and liorizons in the nortli- ern liemispliere tliroughout the Tert iary period. In North America it is rei)resent(Ml from the basal Eocene to the Pliocene, and thougii it jirobably includes more than one botanic s])e- cies no basis htr its segregation except by geo- graphic or geologic divisions is discernible. The genus Ta.xodium is s])aringly i'epresente(I by foliage and seeds. Tlu> hmves are referred to Ta.Todiiiiii ihihhnii (Sternberg) Ileor, a spe- cies whose distribution and g(M)logic range are as wide as that of (i/i/jiUixtrohii.^ curojixus. It is found in North America from the base of the Eocene to the Miocene Chesapeake group and In the Pliocene of the Gulf coast if ])asses iii- s(Misibly info the Pleistoceni' and still existing bald cypress. Arthrotaxis, still living in the meso])hytic areas of Tasmania, is represented l>y cone scales. No traces of the genera Se- quoia or Podocarpus have been discovered. Though gymnosperms are so poorly repre- sented in the lown-r Eocene of the embiij'nient area they arc not without significance.' The fact that they are so uncommon there, whereas in more northern Eocene floras they are so abundant, seems to show that the Wilcox cli- mate was unfavorable. The only possible adverse condition which the flora of the; Wilcox as a w'hole indicates is too warm a temperature, which, if correctly inter])retod, indicates at least some development of climatic zones in the lower Eocene. The habitats of Glypto- strobus and Taxodium in the lower Eocene were apparently the same as those of the exist- uig species, and they thus confirm the predi- cated character of the physical conditions in Wilcox tim(>. Both genera are only known from the HoUy Springs sand or middle Wilcox, which was deposited at a tim(> w^hen the coastal n'gion stood at about sea lev(>l and was trav- ersed by sluggish nioandei-ing streams. The Glyptostrobus twigs are found in the (>sluary of a middle Wilco.x river, associated wilii unios and thickets of Sabalites. The Taxodium ' The petrified woods from the Wilcox were not sectioned in time to be described in Uiis report. \ mimberare coniferous, and Ihut conifers wore more abundant during Wilcox time than their foliafie remains have indicated is alsoshown by the canneloid lij,'nite from I.cster, Ark., described by While (Rur. Mines Bull. 3s, p. 19, l Nipa and Sabal are represent<'d in the Wilcnx and Thrinax and Bactrites are jiresent in the em- bayment area in the middle Eocene (Claiborne). The order Palmales, or more ])ro]K>rly Arecales, has a single existing family, the Arecaceje (Palnisr), with about 150 genera and consid- erably more than a tliousand existing species, about equally divided between the oriental and occidental tropics. There are no temperate outliers, although some species extend far into the Temperate Zone, as for examjile Sahdl adan- sonil, whicli ranges northward along the Atlan- tic coast as far as Xorth Carolina. The present distribution of the palms is a good illustration of modern continental floral diversities succeed- ing a Tertiai'v cosmopolitanism of floras, and it shows further the jiart i)layed by isolation in evolution, which is also indicated by the abun- dance of monotypic genera in the Orient, where the tropical area is so much broken. Not a single species or genus is common to the two hemispheres and even the tribes are almost all either oriental or occidental. Most students regard the PandanaccEe (screw pines) as the probable ancestral stock of tiie pahns, and thtnigh the screw pines are entirely oriental now, they were not so in the Tertiary, and it is perhaps significant that the existing genus Phytelej)has, which is regarded as inter- mediate between the Pandanacea^ and the Are- cacetB is exclusively ^Vmerican, and that genera now exclusively oriental are represented in tiie American Tertiary, X^ipa in the Wilcox and Phoenix in the Vicksburg. There is no warrant for the assertion that ]ialms are of occidental oi- igin, but their oriental origin is e(|ually didicult of proof, and what wi; know of their geologic history clearly shows that their existing distri- bution throws little light on tiieir plulogeny. COMI'OSITIOX OF THE FLORA. 77 Tho thn'o Wilcox spocios of ]>iiliiis coiiipriso a fan palm and two fcatlicr palms. Tlic Cliama'- doivaL-avosrcproscul a small palm \vhos(>niini(>r- (iiis modern allies ai'c cdnlincd to .Vmcrica. Most of its spocics arc found in the liiimid mountainous regions of Central America, thougli it is also present in coastal lloras, as along the Atlantic <'oast of the Isthnuis of Panama. It is not, iiowevei-, a strictly coastal form and is not found in association with thi' typical Wilcox strand liora, for it occurs onl\' in the hasal AVilcox: (Ackcrm;in format ion t of Ciioctaw t'ounty. Miss., and at the hase of the transgressing upper Wilcox deposits in Saline County, Ark. Its rarity and occurrence in basal hc(ls indicat(>s that its area of gi'owih ■was inland and only reached in these two localities by tlw landward migi-ation of (he strand line. The Sahalites, which I have com- paretl with the existing Suliiil pithnilti}. is com- mon everywhere from th(> base to the top of the Wilcox. It is distinctly a coastal type, rather of tlie lagoons, bayous, and estuaries than of the strand. This fact is indicated by the iVagmentary nature of the remains at many localities anil the occurrence of innumerable complete specimens at other localities, as at Oxford, Miss., where the pres(>nce of imios and the local unconformities indicate an estuary. The nipa ])alni, found in tlie Ch'cnada forma- tion or up|)cr Wilcox, is cleaily an inhabitant of mudd}' tidal shores, so that it wordd natu- rally be expected in the laminated clays of the iip])er Wilcox. Its singk' modern representa- tive is tolerant of water of coihsiderable saUnit\' and is a member of the mangrove association of the Orient. It shows many points of afhnity with the Pandanacea^ and has never before been found in the Western Hemisphere. Like so many forms which are strictly oriental in the existing llora, such as Ciimamomum, ^\j'to- carpus, and Phoenix, it enjoyed a cosmopolitan range during at least the earlier half of the Tertiary })eriod. AratherfuU accoxint of Ni])a, including a map showing its Keceut and Tertiary distribution, has been recently i)id)lish(Hl.' The single species of Canna of the Wilcox represents a strictly hygrophilous tyj)e, which is conlined to ^Vmerica in tlie existing llora. It is an inhabitant of estnary and river swam])s near the coast, and that the Wilco.x species inhabited a similar situation is indicat(>(l by 'Berry, E. W., Am. Jour. Soi., 4lh ser., vol. 37, pp. oT-liO, fig. 1, 1'JU. the small area in which it^ is found and its associiition with Sahalites near tlie mouth of u WUco.x riv<'r, which on other gi'ounds is known to have traversed Lafayette County, Miss. The order Aralcs (S])athiflora' of Engler) is a distinct and diversified group of monocotyle- dons that com])ris<>s more than a thousand existing species, most of them belonging to the family Aracete. The kindi-cd family. Lc^nmacere, which consists of smaller forms, all aquatic, comprises but few species, which, however, have a vci-y wide distribution. The distinctive features of i\w ])lants comprising thes(> allied groui)s ai-e the differentiation of tlu^ leaves into stalk and blade; th(> netted venation of the blade; certain anatomical differences; and tlie combination of the flowers into u spadix. The floral structure is varied, ranging from 2-merous to 4-merous, peutacyclic, syn- car])ous forms such as Calannis, with its bract- lik(^ spatlie, to the more a])un(lant bisporangi- ate forms with obsolete perianth and a much developed petaloid spathe specialized for entoiiiophily. The ^Vi-aceaj are cosmojuililau, but most of th(> forms are found in the Tropics, massed in South America and the southeastern Asiatic region. There is little evidence that the main differentiation of the aroids was not relatively modern, although Pistia is found in the lower beds of the Upper Ci-etaceous of both North Anrerica and Em-ope. The only known Ter- tiary species are a well-marked form in the Grenada formation or upper Wilcox, evidently of estuarine habitat, and a species in th<> overlyiiig Claiborne Eocene. The species in th(^, upper Wilcox represented by a spadix, Araccseites friteli, is comparable with those of the existing wSouth American genera Spathi- ])hylluni and Monstera, and indicates the exist- ence of swamps in the western embaymeut. The Dicotyledons, as might be expected, are largely choripetalous forms. There are over 250 species of Clu)ripetalie (.Vrchicldamy- dese) and only 34 species of Gamojx'taliie (Sym- petala'). At the same time th<> representation of Gamopetalte is really much larger than might be exiiected thus early in the Eocene, and many families often thought to be rela- tively more modern are represent(>(l. The following ord(>rs of ChoripetaLc are not represented in the Wilcox flora: Casuarinales, Piperah^s, Salicales, Balanopsidales, I^'itneri- ales, Santtdah>s, Sarraccniales, and Ojiuutiah's. 78 LOWER liOCKNK FLOliAS OK SOUTIIEASTEKX Ndlilll A.M KlUCA. Tho ixbsonro of tlio BiiJ[jiU(ipsiil;il(>s, SaiTacoui- iJos, and 0])imtiali's is not. mnarkablc, sinew th(\y aro all spt'cializod typi^s and the rather uniform habitats of the cacti and their rela- tively modern evolution both consph-c to eliminate them from Eocene coastal floras. The presence of the primitive Casuarinalos and Pip(>riiles might b(> expected, especially since there is a well-marked Piper-like form in the Upper Cretaceous of Alabama. The Sali- cales, though prevailingly temperate forms, are abundantly represented in the Upper Ci"eta- ceous floras of the embayment area, and the Santalales have also been recorded from the American Upper Cretaceous and are present in the European Tertiary. Those alliances of Gamopetala3 which are not present in the Wdcox are mainly the great mod- ern and Temperate Zone groups. For example, there are no Wilcox species of EricsiJes, Labi- atse, Convolvulacefe, Bignoniacca?, Scrophu- lariacese, Plantaginales, Valerianales, or Cam- panulales, thus proving not only the essential modernness of the evolution of the Compositae but firmly establishing the subtropical rather than temperate character of the Wilcox flora. The fruit described as Carpolithits hyoseriti- formis is probably referable to the ConipositiB. The larger families of the Dicotyledons in the Wilcox flora are the following: Lauracete (30 species), Csesalpiniacese (26 species), Moracese (23 .species), Papdionaceae (22 species), Rliam- naceae (14 species), Sapindacese (13 species), Sapotacese (12 species), Myrtacese and Mimo- sacese (11 species each), Combretacese and Anacardiacese (9 species each), Juglanehicere (8 species), Celastracese (7 species), and tho Pro- teacea3 and Apocynacese (6 species each). The largest single genus is Ficus, which has 18 species. Cassia has 12 species; Sapindus 9; Gleditsiophyllum 8 ; Oreodaphne, Sophora, and Anacardites 7 each; Cinuamomum, Nectandra, Rhamnus, Myrcia, and Bumelia 6 each; and Celastrus, Dillenites, and ApocynophyUum, 5 each. Ten species are referred to the form genus Carpolithus, and tliis number could readily be greatly increased if all tlio unidenti- fied seeds w(>re named and described. The ameutiferoiis families, in accordance with their Upper Cretaceous deployment and their undoubtedly primitive and not reduced character, arc represented in tlie Wili-ox flora by 14 species, some of which are abundant. Tile Juglandides ' are represented in the Wilcox by three species of Juglans, only oiu' of which, Juglans schimperi, is at all <-((iiiin(in ; ])y a doubtfully determined species of llicoria; by tlu'ee well-marked species of Engc^liiardtia; and by an extinct type, Paraengelliar(hia, of a habit similar to that of Engelhardtia. The genus Juglans is one of the earliest ()f the still-existing dicotyledonous genera to appear in the fossil record, and it is continuously repre- sented in f ossd floras from the middle Cretaceous to the present. Tiiere are about 25 Eocene species of walnut, which range during that pe- riod from the Gulf region to Alaska and Green- land, and these forms are also present in tiie tropicid forests of the Egyptian Fayum in tlie early Oligocene. The accompanying sketch map (fig. 4) shows the existing distribution of Juglans and its known former range. This map, which shows the outlying existing species in the West Indies and under the Equator in South America, indicates that in spite of the northward range of the Asiatic species in Man- churia and of some of the North American species into New England and southern Onta- rio, the progenitors were at least subtropical types, a fact corroborated by their foliar cliarac- ters, since it is well known that compound leaves indicate tropical ancestry. This is abundantly proved for Juglans by its associates in the fossil floras in which it is represented. The genus Engelhardtia - is one of the most interesting Wih^ox genera. In the first place the identification of its leaves is corroborated by two varieties of characteristic winged fruits. The genus was descrilied by Leschen in 1 825 and contains about 10 species in the south- eastern Asiatic area, ranging from tlie iioi'th- western IlimiJayan region, where they ewtcnd a short distance north of the Tropic of Cancer, through Farther India and Burma to Java and the Philippines. The pistillate flowers are small and are grouped in paniculate spikes. They develop into small drupelike fruils, each of which is connate at the base to a large ex- panded trialat(i involucre. A single liltl(--lcies, rarely I'ejjre- sented in even the larger herbaria, occurs in Central America and is the type anti only spe- cies of the genus Oreomunnca of Oersted. ■ Berry, E. W., Notes on tho geological history of Iho wahiuls and hickories: Plant WorUI, vol. 15, pp. 22.0-2411, 1912. 2 Berry, K. W., Am, Jour. i3ci.,4th ser.,vol. 31, pp. 491-lW, 1911: IMant World, vol. 15, pp. 2!4-2.'i8, figs. 3, 4, 1912. C(>:\ipo^ni()\ oi' rill'. i'L(ii;.\. 79 This form lias a imicli narrower raiifjc than its kin beyond tiie Pacilic. Orcoiiiunnea is very close to Engclliardtia, and by the pideobotanist the two may be (•t)nsi(hTed as identical," for thoy represent slifiiitly modified descendants of a common ancestor which was of cosmopolitan (HstributioTi dnrinj;; the (»arly 'r<'rliar\-. 'V\\v present isolation of Oreonuumea fnrnisiies a striking illustration of the great changes which have taken place in the flora of th(> world in the relatively short time, geologically s])eaking, that has elapsed since the dawn of I Ik^ Tertiary. Wlien elosc^ly relat«!d forms in tlie existing flora of the world are restricted in ran lower Oligocene (Sannoi- sia.n) of France and the species become increas- ingly abiuidant tliroughout southern Eurojxv, loration will disclose living repre- sentatives of tliis widespread Tertiary stock in western BrazU, es]jecially as they have sm*- vived m Central America north of the Equator. Tlie existing EngeUiardtias are upland foi-ms, which may also have been true of the Wilcox species, although their abundance at different localities along the Wilcox coast would seem to mdicate othen\dse. The genus Paracngelliardtia, which is a miiquc type confined to a sijigle locality in the Wilcox, is clearly allied to Engelhardtia, as I disjjroved until a Tertiary paleobotanic r(«'ord for the continent of Asia is available. The MjTicales of the Wilcox flora contain but two species of MjTica. Mp-ica is a very old generic type and has a large number of fossil species, ranguig from the middle Creta- ceous to the present. The existuig species are relatively few m nmnber, arc widely scattered geographically, and represent sm-vivors from a Tertiary cosmopolitan distribution. The allied monotypic genus C()m])tonia, which by some students is hicludcd ui Mp'ica, has an extended geologic histoiy which I discussed' in 1906. Myrica is mucli less abundant in the Wilcox than m the Em'ojxian Tertiary, although it • Berry, E. W., Am. Naturalist, vol. 40, pp. 485-520, pis. 1-4, 1906. COMI'OSITIOX OF THE FLOKA. was present in tlio omliaymcnt aixni in upjior beds of tlie Ui)])cr Cretaceons (Ripliiy forma- tion of Teimessoo). Its ni weU-marked species. In the ex- isting flora tiie two score known species of 82 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. Artoi-arpus are iudigoiious to the southeasteru Asiatic region, although some of tliem are culti- vated in all tropical countries. Tlie l)r('ailfruit is found throughout Oceanica and was present in Hawaii and the Marquesas, when the}' were first visited hy Europeans. It was introduced into the West Indies in 1793. Of the tribe Euartocarpea?, of which .Vi'tocarpus is the largest existing genus, 5 genera are confined to Central and South .\merica, 1 genus is con- fined to tropical West Africa, 2 to the south- eastern Asiatic region, 1 to Borneo, and 1 ranges from Japan to Australia. Though the geologic history of ^Vi-tocarpus is only imper- fectly known, at least 15 different fossil species have been described. The oldest is a well- marked forn^ based on characteristic leaves and parts of the fruit wliich sliow the typical sm-face features. It has been fully described by Nathorst' and comes from the Atane beds (Cenomanian) of west Greenland. Shghtly younger is a less well defined form recorded from the EmscheriaTi of Westphalia and the somewhat doubtful genus Ai-tocarpophyllum of Dawson from the Upper Cretaceous of Van- couver Island. Another species is recorded from the Laramie formation and the genus is widely distributed in the basal Eocene of North .Vmerica. It continues in the GuK region until the close of the Oligocene, the latest recorded occurrence being in the sands of the Alum Bluft" formation at ^Uuni Bluff on Apalaclficola River. On the Pacific coast it is found in deposits in California and Oregon which are referred to the Miocene. In the European area it occurs in the Tongrian of France, the Tortonian of Baden, the Pontian of France and Italy, and the Pliocene of Italy. It is present in both the Pliocene ami Pleis- tocene of the island of Java. Artocarpus is said to be represented bj^ pet- rified wood in the Oligocene of the island of Antigua, and it was evidently a member of the American flora from the Upper Cretaceous until late in the Tertiary, althougli. like the genera Cimiamomum, Nipa, Phoniix, and the like, it is not represented in post-Pleistocene American floras. An extmct genus related to Artocarpus and named Artocarpoides by Sa- porta, who described several species from the iNathorst, A. G., KongL Svenska Vet.-Akad. Handl., Bd. 24, No. 1, 10 pp., 1 pL, 1890. Paleocene of France, is represented ])y a single Wilcox species. The genus Cecropia, which includes about 40 existing species confined to the Tropics of South Ami'rica, has 2 species in the Aquita- nian of Bohemia, and the Midway (?) and Wil- cox form tlescriljetl as Ficus sp. is very prob- ably a representative of this genus. The genus Pseudolmedia, wliich has 5 ex- isting species in the American Tropics, has a well-marked species m the Wilcox flora. As far as I know, it has not heretofore been re- corded in the fossil state, although it is prol)- able that some of the numerous fossil species of Ficus may represent Pseudolmedia. The genus Ficus is represented by many spe- cies in the Wilcox flora, no less than 18 hav- ing been described, and a number of these are individually abundant. They mclude the nar- row lanceolate forms of the Ficus: thistiai, type with close-set laterals, as well as open-veined lanceolate forms and the shorter and broader palmately veined forms. None are lobate or have toothed margins. Ficus was evitlently much more abundant and varied along the Wilcox coast than it is to-day througliout the West Indies and was more nearly comparable in this respect with the numerous forms of figs in the East Indies or in tropical South America. The numV)er of fossil forms that have been referred to Ficus are very numerous, including perhaps 300 species. None are certainly known from the Lower Cretaceous, the genus Fico- phyllum - being entirely doubtful. In the Upper Cretaceous, however, Ficus is very wide- spread and abundant, being represented by characteristic fruits as well as leaves, which seemmgly indicates a Lower Cretaceous ances- try as yet unknown. The Cenomanian has furnished 3 species in Greenland, 6 along the Atlantic coast, and 24 in the interior of North America, as well as 11 in Saxony, Bohemia, and Moravia. The succeeding Turonian fur- nishes 4 species in Bohemia and the Tyrol and several in North America (Tuscaloosa, Mago- thy. Black Creek, and Eutaw formations). Later Upper Cretaceous horizons have numer- ous species of Ficus throughout North America and Europe, as well as in Greenland, Austra- lia, and New Zealand. This cosmopolitanism 2 Berry, E. W., Maryland Geol. Survey, Lower Cretaceous, pp. 502- 506, 1911. COMPOSITION OF THE FLOKA. 83 continues throiigliout the Tertiary, there be- mg about 50 Eocene species, about 60 OHgo- cene species, 90 Miocene species, and 20 Plio- cene species. ^Xirica is achh'd to tlie record in the basal Oligocene and Asia in tiie Miocene. The fossil records will have t, and hy no less than 17 species in the Mit)cene of France, Italy, Switzerland, Baden, llesse, I'rnssia, Bo- hemia, Austria, Styria, Croatia, and Hungary. The geiuis Knightia 11. Brown, which in- cludes a nioderii species iu Australia and 2 in New Caledonia, includes a fossil form in the Oligoceuc of Australia and anotlun' in Graham Laud (Antarctic Continent)' in beds which are regarded as Oligoceuc. The allied geiuis Kniglitites Saporta contains 2 species from lh(> Sannoisian of France. The remai-kable genus Lomatia, previously mentioned, is represented by 4 existing s))e- cics in Australia, 2 in Tasmania, and .3 in Chile. As might be expected from these moilern iso- lated occurrences, there are over 30 fossil spe- cies, some of them based on associated leaves and fruits. The ohh^st of these species are 2 (perhaps wrongly identified) in the Dakota sandstone. Eocene forms iuchule species from the Green River formation of North America, an Ypresian species from the south of England, and an Italian species. There are about IS Oligoceuc species, some of which are very characteristic. They occur in t!ie Tyrol, Saxony, Baltic Prussia, Styria, Australia, and Tasmania, and the relatively large number of 4 are recorded by Dusen from Graham Land. The Australian and Tasmanian forms may he Miocene instead of Oligocene. About a dozen Miocene species have also been recorded from such widely separated areas as Colorado, Swit- zerland, and Carniola. The characteristic de- tails seen in the wonderfully preserved leaves in the volcanic ash beds at Florissant, Colo., from which 7 forms of Lomatia have been de- scribed, leave no doubt as to the validity of the generic identification. The allied genus Lomatites Saporta is rep- resented by a Cenomanian species in Saxony and 5 or Oligocene species in France. The genus Stcnocarpus R. Brown, of which 1 1 ex- isting species have been found in New Cale- donia and 3 additional species at other places, ranging from North Australia to New South Wales, has a siiigle fossil species in the Oligo- cene of Saxouv. I Du.sdn, P. C. U., Wissenschaftliche Ergebnisse der Schwedischen Sudpolar-Expedilion, 1901-1903, Bd. 3, Lief. 3, p. 7, pi. 1, figs. 7, 9, 11, 190S. The genus Persoonia Smith contains 60 ex- isthig s])(M-ies iu Australia and 1 in New Zea- land. '!'hc fossil record includes 2 widely dis- tributed s])ccies in the L"])pcr Cretaceous of North America; 1 in the Eocene of England; 4 in llu> Oligocene of Tyrol, Saxony, Styria, and Greece, and 10 in the Miocene of France, Italy, Swifzerland, Baden, Bohemia, Styria, Croatia, Carniola, and Slavo)iia. Deane records a Tertiary species from New South WsUes. A large number of these fossil forms of Pi-rsoonia are not especially convincing, bn( cei-tainly the tlirei> Euro])ean species /-'( rsixiniu ciispidatd, P. dnplines, and P. iin/rfilliis of Ettiugshausen,- which have the leaves associated with char- acteristic fruits, are above suspicion. Bowerbank, iu his classic study of the pyrit- i/.ed fruits and seeds from the Isle of Sheppey, established a genus which he called Petro- philoides from its resemblance to the genus Petrophila R. Brouni, which inchules about 35 existing species in Australia, most of which are confined to West Australia. Bowerbank described several species, one of which was showm by .Starkie Gardner to be an ^Unus fruit, and others have been referred to Se(iuoia. Ettmgshausen^ in the study of the Sheppey fruits, after careful comparisons, retained three English Eocene species and the genus has also been recognized in the Sannoisian of Ualmatia and Styi'ia. The genus Leucadenclrites was established by Saporta for a Sannoisian species of south- eastern France from its resemblance to Leuca- deudron Ilennann, which includes moi-e than 70 existing species in South Africa. The genus Grevdlea R. Brown contains 56 existing species which are confined to Australia. The fossil record includes a Cretaceous species in Australia; 2 Cenomanian species in Bohemia (Gre\'illeophyllum Velenovsky); 3 Eocene spe- cies in England, France, and Italy; 12 Oligo- cene species, mostly in southern France but also represented in Saxony, Tyrol, Bohemia, Styria, and Greece; and 12 Miocene species in France, Switzerland, Bohemia, and Croatia. The genus Embothriuni Forster, already alluded to, includes 4 existing species in South America, wliich range from Chile to thci Straits of Magellan, and 1 species in Australia. This 2 Ettingshausen, C. von, K. .\kad. Wiss. Wien, Math.-Nat. CI., Sitz- ungsbcr., Bd. 7, pp. 71S-719, pi. 30, figs. 5-11, 1831. ' Koy. Soc. London Proc, vol. 29, p. 394, 1879. 86 LOWER EOCEXE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMEliUA. widely isolated occurrence is explained when the fossil record is combined with the occur- rences referred to Enil)otlu-ites, Emljothriopsis, and Emhothriophyllimi. To Embothi-ium are referred S Oligocene species of Styria and Greece and 4 Miocene species of Baden, Styria, Croatia, and Hungary. To Embothriopsis Hollick is referred a single species from the Long Island middle Cretaceous. Dusen includes a single species from the sup- posed Oligocene of Graham Land in Embo- thriophyllum. The genus Embothrites Unger contains a doul)tful species from the Dakota sandstone; 6 Oligocene species from France, Tyrol, StjTia, Carniola, and Greece; and 3 Miocene species in Croatia and Bohemia. The genus Dryandra R. Brown is i-eiiresented by about 50 existmg species in Austraha. The fossil forms have caused much discussion and have been referred back and forth between this genus and Comptonia and Myrica. The forms retained in Ur^'andra include a Ccnomanian species in Bohemia and Moravia, an Eocene species in France, 2 Oligocene or Miocene species in Australia, and an Oligocene species in Greece. The allied forms referred to the genus Dryandroides Unger include 5 Upper Cretaceous species in Europe and North America; an Oligocene or Miocene species in Tasmania; 4 Oligocene species in Italy, Tyrol, Saxony, Styria, and Greece, and a Miocene species in Bohemia. The allied genus Banksia Linne fils, also con- fined to Austraha in the existing flora, contains 3 Upper Cretaceous species, all restricted to the North Temperate Zone; 3 Eocene species, 1 Alaskan ('0 and 2 Enghsh; 12 Oligocene species widely distributed in Europe; 16 Mio- cene species equally A\adespread in Europe, and a Pliocene species in Italy. The 7 Australian species are not older tlian Oligocene and they may be Miocene. Three well-marked species from the Wilcox have been referred to this genus. The allied genus Banksites Saporta is repre- sented by a Ccnomanian species in Bohemia and by several Tertiary species from Europe hopelessly entangled in the literature with Banksia, Dryandra, and Dryandroides. The genus Iloupala Aublet (Rhopala), whose peculiarly isolated outhers in Queensland and New Caledonia have already l)een mentioned, is common in northern South America, extend- ing northward to Guatemala. Fossil fonns are recorded fium the Ccnomanian of Saxony, from the Oligocene of Australia, and from the Aqui- tanian of Switzerland. In addition Saporta describetl a Rhopalospermites from the lower Oligocene of France. 4- species of Rhopalo- phyUum has been described from the Upper Cretaceous (?) of Australia and another species from tlie Miocene of Styria. The genus Hakea also has been mentioned fi-equently in di'scrij)- tions of the European Tertiary floras, and re- cently Clement R(>id has identifi(Ml character- istic follicles from the Pliocene of Ibjllaud. The geologic history sketched here is neces- sarily fragmentary, but I think tlie fossil forms are suflicient, after dotibfcful determinations are excluded, to sIkjw that the Proteaceje origuiated in tlie Nortlu rn Hemispliero, first appearing at the close of the Lower Cretaceous epocli and becomuig practically cosmopolitan in I'pper Cretaceous time, when tltey reached the Aus- tralian region fron^ southeastern Asia. New Zealand must have already been segregated but not the land mass now rejiresented by New Caledonia. During the early half of tlie Ter- tiary period Africa and southern Europe were essentially a suigle floral province, and in the Western Hemispliere the Pioteace.T ranged from the United States through South America and an unknown distance across the, Antarctic Continent. Concomitant with the continent building and the consequent climatic changes of the Miocene epoch the area of distribution commenced that shrinking which culminated during the Pleistocene epoch, leaving the stranded remnants of the stock in the jiresent widely separated localities of the Southern Hemisphere. Not all the modern genera took part in these migrations, since the local ]){Hidl- arities of poor soil and rigorous climate, com- bined with relative freedom from outside com- petition, were the factors that stimidated the evolution of fonns in Australia during tin* Ter- tiary period m exactly the same manner as the peculiar Australian genera of Myrtacea? and Leginninosai were evolved. The Wilcox species of Proteaceas include 6 forms, wliich are distributed in 4 g(UTera. In addition a probable Banksia fruit is r(^tained in Carpolithus. These genera are Pala^odcndron, Proteoides, Kuightio]ihyllum, and Banksia. The genus Pala'odeiuirou, not heretofore men- tioned, was ])rop()S(Hl by Saporta for small COMPOSITION' OF THE FLORA. 87 t'litiro coriaceous l<(aves from t-Ii- parontly it was represonttnl in I'hn-o]ie dm-ing the Tertiary period, as alrtiady indicated. The genus Banksia includes 3 Wiloox species, 2 of which are particularly well marked and a probable fruit, CarpoVithns protcoido^. It is confined in the existing flora to the Australian region and contains abcnit 50 species. The other genus of the tribe Banksioa' is Dryantlra R. Browai, which also includes about 50 exist- ing species confined to tlie Australian region. It is much like Banksia in its foliar characlcu's. Both genei'a are alnmdant in the Euroj^san Tertiary formations and undoubtedly enjt)yed a more or less cosnicjpolitau range during th<( early Tertiary period. Their ancestors prob- ably entered the Australian region during the Upper Cretaceous epoch, probal)ly ])y way of the Antarctic continent, and became adapted to the peculiar soils and climate, but tlie stock in the Northern llemisplierci ajipears to liave been imabls to stand the climatic changes and competition during the Tertiary ])eriod, and thus became extinct. The Aristolochiales is placed by some stu- dents among the Gamopetala?. It includes besides the Ai'istolochiacea3 the two parasitic families, the Rafflesiacese and Hydneracese, altogether containing about 235 existing spe- cies, of which 1205 belong to the Aristolochiacea^, the only family of this order represented ui the Wilcox flora. The genus Aristolochia, to which a typical fruit from the Wilcox is i-eferred. is found in the American Upper CJretaceous and in both Europe and America in the Tertiary. There are about ISO existing species, all per- ennial herbs or climbing vines and widely dis- tributed in iioth tropical and temperate re- gions. Al)out 10 species are I'ound within tlie UiHted States. TIic order Polygoiiales incdudes the singlt^ family I'olygonaceiB with about 800 existhig s])(>cies segi'egated in about 30 genera and wi(kdy distrilnited. They embrace herbs, slu-uiis, vines, and trees. The flowers are mostly cyclic, and in their morphologic features show some evidences of transition l)e(ween the ])revious clioripel.-doiis aUiances a,nd tlie Chenoi)()(liales. Exce])t tiie widely distributed and much diflVrentiated lierbaceous genera, Polygomim and Ivumex, the fanujy is essen- tially American. The geologic history of the family is practically unknown, but a large part of the specific variation, particularly of the tem])erate herbaceous forms, steems to be rela- tixcly modern. The family is represented in the Wilcox by the single genus Coccolobis, wliich is represented by two speci(>s that- appear to be the Eocene ])rototypes of th(! only two existing arliorescent species of Polygomxceje that reacli the United States (tlie sea grape and the pigeon ])lum). The geims Coccolobis con- tains about 120 existmg species, all confined to the Amei'ican Tropics, and it appears to ])e of American origin. These sj)ecies, most of whicli are coastal forms, range fi-om southern Florida to Mexico, Central America, Brazil, and Peru. The two modern species, which are so mucli like thes(> two ancestral f(U'nis in the Wilcox, are strand types, found from the Florida. Keys through the West Indies to th<>. northei'U coasts of Soutli America. The conclusion is almost irresistible that the Wdcox forms had a similar range and an identical habitat. The genus Ruprechtia C. A. Meyer, of the Polygonacese, which in(dude about a score of existing species of shrubs and trees in tropical and subtropical America, uicludes a species iii the Tertiary of Bolivia. Tlie Clienopodiales (Centrospernne of Engler) incdude 10 families whicli culminate in the (^aryophyllacea^ and contain about 3,500 exist- ing species. They a])pear iOy assorted and show a wide range in floral and other morpho- logic characters. Perhaps a majority are mod- ern types. The single family Nyctaginaceje represents this order in tlie Wilcox. The Nyctaginacea>, wliich inidude about 150 existing species, are i)redoniiuantly American They occur within the limits of the southern 88 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTIIEASTEKX NORTH AMERICA. I'nited States on tli(> nin-th and Chile and Ar- p;(>ntiua on the south. The iicuus I'isouia Plumier, tho only genus thus far found in the Wilcox flora, is represciited by throe well-marked species. It includes about 40 existing species, which Uve chiefly in the American Tropics, and contains the only arborescent form of the family found within the United States. It has an extended geologic history, well-marked forms l)emg found in the European and American Uji- per Cretaceous. The Wilcox species were un- doubtedly strand types, as are so man\' of the modern species which inhabit the sea beaches, the shores of salt-water lagoons and marshes, tlie scrub of beach ridges, and the jungle behind them. In the existmg flora Pisonia is associated with Pithecolobium, Reynosia, Metopium, Aca- cia, Bumelia, Cordia, Coccolobis, Ocotea, Fa- gara, Mimusops, Conocarpus, Cassia, Eugenia, Anona, Ficus, and the like, exactly as it was during the Wilcox time. Species of Pisonia occur in the Upper Cretaceous of the Atlantic Coastal Plaui (Black Creek formation), as well as in the middle (Claiborne) and upper (Jack- son) Eocene. The order Ranales appears to me to be a highly umiatural assemblage, which doubtless explains the prolonged discussion and wide range of opinion regarding its true status. As treated in Engler and Prantl, it includes 16 families and more than 4,000 existing species. Though most of these forms have a distinct calyx and corolla, this feature is combmed with such primitive features as apocarpy and hypogynv, by a well-marked tendenc}' to indeflnite repeti- tion and spiral arrangement of the floral mem- bers. I have removed the Lauracese, which contain a fourth of the existuig species, to a place in the more evolved order Thymeleales. The Ranales as a whole show no very close filiation with earlier allied types. They include forms that are more nearly monocotyledons than dicotyledons (Nj-mphseaceaj), and many bota- nists (as Wieland, Arber, and Hallier) see in them the zenith of evolution of the Mesozoic Cycadophytes and thus regard them as repre- senting the ancestral stock from which the angiosi^erms were descended — a most remark- able derivation, apparently, if any except floral features are considered.' 1 For \v York and Ontai'io. About 60 fossil spories liavc Ix'cii rcfcrriMl to Maiiiiolia. Tlieso species are larjicly baseil on lea\'es, altiioui;li charaeler- istic fruits, and at least two speciniiMis of parts of flowi'i's, lia\'e been found at dilfei'ent lioi-i- zons. Maiiiiolias are \'ery abundant in iioth individuals and speeies in \\w middle ('fetac(>ous (Cenonnuiian-Turouian), espeeially in Xortb America, where tliev are found alonji' tlu> Cre- taceous Atlantic coast from (ireeniand south- ward to Texas and are e([ually abundant about the borders of the advancing interior sea rejire- sented by tiie deposits known as thi^ Dakota sandstone. They are much less coniinon in Europe and the genus is either of American or Ai'ctic origin.' The Eocene records include 4 species of Mag- nolia from the Arctic region and !•'! additional forms, most of them American l)ut a few European. The Oligocene series, which in America carries no plant beds, contains in its upper beds in Europe several species of Mag- nolia. About 8 Miocene species are recorded, the majority of which are American. The Pliocene, also largely unrepresented by plant beds m Aiuerica, contains 5 or 6 species in Europe and 1 is found in the early Pleistocene of that region. Magnolia seems to have been abundant along the shores of the extended Mediterranean Sea of the Pliocene and to liave subsequeutl}' been entirely exterminated in that region by the glaciation of the Pleistocene, but it survived in both North America and Asia by reason of the prevalent northward trend of the mountain ranges. Some of the other genera of the Magnoliacea3 are represented by scattered fossil species, but the record is too incomplete to permit generalizationrs. A survey of all the facts leads me to consider America as proVjably the original home of Magnolia. Despite tiu^ massing of the existing forms in the easter-n I'nited Stat(>s and tlieir extension to the Arctic region in the Eocene, they probably origmated in a warm temperate; oi- subtropical latitude, spread noilhward across the Arctic region to Eurasia, and were cosmopolitan later in the Tertiary. They became restrictetl to iSaporta, CI. de, Flore Tossilc ilii rortucal, p. 104, pi. .Xi, fig. 3, 1S91 Jlf'?j;no^iat/t^^a(/o/Saport:i,rf{-urilRre linally exterminated in Europe by the Pleistocene glaciation. Lesquereu.x referreil two forms of the Wilco.x of northern Mississippi to Magnolia, but both prove to lie species of Termiiialia. as Lcs- quereu.K had surmised in his prclimintiry studies. The genus Magnolia is, however, rep- resented in the Wilco.x by two large-leafed s|)ecies, both of which are common to the basal Eocene of the Iviicky Mountain province. Neither shows any (-lose afniiity with the ante- cetlent Upper Cretaceous forms, which are so common in the emhayment area of .Alabama anil northeastw.-ird along the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The family Anonaccaj contains about 7(K) existing species, which are distributed among about 48 genera, onlj- two of which live in North America. The family is practically con- fined to the Tropics, a single Australian species, and the North American genus Asimina, which contains 6 or 7 species, being the only conspicu- ously extratropical forms. The area of maxi- mum representation is southeastern Asia and the adjoining region of Malaysia, for though only 16 genera are confined to this region they contain more than 350 species, and 6 additional genera (Miliusa, Uvaria, Polyalthia, Oxymitra, Melodorum, and Poporvia), which contain more than 2.J0 species, are represented by most of their species in this area. The family ranks fifth in number of sjiecies in the flora of the Msilay Peninsula and Borneo. Only a single genus is confined to Australia, and most of the Australian species arc regarded as migrants from the Malaj-siau area. Tropical Africa contains more than 100 species and 6 peculiar genera and America about 200 species and 10 ]K'culiar geuera. These forms are all confineil to tlu; Tropics, except a species of Anona, which reaches the coast of peninsular Florida, and the genus Asimina, which inrludes 6 or 7 species of shrubs and small trees of the South Atlantic aiul Gulf States. One; of these, Asi- imna triloba Dunal, is hardy as far north as New York, the farthest distance from the E([uator at which any existing member of the family is found. The fossil record of the Aiionaceaj is very incomplete. Only the genera 90 LOWER F.nCEXr. FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN XORTH AMERICA. Anoiui Liniie iiiid Asiniina Ailaiison are kiH)Wii with cortaiuty and both are present hi tlie Wilcox flora. Seeds of Moiiodorospermum, named from their resemblance to those of tlie West African genus Monodora, are dcscrih(>d by Warburij; from the late Tertiary of tlie Dutch East Indi(>s (Banka). Tlie extinct .y;enus Jong- mansia is based on seeds from the Dutch Pliocene. The genus Anona includes 15 to 20 fossU species, five of which arc also represented by seeds. The oldest species comes from the Dakota sandstone. A second species is found in the late Cretaceous or early Eocene of the Rocky Mountain province. The flora of the Wilcox afl'ords a glimpse into the true stage of evolution of Tertiary floras in that expanded belt of the i\jnerican equatorial region which was the center of radiation of so many recent types. There were 4 exceedingly well-marked species of Anona along the Wilcox coast, and their leaves arc very common at some localities, although no seeds have yet been discovered. I assume that those Wilcox forms had habits similar to those of most of the existing species, exemplified by Anona glahra Linne, the pond apple of Florida, which frequents shallow fresh-water swamps, low shady hammocks, or stream borders near the coast. Other species occur in the low coppice association or on edges of brackish swamps on the Bahamas. The cultivated species, as the American Anona re- ticulata Linne, which is planted in Guam, often spread naturally along the inner beaches, though attempts to introduce others of the most liighly esteemed American species into the Orient liave failed. From tlie prevalent habit among the existing species, the growth in wet shaded soils is evidently an old characteristic, and as the Wilco.x anonas are associated with a strand flora, the assumption that they gi'ow on the inner beaches or the shaded and swampy edges of lagoons possesses every degree of probability. In the pipe clays of Alum Baj-, which are con- temporaneous with the Wilcox, there are 2 species of Anona, and Engelhardt has described 2 species from the Eocene or Oligocene of Chile. The Oligocene record shows a species in France and another in Saxony. In the Miocene there are 2 species each in England, Styria, and Croatia, and 1 each in Boliemia, Transvlvania, and Colorado. There is 1 species in the Plio- cene of France and 1 in that of Italy, which shows how modern was their extinction in the south of Europe. The genus Asiniina includes only 4 or 5 re- corded fossil species, all American, except a form from th(^ Pliocene of Italy, which has been referred to this genus, althougli I suspect that it represents an Anona, since Asiniina appears to have originated in the Western Hemispliere and been confined there. The oldest known species is based on foliage from the basal Eocene of the Kocky Mountains (Denver formation) and of the enil)ayiiient (Midway formation). One species is based on a seed from the basal Wilcox and no other records have been found except a form close to the modern from the late Miocene of New Jersey (Bridgeton formation) and the existing Asiniina triloba Dinial in the interglacial beds of the Don Valley in Ontario. The order Papaverales (Rhoedales of Engler) includes 6 families — Papaveracea>, Cruciferw, CapparidacetB, Resedacea?, Tovariacea?, and Moringacea% which together contahi about 255 genera and 2,200 species. The Papaveraceae and Cruciferse are mostly herbaceous and widely distributed, largely in the North Temperate Zone, and they are of relatively recent evolu- tion. The ResedacejB is a small family, largeh' confined to the Mediterranean region. The Capparidacea^, Tovariacere, and Moringacese are mainly tropical. The last two families con- sist, respectively, of a smgle genus and 2 species of the American Tropics and a single genus and 3 species of the Asiatic Tropica — 1 ^yric-Arabian and 2 East Indian. The family Capparidaceaj, which includes about 35 genera and 400 existing species, is the only one of the order represented in the Wilcox flora. Most of the existing species are herba- ceous. They are found on all the continents in tropical and subtropiical regions. Five sub- families are recognized. Of these the Cleo- moidea= and (^apparidoideiB arc large and occur on all the continents, including monotypic gen- era in North America (Isomeris), South Amer- ica (Stubelia, Atamisquea, Belencita), Africa (Pteropetalum, Cladostemon), and Australia (Roeperia, Apophyllum). The subfainOy Dip- tcrvgioideio includes a single genus and oidy 5 or 6 species in Nubia, Arabia, and the Punjab. The subfamily RoydsioidetB includes about a dozen species, the genera Roydsia and vStixis being confined to India and the genus Forcli- COMPOSITION OF THE FLORA. 91 haminoria to Mexico. Tlic su])famiJy Eni- hliiifijioidca^ includes ouh" a single genus and species C()nlinerv little can be said regarding t!ie history. The oidy fossil records known to mo are tiie following: F. von Miiller has dcscrihed somewhat uncertainly determined fruits fi-oni the Pliocene of Australia as the genera Dieune and Plesiocapparis. Plesiocapparis has 2 spe- cies and is considered as jirohahly a m(Mnl)er of the section Busheckia of the genus Capparis. Schenk has described the ]>etrilie(l wood of another form from the r]ip(>r Cretaceous or Tertiary of Egypt under the name faj^iiari- doxylon. The gcMUis Capparis is represented by a well-marked Wilcox species A'ery close to the existing Antillean tree Cappar'iK domuiqcnxis Sprengel. There are about a hundi-ed existing species of Capparis, most of them tropical, and although they are found in the Elastern Hemi- sphere they chiefly occur in the American Trop- ics, especially in Central and South America. The oldest known fossil forms are two species described by me as species of Ca]5]iarites from the Upper Cretaceous of Alabama (Tuscaloosa formation). In addition to the Wileo.x species previously mentioneil, Engelhardt has de- scribed a Tertiary species from Bolivia. Many years ago Unger described a Tertiary sjiecies fr()m the middle Miocene of Styria, but S(diiin- per considers it to be a papilionaceous form. Though the fossil record of Capparis is so meager, such facts as are available seem to indi- cate that it originat(Ml in tiie American l']-)])er Cretaceous. Many of the modern forms are shrubs or small trees of the strand flora, and such is believed to have been the habitat of tlie Wilcox species. The orchn- Resales includes about 18 families and more than 14,000 existing species, the largest families being the Leguminosae, Rosa- cea?, Saxifragacea^, and Crassulace.T. The fam- ily Platanaceas, which by tiie majority of stu- dents is referred to the Rosales, 1 regard as th(> sole survivor of an independent order culminates in tlie relati\('ly modern Papilio- nacea'. Fi\-e families of iiosales are present in \\\c Wilcox llora. Of these the tlireo legumi- nous faniili(>s are by far the most abundant. Tlie family I lamanielidacea' consists of aliout lU genera and .")() s]iecies. Twelve genera arc c.onlined to the Asiatic region, 1 genus is doubt- fully conlined to Australia, 3 genera are Afri- can, and '■') are common to Asia and eastern North Anieri(ra. The family is remarkable for coiilainiiig no less t.lian !) monotypie genera. A consideration of tlie existing distrif)ution is not only of exceeding interest, but also gives con- clusive ])r origi- nated in tlie North AmiM'ican region. The fos- sil s]i(>eies are n()t lunuennis enough, however, for deiinite conclusions on this point. The genus Hamaraelis and its generalized fos- sil type Ilamamelites Saporta are represented by .5 species in the Dakota sandstone, one of which occurs in the U]iper Cretaceous of the Atlantic coast (Middendorf arkose meml)er of Black Creek formation of South Carolina) and another is doubtfully re])resented in the su])- posed I'pper Cretaceous of Argentina (Kurtz). There are 2 Paleocene species in France and Belgium, and ConwiMity, has described charac- teristic flowers preserved in perfection in the Baltic andier (Sannoisian) as Ilamamelidan- thium. The genus Parrotia, which includes a single existing species of northern Persia and the Cau- casus, contains .3 species in the Dakota sand- stone, 1 s])eeies in the Wilcox and Fort Union, '2 in tlie Oligocene of Europe, and 2 in the Mio- cene of Spitzbergen, Spain, France, Silesia, Austria, and Hungary. The distribution of Parrotia in the past, so far as it is known, con- firms the evidence of a North American origin for the family derived fi"om Hamamelis. The third genus with a geologic history is Liquidambar, of which more than 20 fossil species have been described. The oldest known forms occur in the Eocene at such widely sepa- 92 LOWER EOCENK FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERX NORTH AMFItlCA. rated points as Alaska, Ori\n. (irccnlaiul, and France. Thoro aro 2 species in the Olij^ocene of Asia and Europe. Nine or ten Miocene spe- cies are present throughout Euro]ie and North America (Xew Jersey to Oregon) and in eastern Asia. Three Phoccne species are found in SpaiiL Franc(\ Italy, Gernumy, Austria, Styria, and Slavonia. Typical fruits preserved in the upper Pliocene (if Germany show how late the genus flourished in central and southern Eu- rope. Felix has described the petrified wood from the Tertiary of Himgary as Liquidam- baroxj-loa. The existing Liquidamhar styrn- ciflua is found in the Pleistocene of West ^'ir- ginia, North Carolina, and Ala])anui, and the eastern Asiatic species L. Jonnofidvd occurs in the Pleistocene of Japan. The genus Cory- lopsis occurs in the post-Miocene deposits of Japan, and its seeds are also found in the Dutch Pliocene. Capsules and seeds of the genus Bucklandia are also present in the Dutch Pliocene. The family Rosaceae includes about 90 gen- era and more than 1,300 existing species, widel_y distributed, mostly in temperate regions. Some of the genera like Crataegus seem to be under- going saltation at the present time and hun- dreds of supposed species have been described in the past few years. The tribe Chrysobala- noidere is confined to the Tropics, and the Neu- radoidejc to the subtropics of Africa and southwestern Asia. All the other tribes of Ro- saceae are widely distributed and their modern and fossil distribution is without especial sig- nificance for the present discussion. The only genera represented in the Wilcox are Chrysobalanus, which includes species that are evidently the prototypes of the still existing forms, shrubs or small trees, but two or three in number, which iniiabit the sandy shores in the maritime regions of Florida, tropical America, and western tropical Africa, and the stones of a species of Prunus. The Leguminosaj, as now segregated into 4 families, constitutes the largest alliance among th(! (Tioripetahe (ArchichlamydeaO ami next to the Compositie is the largest angiospermous group. It contains more than 9,000 existing species segregated anrong about ■ii'A) genera. There is a wcU-defined floral progression from the family Mimosacea', which has actino- morphic fiowcrs and numerous, mostly free stamens, through the Ctesalpiniaceji^, to tlic largest group numerically, tlie l'a])ihonac(ne, which has strongly zygomorphic flowers and coalescent stamens, comparalile with the like culmination in floral evolution of the Orchida- ceje among the Monocotyledonie. The Mimosacea\ which includes about 'M genera and 1.400 existing species, is massed in tlie Tropics of both hemispheres. None of the subfamifies are confined to a single continent, but comparatively few genera occur in more than two continental areas and half the genera are restricted to one continent. Asia and Aus- tralia each have '2 peculiar genera, Africa has 4, and America has 7. America also leads in num- ber of species, about half the total number in the family being present in the New World. Australia comes next with more than 300; Africa next, also with more than 300: and Asia last with about 100. In the eastern United States there are only 3 genera and 5 species, none of which are arborescent. In the Gulf States there are 14 genera and 44 species. The CiPsalpiniaceie, which includes alxiut 90 genera and 1,000 species, is also mainly trop- ical and its forms are massed in the American Tropics, where there are more than 600 species and 37 peculiar genera. The tribe Sclerolo- biea? is entirely American and contains numer- ous monotypic genera. Asia and Africa each have about 150 species. There are, jiowever, only 10 Asiatic genera, as compared with 17 African. There are but 3 Australian genera and less than 100 species. In the eastern United States there are 5 genera and 11 spe- cies. Three of the genera, Cercis, Gleditsia, and Gymnocladus are arborescent. In the Southern States there are 11 genera and 44 species. The Papilionacere includes about 320 genera and 6,600 species. America leads in the num- ber of peculiar genera, having 82, but Asia leads in the number of species, having about 1,700. Africa contains 47 peculiar genera and about 1,600 species, Australia, 38 peculiar genera and about 1,000 species, and Asia 33 peculiar genera. Europe, which contains 7 peculiar genera and about 700 species, is less rich in both species and genera than any other continent. None of the suljfamilies is con- fined to a single continent but some of the tribes are, the Lipariina; being South African and the Bossiauiue AustraliatL Of the sub- family Podolyriea', 20 out of 27 genera and all COMl'llSriK^X (IF Till'. FLOKA. 93 but ()•') 6 sjiocics ai'c Australiiin. 'I'wn goiicra in this sul)faniily arc Aiiii'ricaii, L' African, 1 Asiatic. 1 Mediterranean ( l-'iirasia), ami 1 cnnmKin to North America and Asia. In the eastcru I'nitcd States lliere ai-e 4(1 genci'a and 104 species of PapiUoiiacea'. 'i'lie genera Cladrastis and Roliiiiia are ari)orescent. In tlie Southern States there are 5.") genera and 318 s]H'cies. Sargent's "ifamial of North American trees," which inchides many tr()|n- cal forms of the Florida Keys, enumerates for the Leguminosffi as a whole only ;)4 arbores- cent species for North America in 17 gen(>ra. In Grisebach's "Flora of the British West Indies" the Leguminosa^, with ■_'62 species, outmnnher all other families of flowering l)lants. The same is true of Url)an's "Flora of Porto Kico," which incluch's 130 species. According to Schombmg tlie Leguminos:i? constitute the largest alliance in Britisii Guiana and include aljout 475 species. On the Malay Peninsula, in Borneo, and in the Philippines they are exceeded hi specific dif- ferentiation only by the Orchidacea' and the Rnhiacca', and in the Celebes, according to Koorders, the Legumhiosai are the largest alliance. In Central America, according to Ilemsley, they rank third in numbers. When Bentham and Hooker 2iuljlished the "'Genera plantarum," the Legummosse comprised more than 5 por cent of the genera and nearly 7 per cent of the species of all flowering plants. As might he expected the later evolved and more temperate group, the Papilionacea', are the most widely dispersed. The Leguminosse are but sparsely represented in the New Zealand region. They are also practically luirepresented by endemic species on remote oceanic islands (quite contrary to the prevailing rule among the CompositaO, especially on those unfavorable to coloniza- tion by drift seeds. In Hemslcy's "Flora of Mexico and Central America" the Legumi- nosir include 27 per cent of the genera and 14.5 ])er cent of the species of Lcguminosa of the wliole world, and they constitute 8.1 jier cent of the total number of flowering ]>lants in that flora (044 species). At least 12 of the species are common to western Africa. Of tlie 50 species in 30 genera of tiie Legumi- nosa» tliat occur in tlie existing flora of the Fiji Islands, jialf the sjiecies and 20 genera belong to the strand flora. This family coiiiiiriscs about 5 pel' cent of the total known flora of the islands. It constitutes about 2!) per cent of tiie total I'ijian straml lloi-a, and this pro- ]iortion is eipialed or slightly exceeded in the Societ\-. Mar<(uesas, and Paumotus islands. Accguminous alliance, the Krameriacea, is a small hcrt)aceous grou]) of the New World, of very late, probably of recent, evolution. Of these Wilcox species 11 are refeiTi'd to the Mimosacea% 26 to the C^salpiniacea, and 20 to the Paijilionacea". Definitely recognized genera are named hi. the usual way. Forms usually identified as species of Acacia (for examiile, most of those so named by Heer, Ettingshausen, and Unger), which are refera- ble to the Mimosacea but not to the genus Acticia as commonly understood, are referred to the form genus Mimosites. Forms not cer- tainly identified as Casal|)inia but referable to the (■a'salpiniacea are classed under the form gcinus Ca'salpinites, and a considerable numb(u- of Gleditsia-like forms of both leaves and pods are described in the genus Gleditsio- ])hyllum, a form genus fii-st proposed by me for an Upper Cretaceous species from North Carolina. There is a certain unavoidable du- plication in the giving of specific names to unattached pods and leaflets, smce some of them may belong to the same liotanic species, but I have followed this method wherever I was not sm-(^ of such a relationship. Tlie Mimosacea of the WUcox are referred to 4 genera. The genus Acacia, which is rep- resented by a single indisputable species in which the leaves are reduced to jihyllodes, is of great interest, since in the existing flora the 450 sjiccies are largely confined to the Aus- tralian I'egion. The section PhyUodiuea, to which the Wilcox species is referrcul, contains about 300 existing species, which are confined to Australia and Oceanica, altliough in Eocene^ times they were also present in Europe. It is a curious commentary on the modern character of the earlier Tertiary floras that the reduction of fohar organs and the habit of phyUoely, often 94 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. coiTolati'd with iiioilcni arid coiulitious, should have really been developed in these early floras. The genus luga, represented in the Wilcox hy 4 well-marked species, includes more than 1.50 species in the existing flora, all df which are confined to the American tropical and subtropical regions. Its geologic history is largely unkjiown, although it appears to he represented in American Upper Ci'etaceous floras by Inga cntacea Lesquereux, which occurs m the Dakota sandstone and in the Tuscaloosa fonnation of Alabama. Ettings- hausen has tlescribed a species from the Cenomanian of Saxony {Inga cottai) ; the Euro- pean Miocene has furnished 2 or 3 species; and Engefliardt has describeil a Tertiary species from Bolivia. The genus Pithecolobium, which belongs to the same tribe as Inga (Ingese), is represented by 2 Wilcox species. Most of the 100 or more existing species are American, more than a score live in tropical Asia, and a few are found in tropical Australia and Africa. With the ex- ception of a Tertiary' species from Bolivia, I do not know of other fossU occurrences. The genus Mimosites, which includes 4 Wilcox species, represents trees of the Mimosa type that are very abundant in recent species referred to several genera, either American, Asian, Australian, or African, and abundantly represented in European Tertiary floras. Its Cretaceous ancestry is hidden among the species of leaflets referred to the form genus Leguminosites. The genus Mimosa, which is apparently most like the Wilcox Mimosites, includes more than .300 existing species, chiefly confined to the wamaer parts of America, although they are represented in Asia, Africa, and Australia. Except for the family Lauracese the Ct^sal- piniacese, which contains 26 species, is the largest family in the Wilcox flora and it is certauily a fact of considerable interest that the massing of the modern species in the American Tropics shoidd be foreshadowed by their abmidance on this Continent as early as the lower Eocene. The Wilcox genera are 5 in number, of which the largest is Cassia, which includes 12 species. Cassia is the largest Wilcox genus except Ficus, and aU of its species find their modern counterparts in existing, species of tropical and subtropical America, many of which are men- tioned by nanie in the systematic part of this work. Numerous as are the Wilcox species of Cassia there was apparently greater specific difi^erentiation in contemporaneous European deposits, since Ettingshausen records 15 species in the flora of Alum Bay (Ypresian of Isle of Wight). Cassia has between .300 and 400 existmg species, found in the wanner temper- ate and tropical regions of all the continents and especiaUy aV)undant in tropical America. Then- place of origin is miknowni, since thej' make their appearance in the Upper Creta- ceous almost simultaneously m New Zealanil, Australia, Bohemia, Saxony, Greenland, the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and the Dakota sand- stone of the Rocky Mountain province. More than 100 fossU species are already known. The Eocene distrilmtion sheds no light on the early history of the genus, for species occur in such widely separated regions as North America, Europe, and Australia. There are numerous Oligocene and Miocene species, the Oligocene records being ccmfhied to Europe and Africa and the Miocene records being confined to Europe and North America. C.issia Wiis abundant along the shores of the Pliocene Mediterranean of Europe, and 4 species are recorded from South American beds which are thought to be of Pliocene age. Pleistocene species are recorded from Maryland, and also from the East Indies (Java), where they are associated with Pithecanthroims eredus Du])ois. One fact is certain — the genus has been a part of the American flora since the dawn of the Upper Cretaceous, and several of the Wilcox species are the undoubted prototypes of existing forms of tlic American Tropics. The genus Cercis, which includes a single Wilcox species, makes its first recorded ap- pearance in geologic history in the Wilcox species, in the 3 species recorded from- the Fort Union formation of the Rocky Mountain prov- ince and in a species found in the Ypresian of the Paris Basin, so that its appearance was practicaUy contemporaneous in France and Tennessee. It continues on both continents down to the present, being even represented in the Pleistocene of both regions. The mod- ern species number 5 or 6 and inliabit th" warmer temperate regions of /Vmerica, Europe, and Asia. There is one species of Ciesalpinia in the Wilcox and it is almost identical in character COMPOSITION OF THE FLORA. 95 and luil)it;it with CirsdJpinia haliamensis Linia is recorded lii'st from the tl]>per Creta(HH»us of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and it seems prol)able tliat it originated on this continent and n>a(lied Europe dining the Eocene b}'^ way of the iVi'ctic region, since it is common in the OIigocen(\ Miocene, and Pliocene of America. Four Wilcox species are referred tt> the form genus Cresalpinites. These species r<"present true forms of Ci^salpinia or of allied genera in this family. One of them ahuost certaiidy belongs in the genus Parkinsonia, a small genus which occurs in the European Oligocene but wliich in the existing flora is conhn<'d to the warmer parts of North America and South .\frica. Fossil forms referred to Ca}sali)iiiites in( hule about 20 from the Em'opean Oligocene and Miocene. Tlie genus Gleditsiophj'Uum makes its ap- pearance in the I'pper CVetaceous of the Caro- lina region. It is represented in the Wilcox deposits by S sjX'cies of leaves, leaflets, and pods, which are abundant in many places. Theu" relation to modern genera is uncertain, but they were evidently much like Gleditsia. Two genera of Citsalpiniaceaj, HTOiemx-a and Bauhinia, which I confidently expected to find in the Wilcox, must have been present during this time in southeastern North America. Hymcnsea is confined to the American Tropics in the existing flora, where it includ<'s about 8 species. It is represented by characteristic forms in the Upper Cretaceous of Alabama. Tlie geims Bauhinia, which contains abotit 1.50 existing species of the Tropics of both hemi- spheres has several especially characteristic forms in the IJppin' Ci-etaceous of soutlieastern North America (New Jersey, Marj'laud, and Alabama). Tlie family Papilionace^, which comprises more than two-thirds of the existing Legu- minosse, undoubtedly represents the culmina- tion of evolution in the alliance. Most of its species, especially the numerous herbaceous genera, are unquestionably of comparatively recent origin. In spite of this fact, the family is represented by more than 20 species in tlu^ Wilcox. Tliese species are distributed among 6 genera, of which Dalbergites, Carpolithus, and Legurainosites are form i^enera and the other 8 still exist. Tlie largest genus is So- phora, wliicli inchnh's 7 species, one of which, evideiitly a sti-and ts-])e sinrilar to the cos- mo]>olitan strand plant SopJiora fometilosa Liiuie of tlie existing tropical flora and com- para1)li' in its ludiitat with tliat species, is very alumdant in the Wilcox deposits. Tliere are al)out 2.5 existing speci(>s of slu'ulis and small trees referred to this genus, which are scat- teroran(H)us with the Wilcox sjiecies and the othei-s being later. Though few species h'av(v been described, the genus is widely dis- tributed in the European Miocen(>, where So- phora (uropxa Unger was a common coastal form of the Mediterranean region throughout the Miocene and into tlie Plioc(>ne epoch. Four species, tlu-co based on leaflets and the fourth on a characteristic pod, represent the genus Dalbergia in the Wilcox flora. Two ad- ditional species whose generic relations are not so certain are referred to the genus Dalber- gites. The existing sp(H;ies of Dalbergia num- ber about 80 forms found in the Tropics of both hemispheres, and all show a strong generic sim- ilarity in their foliar characters. More than two score fossil forms arc known. Th(i earliest form occurs in the Atlantic Coastal Plain and western Gre<'nland, so that there is a strong possibflity that the genus was of American ori- gin. If this theory was correct they must have undergone a rapid dissemination, for in the Eocene they are not only found in America and the Arctic region, but also in Europe. The Alum Bay beds of the Isle or Wight (Ypresian), which I regard as contemporaneous, in part at least, with the Wilcox, contain, according to Ettingshausen, 6 species of Dalbergia. Euro- pean deposits furnish about a dozen Oligocene species and a larger number of Miocene species. Dalbergia primseva I'nger, D. rdussrfolia Heer, D. hsenngiana Ettingshausen, and D. hella Heer are widespread coastal forms of the Euro- pean Tertiary. Some of these European species range from tlie late Oligocene tlu-ough the Miocene and into the Pliocene. The genus Canavalia is represent(Ml in the Wilcox by a line sjJccies, undoubtcilly the 9G LOWKK EOCEXE FLOliAS OF SOUTH EASTEKX XORTII AMERICA. ancestor uf the oxisliug Caiuuxiita (ihtusifolia (Lamarck) Do CandoUe, a widely distributed tropical strand jilant. A second species is less commonly represented and not jis certainly identified. The fjenus contains about m dozen existing species of tlie Tropics of bolli liciiii- spheres, but fossil forms have not lieretofore been found. The Wilcox forms referred to Leguminosites can not be classified satisfactorily, since they represent pods and leaflets of this alliance whose generic relations are uncertain. This form genus was proposed first by Bowerbanl^ for the p\Titized remains from the Isle of Sheppey (London clay), and two of his species are tentatively identified in the Wilcox. Sub- sequently many species have been described. They range in age from the middle Cretaceous to the Pliocene. The oldest form, in the M- bian of Portugal, is described by Saporta. They are found in tlie Cretaceous of Australia, the Cenomanian of Saxony, tlio Atane and Patoot beds of Greenland, and the Cretaceous formations of the Atlantic Coastal Plain from Marthas Vineyard to Alabama. They are common in the Arctic Eocene and occur also in America, Euro]ie, and Asia. Oligocene records include Europe and the Antarctic Con- tinent; Miocene records are confined to Austra- lia, America, and Europe; and Pliocene records include southern Europe and Japan. Th6ugh the foregoing analysis leaves many l^roblems in the history of the Leguminosae un- solved, it shows at least that the Wilcox forms would find a congenial habitat in the present- day American Tropics, in the flora of which they are all i-oprescnted, and that thus early some of the main features of their recent distribution had been determined. The most similar fossil display of these forms is found in the Ypresian flora of Alum Bay on the Isle of Wight, wliich unfortunately^ has never boon described or figured, but of wliich Ettingshausen' published an analysis and enum- eration in ISSO. Another very similar display of forms is that described by Engelhardt from the Tertiary of Cerro de Potosi in Bolivia,^ wliose exact age has never been determined, although its resemblance to this part of the ' Etting-shausen, C. von, Roy. Soc. London Proc, vol. 30, pp. 22S- 236, 1880. ! Engelhardt, Hermann, NaturwLss. Gesell. Isis in Dresden Silz- ungsber. und Abh., 1S8", Abh. 5, pp. 36-38, 7 flgs.; idem, 1894, .\bti. 1, pp. 3-13, pi. 1. Wilcox flora suggests the j)ossibility tliat it is Eocene instead of Pliocene, the age wliicli has l)een assumed. This resemblance may, how- ever, simi)ly ])(' a reflection of tlie similarity between tiie L<'guniiii()sa' of tlic eml)avment area in the lower Eocene and those of subse- quent epochs in tlie American Tropics. The small flora desci-il)ed ])y Engelhardt IVom the Tertiary of Ecuador contains 14 species of Leguminosa:>. The order Geraniales includes 21 families and more than 10,000 existing species, of wliich nearly half belong to the family Euphor- biacea?. Tlie other large families in the order of their size are the Rutacese, Meliacea?, Mal- pighiacea\ and Polygalacea?, each of which con- tains more tlian 500 existing species. The Geraniacea?, Oxalidacea:', and Burseracere each include more than 300 existing species. The alliance is mainly cyclic in the character of its floral members. The primitive forms are iso- carpic and progress is toward reduction of the number of carpels. The phylogenetic impor- tance of the characters by which the Geraniales as an order is separated from the evidently allied Sapindales is not great and in some respects the order is apparently not a natural one. Six families of Geraniales have been rec- ognized in the Wilcox flora. The first of these, the Rutacefe, consists of about 111 genera and more than 900 existing species, which are widely distributed over the warm temperate and tropical regions. The fruits are capsules, samaras, or drupes, and the leaves, which may be simple or compound, are usually glandular punctate. Though 34 genera and 127 species are confined to America, the family makes its greatest display in the Old World. Africa contains 16 peculiar genera and 19(r species and Australia 28 jjcculiar genera and 1S5 species. In addition to 6 genera and 7 species which are confined to the Asiatic mainland, 19 genera and 167 species are distributed from southeastern Asia through Malaysia, some of them as far as New Zealand and Polynesia. The only truly cosmopolitan genus is Fagara, which includes more than 150 existing species and is repre- sented in all tropical countries. The tribe Boroniea', which includes IS genera and 158 species, is confined to Australia and New Zea- land; the Diosine.T, which contains 11 genera and 181 species, is confined to South Africa; and the Cuspai-iea^, wliich contains 16 genera COMPOPITTOX OF T}1E FLORA. 97 find S3 species, is confiiiod (o tropical Ainerica. The otiier rathei- luinicrous irihcs arc all repre- sented in more than one continental re;^ion. Tlie family contains flie i-('niaricent evolution, as a miniher of those from Australia, the isolated occur- rences of many of tiieotli(M-s indicate liuit they are of great age and once occu|)i(-d in((>rvening areas. There are oidy l.'l known fossil genera, only about 10 per ceiil (jf the exist ing genera, so t liat little can be said of tlie fossil history (if tiw. family. The oldest genus is ('iti-opliyllum Berry, which is represented by vcvy character- istic leaves with alate petioles in the Dakota sandstone of the Rocky Mountain province and occurs from New Jersey to Alabama along the Atlantic coast in the l{aritan, Magothy, Black Creek (Midtlendorf arkosc member), and Tuscaloosa formations. Another species of Citrophyllum is found in the Wilcox and a third in the overlying Claiborne. Tiiese forms are very similar to the leaves of recent mem- bers of the Aurantioidivc and imdoubtedly represent ancestral forms. The genus Dic- tanmus Linne, which includes a single existing species widely distributed in Eurasia, is repre- sented by a fossil form in the Pliocene of France and another in the Pleistocene of Japan. Lin- ger in 1850 described petrified wood from the Aquitanian of Greece as Klippsteinia medulla- ris, referring it to the AurantioideiB. The genus An^\Tis (P. Browne) Linne con- tains about a dozen existing species in the Antilles and Central Ameiica, two of which reach the coast of southern Florida. A fossil foi'm is recorded by Unger from the late Mio- cene (Sarmatian) of LIungary. This determi- nation is not conclusive, however, althougli Unger had both the leaves and fruit of Profa- myns herenices. Unger also descril)ed the su|)- posed ancestral getnis Protamyris, to wliich he referred 4 species from the Acpiitanian of Kunu and the Miocene of Croatia. Tiiese det(>rniina- tions are not especially convincing, and hotii Ettingshausen and Schenk consider rrofami/iis radobojana Unger to reprc-sent a species of Cedrela. Tlie genus Xantliox3dum Linne, which in- cludes 9 or 1 existing species of eastern Asia and North America, has been a favorite receptacle for fossil forms of llutacea'. About a score of 50243°— 16 T fossil species have been described. Tlie oldest comes from the basal Eocene of northeastcMii New Mexico (Raton format ion) and a second ICocene species is recorded from tlie Bartonian of France. Engelhardt has described 2 Eocene or Oligocene species fioni Chile. Then^ are 4 Oligocene species, 2 in France and 2 in Prussia. Tliei'c ai-e about \'-\ Miocen(> s|)ecies, widely dis- tril)ut('d and represented in ('alifornia, Colo- rado, Spain, I'^rance, .Switzerland, Baden, Bo- liemia, Croatia, and Hungary. The 2 Pliocene species I'cpresenl {''lance and Asia Minor, and one of the Recent species is found in tlie Pleisto- cene of Japan. It seems probable tluit Xan- thoxylum was derived from Fagara tlu'ough a loss of tiie lloi-al calyx and by ada])tatioii to cooler climatic conditions. The genus Fagara limie is suljstituted for Xantiioxylum by many n^cent systematists, although I prefer to consider it as the ancestral stock and use it in the older sense, as including the 150 cosmo])olitan tropical species. To Xantiioxylum 1 woidd refer the extratro]>ical forms of Asia and Nortli America. Lindoul)t- edly s(n'eral if not all of the fossil forms de- scribed as species of Xantiioxylum are more jirojierly i-cfcrred to Fagara, althougli none have lieretoforc been described under this name cx- cc])t forms from Florissant, Colo., and from Cali- fornia, which are probably referable to Xanthoxy- luni. The Tertiary flora of southeastern North America contains several very characteristic forms of Fagara. The oldest forms are three species from the Wilcox group. There is another species m the overlying (,'laiborne grouji. Tiie Vickslnirg group has furnisluHl a very common form, which has several well- marked varieties in some of the leaves of whicli the glandular )>unctate character is beautifullv jU'csei'ved. Still another form is found in the Apalaehicola grou]i of Florida. The genus Rnta Ijiime, which includes more than 100 existing species, mostly of Eurasia, although found also in Africa and South Amer- ica, is represented by characteristic capsules in the Aquitanian of Rhenish Pnissia, described by Menzel in 191.3, and by 2 species in the Pliocene of Limlnirg described by Reid. TIhi genus Pludlodeiidron Ruprocht, which includes 2 existuig Asiatic species, is repre- sented in the Aquitanian of Rhenish Prussia by fruits (drupe) and 3 well-marked s])ecics ure present in the l^liocene of Limburg. Engel- 98 LOWER EOCEXK FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. liiirdt has doscrihod spocios of Ticorca, Pilocsir- pus, aiul Ervthrochvton from the early Tertiary of Chile and a species of Con N'alantjinian of P(irtnii;al. are Ameri- can, and the widespread existini; American rep- resentatives of tile family seem to com|)rise the specilically mult i])lie(l descendants of tlie orit^i" njj stock idready repres(>nted in I lie Wilcox flora. Tiie Asiatic ijenera would thus represent im- miijrants into that area or forms evolved tlierc' The Polynesian and Australian forms are mucii localized derivatives of the Indian stock, and unless the peculiar species of New Caledonia could not reach that region except hy a laud connection it may he infciTed tiiat tiiis Asiatic radiation was relatively recent. Tlie fossil species are mifortunately few. vSo far as I know the only fossil species of Carapa is that found in the Wilcox, where it may have been a mangrove plant, as is the existing Carapa ohovafa. The oriental Carapa mohiccensis and the occidental Carapa proccra are also coastal tj'pes. The occuiTence of Carapa in tlie early Eocene at least helps to explain its present dis- tribution in both the American and West .African Tropics. As Carapa procera. is common to these two areas, all the African species are perhaps recent immigrants, but it is more proliahle that there are unrecognized specific differences in this form in the two areas and that the present disconnected distribution is an example of sur- vivoi-s from the early Tertiary radiation. An- other genus whose modern distribution is like that of Carapa is Moschoxylon Jussieu (made a section of Trichilia Linne hy Harms in Engler and Prantl), which includes about 60 species in tropical America and West Africa. This genus is represented by 2 fossil species described by Engelhardt from the early Tertiary (Eocene or OUgocene) of Chile and by a third species from Colombia. The genus Cedrela, sometimes made the type of an independent family, the Cedrela- cese, is represented by 4 Wilcox sp(>cies. Eocene prototypes of existing jVmerican species. This genus, which includes 9 or 10 species, is con- fined to America in the existing flora and is only known outside tiiis area in '2 sjjecies from tiie Miocene of Croatia, which Unger referred to Cedrela, and an undescribed Cedrela recorded by Ettingshausen from the Yj)resian of thci south of England. Saporta has, however, re- corded 6 species of Cedrelospermum from tlie Sannoisiaii of soullieastern l-'rance, and Deune n^conls a Cedrelopliyllum from the Tertiary of N(>w South Wales. The fossil rcM'ord of these three genera, Carapa, Moschoxylon, and Ceth'ela, brief as it is, shows clearly that the Meliacea^ an^ not a modern element: in the flora of the American Trojjics, hut were ah'ead\- weU differ- entiated in the early Tertiary. The remaining fossil references to this fanhly comprise Meliacciecarpura, based on capsides from the A()uitanian of Prussia, which Menzel, th(Mr describer, compares willi those of tlie gen- (>ia Dysoxyhmi and (iuarea. 1"'. von Miiller has descrihed Rliytidotheca and Pleioclinus, 2 supposed meliaceous genera, l)ased on fruits from tlie Pliocene of Australia. The small family IIumiriac(>iv comprises oidy •i genera and a score of species of shrubs and snniU trees, all conlined to the American Tropics, except a single species that is found in trof)ical West^Vfrica (Aubrya), a distribution suggesting a history like that just suggested for Cara|)a, Moschoxylon, and (Vdrela. The only known fossil species is one from the Wilco.x that is vei'y close to the existing Vantanra panlculata Urban of northern Soutli America. The family Mal])ighiacea', wliicii is confined to tropical and subtro])ical countries, contains aliout 55 genera and 650 existing species, many of which are scandent, including some of the finest lianas of the Tropics, whose stems are as much as 2 decimeters in diameter. Others are shrubs and trees. The leaves are opposite and simple and the fruits drupaceous, capsular, or nutlike, and many of them winged. The only species that reaches the Ihiited .Statefe is Byrsonima lucida (Swartz) De Can- doUe, a small evergreen tree of the Florida K(\vs. The family is ]:)redominantly American in its distribution, more than 67 per cent of both genera and species being confuied to the Western Hemisphere (37 genera and 141) species). None of the genera occur in more than one continental area. The family is di\ided into two subfamilies — the P\Tamido- tor:e and the Planitora-. The Planitoiw, wdiich includes 2 tribes, the (jal])liinrie;r and the Malpighiea>, is entirely American. Of the 3 tribes into which the P_>Tamidotorai is divided the Tricomariea^ is entirely American. The HiraH!ic includes 3 genera and 23 species confined to Asia, 3 genera and 12 species 100 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. confiucd to jVfrica, 1 {jcnus containing 12 sjK'cios that rango from Malaysia to Australia, and 9 genera and lol species confined to America. The remaining trilie, the Banis- terie:v, includes a monoty]>ic genus in Asia, 2 genera and 15 s])(>ci('s in Africa, a single genus and 7 species ranging from the East Indies to Austraha, and 11 genera and 247 species confined to America. There are 21 monotypic g(>nera, distributed as follows: Microsteira, confined to Madagas- car: Flabellaria, confined to Africa; Caucan- tluis, confined to Arabia; Brachylophon, con- fined to Farther India; Mozia, Diplopteris, Lophopteris, Clonodia, Coleostachys, Blcpha- randra. Lophanthera, Verrucalaria, Pterandra, Acmanthera, Diacicha, and Cdan^lonia, confined to Brazil, Guiana, and Venezuela: Henleophy- tum, confined to Cuba; Lasiocarpus and Eclii- nopteris, confined to Mexico: and Tricomaria and Mionandra, confined to Ai-gentina. Monotypic genera in general are suscep- tible of two interpretations. They represent either the last smwivors of a long line, as the Ginkgo and Sassafras, or relatively recent specializations. Of the foregoing monotypic genera it seems probable that most are the result of relatively recent evolution, since there is nothing in then character or distribution to suggest any extended geologic lustory and none have been found in fossil floras. The fossil record is most incomplete. No forms are known from the Upper Cretaceous, though Ettingshausen recorded a species of Malpighiastrum and one of BanisteriophyUmn from the Upper Cretaceous of Australia. Those identifications, however, are open to the most serious question, and I do not con- sider them of any weight in the discussion. The family is certainly represent(>d in the lower Eocene by 5 species of Malpighiastrum, Hinea, and Banistcria in the Ypresian of the south of England and by 5 species of Iiir;i'a and Banisteria in the Wilcox flora, l)ased on both leaves and characteristic fruits. There are also doubtful species of Malpighiastrum and BanisteriophyUum, described from the Tertiary of Australia by Ettingshausen. Thus there is no direct geologic evidence of the ])l;ice of origin of the family. As the family is so predominantly American at present, and as only 2 genera have reached Australia from the East Indian region, and as 2 of the American g(>nera appear in the northward extension of the early Eocene flora of the American Trojiics tkning the ATilcox epoch, and are as ancient as any certain records of the family anywhere, the conclusion is ex- tremely pro])a])le that the family origmated in equatorial America. With the exception of the Wilcox records enmueratcd al)ove nearly all the fossil records relate to Europe and may be liriefly enumerated. The genus Malpighiastrmn Uuger con- tains al)out 30 recorded species, including the doubtful Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary spe- cies previously mentioned as recorded by Ettingshausen from eastern Australia; 3 Ypresian species from the south of England; 8 Oligocene species in France, Italy, Dalniatia, StjTia, and Transylvania: aV)out 15 Miocene species in Itah*, Prussia, Bohemia, Croatia, and Transylvania, and 2 Pliocene species in Ital3^ The genus Heteropteris Jussieu, wliich in- cludes about 90 existing species, ranging from Mexico and the Antilles to Bolivia and Brazil, includes a late Oligocene species in Transyl- vania and 2 Miocene species in Styria and Croatia. The genus Hirsea Jacquin, wliich contains about 25 existing species ranguig from Mexico and the Antilles to Peru, is represented by about 10 fossil species, based for the most part on the winged fruits. There is a species in the Ypresian of southern England and a charac- teristic fruit in the Wilcox ; 4 Oligocene species in the Tyrol, St;\Tia, and Transylvania; 3 Mi- ocene species in Baden, Styria, and Transyl- vania; a Pliocene species in Brazil; and an early Tertiary species in Ecuador. The genus Tetrapteris CavanUles, wliich in- cludes about 60 existing species, ranging from the West Indies and Mexico to southern Brazil and Bolivia, contains a fossil species in the Oligocene of Styi'ia and 3 Miocene species in Bohemia, Styria, and Ci'oatia. The genus Stigmatophyllon Jussieu, which comprises about 45 existing species in tht^ Bahamas and Antilles and along the east coast of America from Mexico to Uruguay, includes a somewhat doubtfid form, identified by Saporta, from the up])er Oligocene of France. Similarly the genus Byrsonima L. C. Richard, whose 90 existing species range frdin the Bahamas and Mexico to southern Brazil and Bolivia, has been recorded by Massalongo from COMrOSITId.N OV 'I'll I'. ILORA. 101 the early Pliocene of Italy, l>ut. the idrntilica- tion is extremely dou!)tfiil. The genus Banisteria Liniie cdnlains about. 70 existing species of clhnbing or scranihhng slii-ubs, ranguig from the West Indies through- out tropical South America and most numerous in Brazil. It is represented by 4 species, based on both leaves and fruits, in the Wilcox, one of them almost identical with the existing Banh- teria lanrifolia Linne, often rc^ferred to the genus Iletcropterys Kmith, which ranges from southern Mexico tlirough Central America and the West Indies to Colombia. There is an Ypresian species in the south of England; I Oligocene species in France, the Tyrol, iUsace, and StyTia; 4 Miocene species in France, Switzerland, and Ci'oatia; and an early Ter- tiary species in Ecuador. Species of Banisteria, along witli chmbing Sapindacese (Paullinia and Serjania) and bam- boos, are common in the great oak forests of upland Mexico, where they are associated with palms of the genu.s Chama>dorea and many ai'borescent Lauracese. The genus Banisteriophyllum Ettingshausen, which includes a single Upper Cretaceous and a Tertiary species in eastern Australia, I regard as of very doubtful afhnities. Schenk also states that wood of a malpigliiaceous type occurs among the silicified woods from the Oligocene of the island of Antigua. The family Euphorbiacese is sometimes made the type of a distinct order, the Euphorbiales, although the significance of the characters liy which it is segregated from the Geraniales is not obvious. It is an exceedingly large alliance and has about 220 genera and 4,000 existing species (Pax, 1890) of herbs, shrubs, and trees widely distributed throughout the Torrid and Temperate zones. The genus Euphorbia, which comprises more than 700 species, is perhajis (ho most widely distributed genus in the family. A great many of the recent species, particu- larly those of xerophytic character so closely simulating the Cactacese, are of relatively re- cent evolution. The Euphoi-biacea! is the fourth largest family ui the llora of the Mala}^ Peninsula and the Philippines. According to Beccari it is the third family in the Borneo flora; according to llemsley it is the sixth fiim- ily in the flora of Central America; and accord- ing to Koorders it is the fourth family in the flora of the Celebes. In such !i multi])licity of existing genera, and species any efl'ort to trace tlie larger features of distribution would occupy more space than it is worth in the present connection. Four ar- borescent genera and .5 species reach the I'nited States in the Florida region, and several more are naturalized in that area. A considerable but relatively insignilicant number are re- corded from the U])|)er Cretaceous and 'i'ci- tia.ry. The fossil records will, however, liave to he greatly increased before they can be said to slied any definite light on the geologic his- tory of the family. Enough is now known, however, to abrogate tlu^ statement made by Schenk ' and rjuoted l)y Pax - that there is no certain evidence of tlie existence of the Eu- phorl)iace£e during the Tertiary. Fossil repre- sentatives of the foUowmg genera have been recorded: Eu))h()rl)ia, a singl(>. species based on a fruit described by lleer from the Swiss Mio- cene: Euphorbioides, based on an inflorescence described by Wessel and Weber fnnir the Aqui- tanian of Ilheni.sh Prussia; Eu])li()rl3iop]iyllum, several species subsequently noted; Maniho- tites, a very ciuxracteristie species from the Upper Creta('eous of Georgia described by me; Ci'otonophyllum, several Upper Cretaceous and Eocene species; Cluytia, reported from the Eocene of the Isle of Wight and the Oligocene of Saxony and Rhenish Prussia. A single spe- cies of each of the follow"ing genera was identi- fied by Ettingshausen from tlie Miocene of Bo- hemia — Adenopeltis, Baloghia, Omalanthus, and Phyllanthus. Conwentz has describes! a euphorbiaceous flower from the Baltic amber (Sannoisian) as Antidesma maximowiczii, and Felix has descril)e(l petrified wood from the Tertiary "of Colombia as Euphorbioxylon. Hm-a-like fruits (Euphorbeoearpum) are also recorded by Knowlton from the lower Eocene (Raton formation) of northeastern New Mex- ico. Engelhardt has recorded species of Om- ))halea Linn6, Tetraplandra Baillon, and Mal- lotus Loureiro from tlu; early Tertiary of Cliile and seeds of Tithjmialus have been recorded by Cockerell from the Wasatch of Wyoming and the "Loup Fork beds" of Kansas. Though difference of opinion regardmg the determination of some of these I'ecords is justi- fiable, I regard Manihotites, Euphorbiophyl- ' Schenk, A., Palaeophytologie, pp. 594-.W7, 1890. 5Pax,inEngler, -.\.,and Pranll.K.. Die naturIichenPflaii/.enfamilien, 1890. 102 LOWEH EOCESX FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTEEX XORTH AMEBICA, him. Crotonophyflnm. and Euphorbioxyion as definite evidence of the existence of the Eu- P- ' iring the Upper Cpetaceoos i - 1 he 5 Wilcox species are referred to the gen- e: ■ "" ^ ■ - - - I' - ^ - pn:ipc>sed by ^ elenovsky for & well-marked - c[-S- --' ■- ' . -. . taceoos of South Carc>liiia. Two 5j)ecies are cc>nipared with a number of the 600 existing species of Crv" _ - re&«ited in :. are especially close with Croton eluieria (Linne) B- " - low coppice of t_ _ . . the Bahama Iskn.is. Hi- - - . - - ~ Altoge/:. by E ^ ~ hardt. These species have been c- : with - IS. Excoecaria. ( species occnr- .em France. T i^ ^ spe<:ies in western C- - -h- island of 3ieppey Q'presian'. and a tL: ,_* Paris Basin •Xatetian . Fi" ' _ ve been described fr:— *: - Tv- rol, and a six" 'rthem Bohemia. species in Switzeriai. - A Hiocene species is described by Kramer from BraziL A single smaB-Jeafed - . ' "" 'niophylluin is of rare occnTTMi -: rings sand. The gams Drypetes Vahl inchides abont a dozen '-aland subtr extend southward to northern Brazil and 2 range northward to the Florida Keys. There are 2 weO-marked species in the Wilcox flora — one an Eocene prototype of the existing Drypeteg I-' " ' " ' ' - ■ Lag tre^ of the coastal flora of soathem peninsular Florida, the Bahamas. West Indies, and An- tilles. The genus, which has not t)reviouslv -sU state, w; />ly _ . .—i there is i, . .^^lice that it ever spread to the Eastern Hemisohere. - -^. sometimes caL - -boat 20 famHiv; •ut 3.2«30 species. The largest famiUes in - , -vre the - . -eae. which :wice as I ; . t-cies as any of the others: the Celastraceae. Anacardiacese. "" " acese.- Like the Gera- ■ " ~ start with isocarpic forms and pass to those in which the camels Snce there are several distinct lines of de- ^"^^ ; -n fiom the Gt - - _ :_ :ers that seem trivial, it seems probable that the fanulies ^e two orders as at r -t a plexus of forms ~ : ' r_s are not yet undeTstood- iiie : - " of the Sapindales that is -f-z-^-.r W"V..T " -:■ ■- -^^ Ana- - It - - - ' -ptcies —- . ^..j. pithy - ind commonly toxic juice, rate or pinnate, ex- --_-„: _ _ irupaceous fruits that carry exalbuminous seeds. The Anacardiacese makes its greatest display in the tropics and subtropics of both hemispheres, but in the existing flora is especially characteristic of the M^' - . ~ 15 is by far the largest ge:i_- ;_ ._ .._- of the family found in the extratropical regions of both the northern res. The present geo- - -1.0WS many anom-ahes - Jv. Thus the genus Camp- les S species in --. ~ atra, Borneo, and !^Ialakka and a single species in northern BraziL The genus Sorindeia Thouars of trop- ical Africa and ^ladagascar is most closely aOied to the genus Mauria Konth of the Andes of South Amraica. The genus Calesium Adan- son includes 13 species in tropical Africa and 1 in the East Indies. The Eurasian gMius Pistacia Linne is represented by a sin^e species in Mexico. The genus Thyrsodium Bentham inchides 4 species in tht; Amazon an thr . nospeiiiiii ill"- Madagascar. C COMPOSITIOX OF THE FLORA. 103 region of South America and 1 in tropical West Africa. The subfamily Maiigiferae. which in- cludes about 80 species, in entirely Malaysian except for a species of Gluta Linne in Mada- gascar and the genus Anacarditmi Linn^, which is confined to tropical South America, chiefly Brazil. The subfamily Spondiese is found in the Tropics of both hemispheres. The subfamily Rhoide« is fotmd on aU the con- tinents and shows a pairing of a considerable nimiber of genera in equatorial Africa and America. The two remaining subfamihes, the Semecarpe* and the Debinee», are restricted to the region extending from India to Australia. The family contains 20 monotypic genera, distributed as follows: Asia .5. AustraUa o, Africa 6. Madagascar -i, Xorth America 2. and South America 1. The fossil records of the Anacardiaceie are very incomplete, although there seems to be no doubt that it was represented in both Europe and North America as far back as the Upper Cretaceous. As in the existing fiora. the most abimdant genus in the fossil record is Rhus, to which more than 100 species have been referred. Eight of these forms are Upper Cretaceous, the oldest coming from North American strata correlated with the Cenomanian (Raritan and Dakota '<. The genus appears in Europe in the Tm-onian of Bohemia. There are more than a dozen Eocene species of Rhus, widely scattered. Thus, there are 3 in the Ypresian of Alum Bay. 4 in western Greenland, and species in the Lance. Kenai. Fort Union, and Green River formations of North America. The genus doubles its known species in the early Ohgocene and is especially well represented in southern France but also recorded from the Tyrol, the Biiltic amber. Ittilv. Civrniola. and Sivria. In the Miocene Rhus seems to have been as abimdant. as well diflferentiated, and as widely distributed as it is in the existmg flora, for more than 60 fossil species have already been described. The records embrace all European countries where Miocene plants have been foimd. as well as Iceland and the following Xortli American localities: Maryland. Virginia. Colorado. Yellowstone Park. Idaho. Nevada. Oregon, and California. Oidy a small number of Phocene species are recorded m Spain. France. Italy. Gernumv. and Slavonia. Three Pleistocene species are recorded, 2 from Japan and 1 from China, all closely re- lated to stUl existing species of that r^on. Engler ' some years ago reviewed the geologic records of Rhus and concluded that most of the then known fossil species belonged to the sec- tion Trichocarpse. which in the existing flora coritains more than a score of species, mostly confined to North America and eastern Asia, or to the section Gerontogea?. which includes 7-5 existmg species, principally foimd in South -\frica. A few fossil forms he considered as representing the section Venenata, which includes about 14 existing species in North and South .America. The other sections into which the genus is subdivided were not recognized among the fossil forms. The alLed genus Cotinus. which contains 2 or 3 existing species in Eurasia and North America, is probably represented by some of the fossil forms referred to Rhus. Saporta considers Ehu-s antUopum Unger from the Aquitanian of Kumi to be a species of Cotinus. This author has also described Cotinus palso- eotinu-s. and Cockerell has described Cotinus frrritrtia from the Miocene of Florissant, Colo. The genus Pistacia. which contains 5 existing Mediterranean species and 1 each in eastern Asia and Mexico, is represented by about 15 known fossil species, the oldest of which, of doubtful value, comes from the Raritan of Staten Island. A second Cretaceous species is found in the Laramie of Colorado. Europe is represented in the record by an Ypresian species from Alxmi Bay. There are 3 Oligocene species in France and 7 Miocene species in France. Prussia. Bohemia. Styria. Gahcia. and Transyl- vania. There is a Pliocene species in Styria and another in Holland, an extinct Pleistocene species on the island of Madeira, and the exist- ing Pistacia lentiscus Linne in the Pleistocene of Santorin. The genus Anacardites Saporta (Anacardio- phyllum^ has been used as a form genus for fossil Anacardiaceie of imcertain generic re- lationship. As used by Saporta it represented fossil forms that resemble existing species of Mangifera.Anaphrenium.Spondias.Comocladia, Holigama. and the like, but not determinable with certainty. Heer has described a supposed species of .Vnacardites from the Atane beils of western Greenland. There are 2 species in the Sparnacian and 1 in the Ypresian of France, and 7 well-marked species in t he Wdco.x. There 1 Engler, A., Bot. Jahrb.. Bd. 1, p{>. US-US, ISSl. 104 LUWKK KOCENE FLORAS OF SOfTHEASTERN NORTH AMEIUCA. are 2 or o Oligocciic species in P'ranee and Germany, and 2 or 8 Miocene species in France and St yria. Felix lias d(>scril>ed petrified wood from the Eocene of the Caucasus, wliich he refers to Anacardioxylon, a type also repre- sented in the Oligocene of Antigua in the American Tropics (species compared with the existing genus Spondias). Tlie floral genus Heterocalyx Saporta (Trilo- bium Saporta, Elaphrium Unger, Getonia Unger), wliich occm-s at a number of horizons in the Ohgocene of France, Croatia, and Styria, is represented by a species in the Wilcox. Sa- porta compared it with the South American genus Astronium, but Engler ' considers it most like the Malayan genus Parisliia. The genus Metopiimi, not certainly recog- nized heretofore, contains a well-marki>d species in the Wilcox. Several Tertiary woods are described by Unger as Rhoidium, and Saporta has described a species of Schmus from the French Oligocene (Gargas), which is WTongly detennined according to Schenk.^ The genus Spondia-carpum is represented by a species in the early Eocene of France, a second in the Aquitanian of Rhenish Prussia, and a third in the late Tertiary of the East Indies (Banka). Recently Fritel has de- scribed leaves from the Aquitanian of France which he calls Semecarpites and which are very close to the existing Semecarpus, which contains about 40 species that range from India to Australia. Clement Reid has based an extinct genus, Teschia, on fruits of this family from the Plio- cene of Holland. The family Ilicacefe (Aquifoliacese) is rela- tively small, comprising only 5 genera and about 180 existing species of shrubs or trees that bear alternate simple, entire or toothed, commonly coriaceous leaves. The flowers are small, dioecious, and hypogynous. The fruit is a drupe, and its thin, fleshy sarcocarp incloses as many crustaceous nutlets as there are carpels. The genus Ilex Linne, to which all but seven of the existing species are referred, is found in all tropical and temperate regions of the world excej^t western North America, Australia, Now Zindand, and New Guinea. The remaining genera of the family are Oncotheca BaUlon, which includes a single 1 Engler, A., op. cit. =Schenk, A., I'alaeophytologie, p. 541, 1890. species in Nc^w Caledonia; Nemopantlies Rafi- nesque, which contains a single si)ecies in tem- perate North America; Sphenostemon Baillon, which includes 2 si)ecies in New Caledonia; and Byronia Endlicher, which contains 3 species, one in Tahiti, one in tlu> Hawaiian Islands, and one in Australia. This modern distribution is a certain mdication that the family has an extenihxl geologic history. Morc! than a hundred fossU species have been referred to the genus Ilex. At least 13 species are recorded from the Upper Cretaceous. ^VU but one species from the Turonian of Bohemia come from the Western Hemisphere, and in- clude 2 in the Raritaii formation, 3 in the Magothy formation, 7 in the Dakota sandstone, 1 in the Atane, and 2 in the Patoot beds of western Greenland. There are about 14 Eocene species, including 4 in the Wilcox of the southeastern United States, 1 in the Ypresian of England, 1 in the Fort Union, and 4 in the Green River formation of the western United States, 5 in Greenland, and 1 in Alaska. There are more than a score of Oligocene species, including one from Cliile, that may even be of Eocene age. The lower Oligocene, or Sannoisian, contains 11 species in France, Tyrol, Saxony, and Prussia, and also includes 3 species of flowers described by Cas- pary from the Baltic amber. The middle Oligocene, or Tongrian, includes 6 speci(^s in France, Italy, Germany, and vStyria, and there are 7 species in the upper Oligocene (Chattian) of France, Bohemia, and Greece. More than 50 species have been described from the Mio- cene of Europe and Asia, and of New Jersey, Colorado, and California in this comitry. The most prolific Miocene area is that of France. About 10 species are known from the Pliocene of Spam, France, Italy, Prussia, and Asia Minor. One extinct and 4 still-existing spe- cies are found in the Pleistocene of Vu'ginia, North Carolina, Alabama, Kentucky, and the island of Madeira. In addition to the fossil forms refernul to Ilex, 2 Miocene species from Italy and Styria are refeiTed to the genus Nemopanthes, and 4 forms from the late Oligo- cene or the Miocene of Prussia, Styria, Croatia, Bohemia, and Greece are ri^ferred to the genus Prinos Linne, which is usually considered a section of ll(>x. The 4 species from the Wilcox that are referred to Ilex are represented in the COMPOSITION OF TIIK FLOHA. 105 collccl ions by a small ainoimt of mostly poor material ami arc without special sisjnificaiicc. The family (\'lastracea' includes about 10 genera and iiior(^ tiian -lOO existing sp(U'ics of trees and siirubs that l)car opp()sit(^ or alternate, simple, persistent or (h'ciduous leaves and cap- sular or (h'U|)aceous fruits. Tlic '.i large genera Euoiiynuis, Colastrus, aiul (iyiiuiosjioria arc ])ractically cosmopolitan, and scvcnd (iliu^r genera localized in tlu^ luodcM-n iiora wtu'c cos- mo])olitan in tlio Tertiary. Tlic following 12 gtnicra, wliich include more than 100 species, are conlined to America: Fraunhofera, Mortonia, Glossiii)etaliun, vSchaef- feria, Goupia, Maytemis, Paehystima, Zino- wiewia, Phnickia, Wimnieria, Gyminda, Ivha- coma. The genera Glyptopetalum and Tri]i- teiygium, which include 5 species, are c(iiilin(H] to Asia. The genera Hypso|>liiJa, Denhamia, and llcdraiantlu^ra, which contain 7 sixties, are coniined to Australia. The following 10 genera, which include about 60 species, are confined to Africa or Madagascar: Putterlickia, Catha, Pterocclastrus, Polycardia, Ptididium, Cassine, Ela^odendi'on, Maurocenia, .Schrebera. and Lauridia. The family is definitely represented in the Cretaceous by at least 5 genera and is an im- portant elemcnit m most Tertiary floras. The oldest known genus is the form genus GcJastro- phyUum, proposed by Goppert. Five weU- markcd species occur in the Patapsco formation (Albian) of Virginia and Maryland. At 'the l)ase of the Upper Ci-etaceous, ])articularly m North America, a large number of species are found. More than 30 have been described, 2 of which are recorded from New Zealand and 2 from the Cenomanian of Niederscho(uia, in Saxony. One species is found in the Atane beds of Greeidand and 3 are found in the Patoot bods. The remainder occur in the United States, where they are distributed as foUows: T(Mi in the Karitan formation of New Jersej' and Maiyland, 12 in the Tuscaloosa for- mation of Alabama, 2 in the Magothy formation of New Jersey and Maryland, 2 in the Black Creek formation (MiddiMidorf arkose member) of South Carolina, 7 in tlie Dakota sandstone, and 2 in the Black Creek foi'mation of North Carolina. There are 10 Eocene species — 7 in the basal Eocene of Belgium, 1 ii\ the Y])resian of England, and 2 in the Claibcirne group of th(^ Mississippi embajrment. There arc 5 Miocene species in Italy, Bohemia, and Styria; a Plio- cene species in Italy; and 4 Tertiary s])ecies from the island of Java. Anoliicr form genus is Cc^lastrinites Saporta, whicii includi^s 4 spe- cies in the Paleoceiu^ of France, 1 in the Denver formation of (\)l()rado, 1 in tli(^ Livingston for- mation of Montana, and 1 in (he Miocene of Florissant, Colo. The genus (jclastrus Limic is tlu^ lai-gest fossil genus of the family. Though its present center of distrii)ution lies in the uplantls of southeastern Asia and th(> East Indies, its histoi-y shows that the ancestral stock was cosmopolit.an and vei-y abundant in the T(t- tiary of .Vmerica and Fui'o])e. It is highly probal)l(> that it originated in AuKM'ica at the dawn of the L'ppcr Cretaceous or somewhat earlier. The oldest known s])ecies, CeJaMrus airfica Hcer, is found in the Ilaritan and Magotliy formations (vf New .fersey and Mary- land and in the Patoot betls of Greenland. No less tiiau 30 species of Celastnis have been de- scribed from the Eocene, including G Ypresian species from England, 5 species in the Wilcox flora, 1 in the Denver, 10 in the Fort Union, 1 in 11h> Kenai of Alaska, and 3 from GrecnJaiid. There are also al)outi ;')0 Oligoccnc species, all Furopcaii, which include^ remains in the Baltic amber, in France, .Switzerland, Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Greece. There are at least* a dozen species in the Chattian of Bohe- mia. More than 50 Miocene species have been described, ranging throughout Europe, in eastern Asia, in Australia, and in \'irginia, Colorado, Idaho, and Oregon in this country. About a dozen Pliocene species have been described from Spain, France, Italy, and Sicily. The genera Cassine Liime and Pterocclastrus Meissner, both now confined to South Africa and ^ladagascar, each includes a fossil species in the Miocene of Bohemia. The genus Pachystima Ilafinesque, which includes 2 exist- ing spei'ies in North America, contains an Upper Cretaceous species in North Carolina and a Miocene species in Colorado. The genus Maytemis Feuillce, which con- tains about 70 existing species of the Tropics and subtropics of South America, is repre- sented by a well-nnirked species in the \Mlc()x flora. There arc 2 species in the early Tertiary of Chil(>, 1 in the late OligoccMie and 3 in the Miocene of southeastern Em-ope. 106 LOWER EOCEXi: FLOIiAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. The luoiiotypic genus (jviniiKhi vSargent, which is confined to Florida and the West Indies in the existing flora, contains a doubt- fully determined fossil species in the ^lagothy formation of the Atlantic Coastal Plain. The genus Microtropis Wallich, which includes 9 or 10 existing species of the mountains of southeastern Asia from India to China and Japan, is represented by a doubtfully deter- mined form in the early Phocene of Italy. A well-preserved flower in the Baltic amber is described by Conwentz as CtJastniuintMum hauchecornci. The genus ELeodendron Jacquin, which in- cludes about 25 existing species that are con- fined to South Africa, has a rich geologic his- tory. Four Upper Cretaceous species have been described — 1 from Australia, 1 from the Dakota sandstone, and 2 from the Magothy formation of the Atlantic coast. There are 4 Eocene species, which show that the genus was represented in ^Uaska, the Ypresian of England, and the Fort Union of the Rocky Mountain region. There are 5 Oligocene species in the Tyrol, Bohemia, and Transylvania; 10 Miocene species in France, Switzerland, Italy, Prussia, Bohemia, Stp-ia, Australia, and New Zealand; and 4 Pliocene species in Italy. The remaining genus known in the fossil state, Euonymus Linne, contains about 60 existing species, which are widely distributed throughout the northern hemisphere, but are most numerous in the Asiatic Tropics and in China and Japan. More than .30 fossil species are known, based on both fruits and leaves. There are 4 well-marked Eocene species, all of which are confined to North America, where they are represented in. west Greeifland, in the Fort Union and Green River formations of the Rocky Mountain region, and in the Wilcox of the Mississijjpi embayment. The species of the Mississippi embayment is a very abuiidant and characteristic form. Four or five Oligocene species of Euonymus are recorded from Bava- ria, the Tyrol, and Bohemia. The 12 Miocene species occur in France, Prussia, Bohemia, Styria, Croatia, and Hungary. Tiiere are 4 Pliocene species in Germany, Italy, and Sla- vonia, and 2 stUl-cxisting species occur in the Pleistocene of France. This very brief survey of th(^ fossU history of the CelastraceiE shows the probability, simi- lar to that exhibited by so many other families of Diootvlodona\ that the ancestral stock orisi- nated in the Western Hemisphere. The famUy Saj)indaceie consists of about 118 genera and more than 1 ,000 existing species of trees or shrubs that bear alternate pinnate exstipulate, persistent or deciduous leaves and drupaceous or capsular fruits whose seeds are crustaceous and mostly solitary. About one- thu'd of the genera are lianas. The family is chiefly confined to tropical and subtropical regions, and about 23 per cent of the genera (27) and 34 per cent of the species (345) are confin(>d to America. Tlrere are more genera (30) confined to the African region, but only about one-fifth as many species (75). Th<' genera Cardiospermum, Schmidelia (Al- lophylus), and Sajnndus are found in all tropi- cal countries. The genus Paullinia, which con- tains more than 120 existing species, though mostly American, is represented in Africa and Madagascar. The genus Dodonsea, which con- tains more than 40 species in Australia, is rep- resented by one or two forms which are found in all tropical countries, and a single sp(>cies lives in the Hawaiian Islands and Madagascar. HarpuUia is common to Asia, Africa, and Aus- tralia. Two genera and about 1 5 species are confined to Aiistralia, 4 genera iuul 66 species range from Asia to Australia, 10 genera and 22 species are confined to the East Indies, 3 genera and 20 species are confined to Polynesia, and 6 genera and 35 species range from Malaysia or the East Indies to Australia. These few facts regarding the existing distribution make it ob- vious that the family is ancient and that there has been an extensive evolution of both generic and specific typi's in relatively modern times in the American Tropics on the one hand and in the Malaysian region on the other. The fossil recoi'd, tliough mxieh less complete than might be wished, includes at least 13 genera, of which 6 are extinct, and about 160 species, by far the largest number of which are referred to the stUl existing genus Sapindus, which a])pears to have been well differentiated and widely distributed at the dawn of the Upper Cretaceous. There are about 10 Upper Cretaceous species, of which all but 4 occur in pre-Senonian stratsi. Thus there are 2 species in the Perucer beds of Moravia and Bohemia and 1 at Niederschoena, in Sa.xony, aU Ceno- manian. Two species are found in the Atane and 1 in the Patoot beds of western Greenland. COMPOSITION OF TlIK FLORA. 107 Two species come from the Dakota sandstone, 2 from the Tuscaloosa formation of Ahil)ama, 1 from the Bhick Creek formation (Mideh'ii- dorf arkose member) of South Carohna, 1 from the Woodbine sand of Texas, 2 eacli from tlic Raritan anrican. There are more than 30 Eocene species of Sapindtis, of which two-thirds are Nortlr Ameri- can. Tlie genus is very abundantly repre- sented in both individuals and species in the coastal floras of the Wilcox gi'oup, from which I have described no less than 9 species. The overlying Claiborne gi'oup contains 4 species. Species of Sapiiidus are equally common in the Rocky Mountain province in the Denver, Fort Union, and Green River formations. An Eocene species comes from Greenland, 4 unde- scribed species are found in the Ypresian of England, and a fifth is contained in beds of the same age in Hungary. There is an u])per Eocene species from France and a second from Oregon. Six or more Oligocene species are well tlis- tributed in Europe, and species wliich occur in Cliile, New Zealand, Australia, and Tasmania miay be of Oligocene age. More than ,30 Mio- cene species are found tlu'oughout southern Europe, m eastern Asia, and in North Aiuerica (Colorado, Oregon, and Yellowstone Park). The 8 or 10 Pliocene species are confuied to southern Europe. Several form genera have been derived from the same root as the genus Sapmdus. Thus, Sapuidopliyllum has been applied to 2 species from the Albian of Portugal (?). To this genus are also referred a Cenomanian and a Chattian species from Bohemia and a Tertiary species from Japan. The term Sapindoidc^s has been used by Perkins for Sapindus-likc fruits preserved in the early Tertiary lignites of Brandon, Vt., from which 8 species have been described. In some respects the most interesting genus is Sapindopsis Fontauie, which is represented by 3 abundant and well- preserved species in the Patajjsco formation (Albian) of Maryland and Virginia, one of wliicli is also present in tlie Fuson formation of tll(^ Black Hills, and wliicli I lia-ve shown ' to be v(^ry probably ancestral forms of the genus Matayba Aublet (Cupaniea') which contains more than two score e.xisthig species m the tropical and subtropical regions of iViuerica. This well-marked type suggests the interesting tjuestion, How early in tlie Mezosoic were the ancestors of many modern genera present in equatorial America ? Th(^ genus Paullinia Lume, which contams about 122 existing species, mostly contmed to the American Tro])ics but s])aringly repre- sent(>d in Africa and Madagascar, is represented by an Oligocene species hi Prussia and 2 early Miocene species in southeastern France and Bohemia. The genus Thoumia Poit, which in the mod- ern flora has about 15 sj)ecies confined to the West Indies and Mexico, is represented by an early Tertiary, ])robably Eocene species m Chile. The genus Nephelium Lume, which contains more than a score of existmg species m southeastern Asia, is recorded by Unger from the Aquitanian of Greece and by Geyler from the Tertiary of Borneo. The genus Koelreuteria Laxmami is repre- sented by 2 Climese species in the existmg flora. In the fossil state it is recorded from the Tertiary of the island of Saklialin, from Spitzbergen, and from Switzerland antl Baden. Felix has described a genus, Schmideliopsis, based on fossil wood from the Oligocene of the island of Antigua, very close to the existmg genus Sclunidelia Lmne, which contains more than a hundred existing species in all tropical countries. Deane rc^cortls 3 species of Nephelites from the Tertiary of New South Wales. The modern CupanicEe are represented in paleobotanic literature not only by Cupania, but by species of Cupanites and Cupanoides. The term Cupanoides was proposed by Bower- bank for cupaniaceous fruits and seeds, of which he described several characteristic sj)e- cies from the Ypresian of the Isle of Shep- pey. Similar forms have also been recognized in th(^ Miocene of Carniola and m the Pliocene of Italy. The genus Cupania Lmne contains about 35 existmg species, which are confined to the American Tropics. Several Ypresian Uierry, !■'. W., Maryland fieol. Survey, Lower Cretaceous, pp. -JtJT- 474, pis. S.')-SS, 1911. 108 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. species from tl>e soutli of England hav(\ been referred to it by EttLngshausen, and it lias also been recorded from tlie Miocene of the island of Saldialin. The greater number of Cupania- like forms have, however, been referred to the geuus Cupanites Schimper, of which 9 or 10 species have been described, and with the excep- tion of extremely doubtful forms from the l^pper Q-etaceous of New Zealand and the Tertiary of Australia, the oldest authentic oc- ciu-rences are the two species of the Wilcox flora. There is a third species m the overlyuig Claiborne group of the Mississippi enibayment. The oldest European form comes from the late Oligocene of Styria. Miocene species are recorded from Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Croatia, and Hiuigary. The genus Dodonfea Linne, often made the type of a distinct family, the Dodonwaceffi, includes about 50 existing species four-fifths of which are Austrahan. Dodonsea viscosa Linne is cosmopolitan in the Tropics and there are one or two additional species in the Ameri- can Tropics, as well as one in the Hawaiian Islands and another m Madagascar. The genus (including Dodonjeites) was evidently widespread in fornier times and more than a score of fossil species, based on both leaves and fruits, have been described. The oldest known forms are two species in the Ypresian of the south of England and the two contemporane- ous species in the Wilcox, which are repre- sented by both leaves and characteristic fruits. There are 5 Oligocene species in France, T3T0I, Bohemia, and Styria, and 10 Miocene species in Prussia, Baden, Switzerland, Bohe- mia, and Croatia. A well-marked species occurs in the Claiborne (Lutetian), rangmg along the Claiborne coast from northeastern Georgia to central Louisiana. It is impossible from the known facts to determine the place of origin of the family, but certain genera were obviously evolved toward the close of the Lower Cretaceous in ecjuatorial America and have hved there or in adjacent areas throughout the long stretch of time until the present. The order Rhanmales includes about 1,000 existing species of slirubs, trees, and vines, about equally divided between the families Rhamnacesc and Vitaceae. It closely parallels the Sa|)indales in its floral development, but is distinguished by its mostly tetracylic flowers with opposite stamens, many of th(>ni lucking a coroUa. The leaves are simple and typically alternate. Of the two families only the Rhanmaceas is represented m the Wilcox flora. The family Rhanrnacese (Frangulacese) in- cludes 47 genera and about 500 species of shrubs and trees, mostly of the Tropics, though several genera extend for considerable dis- tances mto the Temperate Zone, the genus Rhamnus m particular bemg mostly extra- tropical in the Northeni Hemisphere. The genera Zizyphus, Adelia, and Gouania are found in aU tropical countries. Almost half the genera are common to more than one con- tmental area. America has the greatest num- ber of pecuhar genera (15) with about 85 species. Two monotypic genera are confined to Asia, 5 genera, including the large genus Phylica Linne, which together mclude about 70 species, are confined to Africa, and 5 genera, including the two large genera Sp\Ti(hum Fenzl and Cryptandra Smith, in all about 70 species, are confined to Australia. Ten or 11 genera, of which 5 are represented in the Wilcox flora, are found fossil, the three largest being Rhanmus, PaUurus, and Zizyphus. The genus Rhamnus Linne, which is cosmo- politan in the northern warm temperate and subtropical zones, includes about 70 existmg species. There are considerably more than 100 fossil species, mostly well characterized, the leaves of which arc simple, commonly entire, and have ascending secondaries and closely spaced fine percurrent nervilles. A dozen or more species have been described from the Upper Cretaceous, the genus appearing in the Cenomanian in both Europe (Niederschoena, Saxony) and America (Raritan formation). There are 6 species in the Dakota sandstone, 2 in theMagothyfonnation, 1 in the Atane, and 2 in the Patoot beds of Greenland. The genus is represented in the Montana group and the Laramie formation of the western interior region and in the Senonian of Westphalia. There are about 30 Eocene species, most of them North American. Species of Rhamnus are very common in the Raton and Denver formations along the Front Range of the Rocky Momitains and from the base to the top of the Wilcox. There are 4 species in the Raton, 8 in the Denver, and 6 in the Wilcox. The genus is also well represented in the later Eocene along the Pacific coast and in western COMI'dSTTIOX OK Tirr-. FLORA. 109 Greenland. In Europe only a sini^lc species is recorded from the Paleocene. The Ypresinii, which is synclii'onous with the Wilcox, eontiiins 3 species in the south of Eni;;lan(l. There are 1 1 or 1 2 Oligocene species in l-iance, Prussia, Tyrol, Italy, Dalmatia, Styria, and Greece and a single undescribed species in (lie Apalachicola group of Florida. There ai-c more than two score species in tiie Miocene of Switzerland, ItiiJy, Bohemia, Prussia, and Styria, llhamnus being es])eclally al)un(huil. It is also found in the Miocene of Iceland, Spitz])ergen, Manchuria, and the island of Saklialm. In this continent there arc species hi British Cohunbia and in (\)lorado. There are about 13 Pliocene species, of which no less than 9 are recorded from Italy and 1 from the island of Java. There is an extinct species in tlie Pleistocene of Himgary and a still-existing species m the Pleistocene of the island of Madeh-a. In addition to the species referred to Rhamuus the form genus Rham- nites Forbes, founded on 3 species from the Eocene of the Isle of Mull, contains 2 Ameri- can Upper Cretaceous species fountl ui the Karitan, Tuscaloosa, Magothy, and Dakota formations. A species occurs in the Fort Union and another hi tlu? Wilcox. The genus llhamnacuiiuni of Felix is based on petrified wood. It contains 5 or 6 species found in the Eocene of the Caucasus, Texas, and vSaskatche- wan, and in the Miocene of Yellowstone Park. The genus Paliurus Jussieu, which includes only 2 existing species, rangmg from southern Europe through southern Asia to C^hina and Japan, was cosmopolitan in former times. More than 40 fossil species have been described. At least 12 are known from the Upper Creta- ceous, all confined to North America. There are 2 species each in the Karitan, Magothy, and Laramie; 5 m the Dakota; and 1 each in the Eutaw formation of Georgia, m western Green- land, and Vancouver Island. There ar(> 10 Eocene species, also confined to North Amei'ica, 2 of them found in the Fort Union and .'J each m the Denver, in western Greenland, and in the Wilcox. The leaves are rare hi the Wilco.x, but the characteristic peltate fruits are not uncommon. The oldest Euro))ean forms an> 2 species m the Oligocene of France, and a well- marked species is contained in the Oligocene (Vicksburg group) of Louisiana. The 13 Miocene species are found in Asia (Siberia and Sakhalin), Europe (Switzerland, Baden, Ger- many, Bohemia, Italy, St^Tia, and France), and North America ((^olorado and Oregon). The ])reseiice of numerous species of Paliurus in the Upper Cretaceous and Eocene of North America :uid their absentee on other continents befor(> the Oligocene rendci's it very ])rol)a])le that the g(>nus originated in tlu^ Western Hemisphere. Tlie genus Zizyphus Jussieu, which contains about 10 existing spcH'ies, largely shrubs, manv of them prosti'ate or scrambling, and a, few small trees, is mostly Indo-Malayau in its dis- tribution but is represented by a few species in the tropics of Eastern Asia, America, Africa, and Australia. Tli(> naturalized Ziz>jp]riis viil- (/(iiis forms extensive thickets in some localities in southeast(M'n Louisiana,. There are more than 50 known fossU species, and the 10 ITpp(>r Cretaceous species, like those of the genus Paliurus, are confined to North America. Tli(>y are found hi the Raritan and Magothy forma- tions of New Jersey and Maryland, the Eutaw formation of Georgia, the Tuscaloosa formation of .Vlabama, tlie Woodbine sand of Texas, the Dakota sandstone of the West, the Patoot beds of Greenland, and the LTpper Cretaceous of Alaska. Thert! are about 20 Eocene sj)eeies, includmg tli(\ two common and characteristic species of the Wilcox and 1 in the overly inc (laiborne of the embayment region, 5 in the Denver, 3 in the Fort Union, 2 in the Green River, 1 in Alaska, and 1 in west Greenland. There are 2 Paleocene sjx'cies in Franc(> and Belgium, 4 Ypresian speci(>s in the south of England, and a Lutetian species in Framn^ Eight 01igoc(Mie species are very common in ch>posits of this age thi-oughout Europe. More than 20 species have been recorded from the Miocene of Colorado and California in this country, of France, Switzerland, Germany, Italy, Austria-Hungary, and Russia in Europe, and of Japan and Java in Asia. There are 3 or 4 Pliocene s[)ecies hi Europe. Though the evidence is not so clear as for Paliurus, there is a possibility that Zizy|)hus too is of occi- dental orighi. The genus Reynosia Grisebacli, which con- tains only 2 existing coastal species, ranging from the Florida Keys through the AVest Indies, includes 2 characteristic species based on leav(!s in tlu! Wilcox flora and a third species 110 LOWER EOCENE ELORAS ()!•' SOUTHEASTERN NORPU AMERICA. based ou the petrified ■wood in the overlying Claiborne of Texas. Tlie genus Bercheniia Xecker eontains about a dozen existing species, 10 of wliicli are con- fuied to eastern and southeastern Asia, 1 lives in eastern extratropieal North Anieriea, and 1 in eastern Africa. This distribution could not have been brought about except by the agency of a cosmopolitan Tertiai'y range. Though the specific differentiation of Berchemia is limited to 5 or 6 fossil forms, these are very common and have a wide range. The earliest occur- rences are in North America and include the Raton, Denver, and Fort Union formations of the Rocky Mountain province. The genus makes its appearance in Europe during the Ohgocene and is common tlu-oughout that region in the Miocene, becoming restricted to southern Europe (France, Italy, Sicily, and Slavonia) dvu'ing the Pliocene, except for a form recorded by Reid from Limburg. A species of HoveniphyUum, supposed to represent the existing genus Hovenia Thun- berg, which includes a single existing species in southeastern Asia, is found in the Plio- Pleistocene of Japan. The genus Colubrma Brongniart, which contains 15 existing species in tropical .Vmerica and 1 m southeastern Asia, is recorded from the Miocene of Bohemia. The genus Pomaderris Labill, which con- tams about 24 existing species confined to Australia and New Zealand, is represented by 2 species in the Tertiary of Australia and 3 species (Pomaderrites Ettingshausen) in the Miocene of Prussia, Bohemia, and Styria. The genus Gouiana has 2 species in the Tertiary of Colombia, according to Engelliardt. The genus Ceanothus Linne, which comprises about 40 existing species that are confined to North America, has been made to include nu- merous fossil species subsequently referred to Paliurus or Zizyphus. There are 4 species recorded from the Upper Cretaceous of Green- land, New Jersey, Vancouver Island, and Westphalia; 2 Eocene species from Greenland and British Columbia; a Miocene species from Prussia, Switzerland, and Italy; and a Pleisto- cene species in Kentucky. The next order, the Malval(>s, includes 9 famUies and about 1 ,80() existmg species. The Tiliacese, Sterculiacese, and Bombacaceaj arc the only families represented in the Wilcox flora. The largest modern family, the MaJ- vaccic, which contains more than 800 species, many of which are lierbaceous and range fronr 6.5° nortli latitude in Russia to 45° south latitude in New Zealand, is not represented in the Wilcox. The order displays somewhat uneven or but little understood phylogenetic charactera, but is evidently allied to the suc- ceeding order, tlie Parietales, tlirough the family Elieocarpacese. These inequalities of evolution are shown, among other ways, by the complete syncarpy in the Tiliacea?, associated with an indefinite number of stamens and by the complex arrangement of the stamens in the Sterculiacete, associated with more or less incomplete union of the carpels. Both the leaves, flowers, and fruits exhibit a wide range of variations tlii'oughout the order. The family Tdiaceie, represented in the Wil- cox flora by a single, not very common form of Grewiopsis, uacludes about .35 genera and 370 existing species, mostly of tropical lands, and shows two centers of differentiation and distribution — one the area surrounding the Indian Ocean and the other in northern South America. The geologic history is chiefly con- fined to the four genera Tilia (or Tilia'phyllum), Grewia, Grewiopsis, and Apeibopsis. The ge- nus Luhea has been described from the Eocene of Sezanne (Langeron) and from the Oligocene of Menat (Laurent), both French localities, and also from the Tertiary of Ecuador. The genus Tilia Linne, wliich includes 18 or 20 widcW distributed existing species in the North Tem- perate Zone, exclusive of western North America and central Asia, has furnished about 25 fossil species based on both leaves and fruits. The oldest knowm species comes from the North American Eocene. There are no conclusive Oligocene records except two French species, but about 15 Miocene species are found in North America, Europe, Asia, and the Arctic regions. There are 5 Pliocene species recoi-ded from Europe and Japan and 6 Pleistocene species from Ontario, New Jersey, France, Germany, IloUand, and Denmark. The exist- ing range of the genus apparently dates from Miocene time. The; genus Grewia Linne includes about 90 existing species that range from Arabia to China and Japan and through Malaysia to Australia, and frdin Abvssinia to South Africa, COMPOSITION OF TllK KI.OKA. Ill as shown roughly on the accompanyuig sketch map (fig. 7). About 15 fossil forms have been described. The oldest known, 5 Eocene species, come from western North America. There are 2 Oligocene species in Europe and about 6 Miocene species in Oregon, Spitzbergen, and throughout Europe. The larger number of Grewia-like fossil forms are, however, referred to the genus Grewiopsis of Saporta. Si.K of these forms come from the Upper Cretaceous and all are confined to North Amerit;a, a very significant fact, since several of them are espe- cially well marked. They are found in the Magothy formation of the east coast, tlie Tus- ancestors were common in the Upper Creta- ceous and Eocene of North America. The fourth fo.ssil genus of Tihaceie is Apeibopsis Heer, named from its affinity with the existing genus Apeiba Aublet, which con- tains 5 or 6 species that arc confined to tropical South America. To this genus should prob- ably l)e referred the jVirtic forms descril)ed by Heer as Nordenskioldia. Apeibopsis includes not only leaves but very characteristic fruits. To it are referred somewhat doubtfully deter- mined leaves from the I'pper Ci'etaccous Dakota sandstone and Atane beds. There are al)out 14 Tertiary species, including a basal I''ii.i'i:r: 7 — Skt'tili inap^liinving ar**as of disl.riliuliuii uf recent and fossil species of Grewia and Grewiopsis species of Grewja and Grewiopsis; 2, Tertiary species of Grewia. 1 , Cretaceous and Tertiary caloosa fonnation of the south coast, and the Dakota, Montana, and Laramie formations of the western interior region. There are about 6 Eocene species in the Denver, Trance, and Fort Union, 1 in the Wilcox and 1 in the Claiborne of the Mississippi em})ayn^ent region, 6 m the Paleocene of Fraiu-e, and 1 in the Ypresian of England. A Miocene (?) species is recorded from Yellowstone Park. This geo- logic distribution is plotted on the accompany- ing sketch map for comparison with the exist- ing range of Grewia, and, Ihougl^ some of tlie fossil records ascribed to tlie geiuis Populus are possibly those of Grewia or its ancestral stock, it seems clear that the Grewia or its immediate Eocene form from Wj'oming, 2 Ypresian forms from England, a species from west Greenland, 3 species in the hgnites of Brandon, Vt., 2 Ohgocene species from Italy, and 5 Miocene spe- cies from France, Switzerland, and Bohemia. The family Bombacacete,' which includes 20 genera and about 120 existing species, is con- fined to the Tropics, and principally to the American Tropics. The only known fossil forms are those of the genus Bond)ax or the allied Bombaciphyllum and Bombacites. Bom- bax Linne includes about 50 existing species, all large tropical trees and almost confined to lEttingshauscn.C. von, Ucber die nervation dcrBombacecn: IC.Vkad. Wiss. Wicn. Matll.-nat. Cl.. Denlisciir., Bd. 11. pp. 49-02. pis. 1-11, IS,')*. 112 l.OWEK EOCENK FLOIiAS OF SOTTII EASTI-.ltN Xdimi AMEIilCA. ^\jU('ricii. Thoro is a single s|iecics iti Africa, about Giusouthorn^Vsia, and 1 in Australia. Tlie fossil species number more than 20, the oldest known l)ein£; a common form in the Porucer beds (Cenonianian) of lk)lu'mia and Moravia. An iUbian species of Bombax described t)y Fontaine is entirely valueless. There an» .S species in the Ypresian of southern Ens2;laud and 2 well-marked foria-; in the Wilcox flora. There are 3 additional Eocene forms from Chile. There are 5 or 6 Oligocene species recorded from South America, France, Saxony, Bohemia, and Carniola. The genus is re|)re- sented in the early Oligocene (Sannoisian) of southeastern I'^rance not only by the foliage but l)y l)eautifully pi-eserved flowers, so that tliere is little ground for questioning the cor- rectness of the identifications. There are 7 Miocene species in Bohemia, Croatia, St\Tia, and Australia. The family Sterculiaceffi includes about 5 genera and 800 existing species of mostly tropical shrubs and trees which bear prev;iil- ingly large, simple, or digitately lobed or divided leaves. Some of the flowers are apetalous and differ from those of the Mal- vaceae in their 2-ceUed extrorse anthers. Syncarpy is more or less complete. The Stercidiacere of the existing flora are found on all the continents except Europe. Tlie genera Sterculia, Ilelicteres, Melochia, Buettneria, and Ilermannia are represented by species in both the Eastern and Western hemispheres. The geologic history of the family extends back to the base of the Upper Cretaceous but is (-oniined to a relatively few genera. The most al)undant of these genera is Sterculia Linne, whicli in the existing flora comprises about 100 species of large-leafed trees. These species are grouped into three tribes nanied from the habit of the leaves the Digitatse, Lobata;, and Integi-ifoha'. Tlie first of these tribes ranges from Farther India to Austraha and includes only one or two Ameri- can species. The second is most abundant in the American Tropics but is also found in Asia and Africa and sliows many paraLlelisjus be- tween the American and Asiatic forms. It is most abundantly represented in the past history of the genus. The third and largest modern tribe, the Integrifolia), contains 5 or 6 American species, and the remainder are found in ^Vsia and ^Vfrica. The fossil foniLs (sometimes referred to Sterculii)liyllum) comprise more than 50 spe- cies. More than a score are known from the I'pper Cretaceous. Tliey are mostly American and are i-eferal)le to tlie tribe Lobatje, which niay well liave oiiginated in tlie Western IIemis])iiere. The Crediieria sandstone of Sax- ony and the Perucer beds of Bohemia (both Cenonianian) each contain a species, and a third occurs in the Turoniaii of Boiiemia. Tlie otlier forms are North American and in- clude s])ecics in the Raritan formation, the Cheyenne sandstone of southern Kansas, and ill British Columbia, a species in the Patoot beds of western Greenland, 6 species in the Magotiiy fomiation of the Atlantic Coastal Plain, and 8 species in the Dakota sandstone of the western interior region. Tiiere are less than a dozen Eocene species, most of tlicm confined to the lower Eocene. Thus tliere are .3 species in the Paleocene of France and another in the Ypresian of England, as well as 1 or 2 in the Denver and Raton formations of the Rocky Mountain Front Range. The single large Wilcox species is entirely typical and shows the usual variabihty in lobation and size. It appears to be filiated with Sterculia snoivii Lesquereux from the American Upper Cretaceous and exactly matches several exist- ing species. There is a smaU-leafed species in the middle Eocene (Claiborne group) of the en\bayraent, which exactly matches the typical Sterculia labrusca linger from the European Tertiary and the existing Sterculia diversifolia Don. It is closely paralleled by 2 American Upjier Oetaceous species — S. minima Berry and S. mucronata Lesquereux. There arc more than 10 Oligocene species widely scattered over Europe and about 15 Miocene species, mostly European, but including a single species on the east coast of Asia (Sakhalin) and 2 species in Colorado, one of them espe- cially well marked. There are several Pliocene species in southern Europe. Two somewhat different species of stercuh- ac(M)us capsular fruits from the Wilcox are referred to a new genus, Sti>rculiocarpus. The larger of these forms, S. eocenicus, seems refera- ble to the subfamily Buettneriere, and the smaller, S. sezannelloides , is referable to the Lasiopetalese or Ilelicterese. Both are very similar to the fruits from the Paleocene of Sezaiuie referred to the genus Sezannella, CDMI'OSriION OK TIIK KI.OHA. 113 wliich contains 2 species y Viguier from casts of wonderfully ])reserve(l flowers as well as fruits from the celehratetl trav<'rtines of Sezanne, aJid referred with great certainty to the Lasiopetiilea'. The tribe Dombeyea\ which inc ludcs 7 genera and about 75 existing sp(>cies, is almost entii-ely coiifined tOxVfrica and the adjacenl islands, oidy 5 or G species of the genus Melluinia Foi-skal ranging from Arabia to Farther India. This tribe is represented in fossil floras by the genus Dombeyopsis Unger, named from its supposed affinity with the modern genus Dombeya CavaniUes, wliich embraces 40 African s])ecies, mostlj' from Madagascar. About .U) species have been referred to Dombeyopsis. They are liable to be confused with Luhea, Grewia, and other forms of the allied family Tiliacea^. There are 3 species in the Laramie Cretaceous, 2 in the Denver formation, 12 (according to Massalongo) in the upper Eocene of Monte Bolca in Italy, 5 in the European Oligocene, and 6 in the Miocene of Iceland, France, Switzerland, Prussia, Silesia, and StyTia. A Pliocene species is recorded from central France. Fossil wood described as Dombey- oxylon is recorded by Sch(>nk from the late Tertiary near Cairo, Egypt. The Buettneriea? are represented by a doubt- ful species described from the Miocene of Colo- rado and probably by some of the fossil forms referred to other genera, for instance some of the palnuitely veined Ficus-hke forms, such as Ficus occidentalis and Ficus scTivm'peri, both of wliich are present in the Wilcox flora. Flowers of Buettnei'ia wer(> reported from Sezanne by Solms-Laubach, but should ])rol)a- bly be referred to the subseinne described from the Pliocene of Italy and by forms refeiTed to the existing genus Pterospermmn Sclu-ebei' or to the extinct genus Pterospermites I leer. More than HO species have been d(>scribed. There are 9 or 10 in the Upper Cretaceous, all of which are Xortli American, and their cond)iued range extends from A'ew York to western Alabama, throughout the Ko(-ky Mountain and Great Plains province and in the Atane beds of Greenland. There, an- about a dozen Eocene species, all North American, except a single species in the Palcocen(> of I'ranccv 'Yho 50243°— 16 8 American forms extend northward to west Greeidand and Alaska. There are 2 or o species in the European Oligocene and 10 Pliocene species tlu-oughout Europe and in western North Amei-ica (Yellowstoue Park, California, and tiie mouth of Mackenzie Kiver). A single I'liocene s])ecies is recorded from France. This ty]ie ])robably origiiuited in the Western IIemis])here, since it is so abundantly re])resent('d in that region durhig the Upper Cretaceous and Eocene. The modern species of Pterospernmm are, however, confined to eastern troi)ical Asia. The order Parietales includes 30 families and more than 1,000 existing species. The largest famihes are the Guttifera; (775 species), Fla- courtiacea; (530 species), Begoniaces (425 species), Violacea> (400 species), and Diptero- carpaceije (330 species). None of these families are found in the Wilcox flora, where the order is represented l)y the 2 families DiUeniacese and Ternstrcemacese. The Parietales are prevail- ingly syncarpons and show afhnities with the Ranalian plexus through the DiUeniaeea', which were formerly referred to that order. The alliance as a whole is complex and includes several divergent lines of development with a sradual increase on the whole in floral com- o plexity. The family DLUeniaceije contams 14 genera and about 275 existing species found on all the continents, the genus Tetracera being cos- mopolitan in the Tropics. The genera Empe- doclea, CurateUa, Doliocarpus, and Davilla, which include 50 species, are confined to the American Tropics; llibertia and Pachynema, which include 75 species, are Austrahan; 5 genera and 25 species are confined to the Asiatic Tropics; the genus Saurauia (or Sau- rauja), which comprises about 60 species, is conmion to Asia and South America; and the genus Dillenia, which contains about 25 species, ranges from Asia to Australia ; so that on the whole tlie family is ]irevailingly oriental in the existing flora. The fossil record is unfortunately most m- complete, though it illustrates the wider range of the genera in response to mUder chmatic con- ditions in both the North Temperate and South Temp(>rate zones during the Tertiary, and also the fact that several of the modern American genera have been American through their known geologic history. Thus Erapedoclea, 114 LOWER KOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. which iuchidcs 2 oxistiuij; Soulli American species, soiuotuucs made a suhgemis of Tetra- ccra, has a fossil fomi in the early Tertiarj- of Chile. The genus Dohocarpus, wliich com- prises aliout 20 recent species, also in the South American Tropics, has 2 fossil forms in the early Tertiary of Chile. The genus DavLUa, wMch embraces 25 modern species in tropical America, is doubtfidl}' represented m the Wilcox flora by Calycites daviUaformis Beriy. The genus Saurauja, which includes 60 modern species in South America and Asia, is represented by a species in the Paleocene of France, another in the Ypresian of the south of England, and a third in the Miocene of Croatia. The genus Actinidia, comprising oriental shrubs, is represented by characteristic seeds in the Pliocene of the Holland-Prussian border. The genus DUlenia, which comprises 25 existmg species that are confined to Asia and Austraha, is represented by a form in the Paleocene of Belgium and by some of the Wil- cox species referred to the form genus Dillenites. The genus Tetracera, which includes 40 recent species found in all tropical lands, is repre- sented by 2 fossQ species in the eai-ly Tertiary of Chile, another in the Phocene of Java, and by some of the species of Ddlenites in the Wilcox flora. I have recognized 5 well-marked spe- cies of Dillenites in the Wilcox, wliich appear to represent modern forms of ]>oth DiUenia and Tetracera. Conwentz described 3 species of Hibbertia, a large Austrahan genus, in the Baltic amber (Sannoisian), but Schenk considered that they did not belong to this genus or even to the family. The family Temstroemiacese (Theacese) con- tains about 16 genera and 175 existing species, mostly tropical, though they extend into the North Temperate Zone in North America and eastern Asia (Thea, Gordonia, and Stewartia). The following 7 out of the 16 genera are con- fined to a single area: Bennetia Martius, wdiich includes 5 species, inhabits the South American strand; Asteropeia Thouars is con- fined to Madagascar; Thea Linne, which in- cludes 16 species, is confined to southern and eastern Asia.; Mountnorrisia Szyszlowicz, which includes 2 species, is a native of the East Indies ; the 3 monotypic genera Visnea Linn6, Treman- thera Muller, and PeUiciera Triana and Plan- chon an; confined respectively to the Canary Islands, New Guinea, and, Central ^Vmerica. The remaming 9 genera, aU relatively small, are all found in more than one region. Thus Archytaea Martius includes 2 species in north- ern South .America and a third in the East Indies; Gordonia Elhott includes 2 North American species and 14 scattered fi'om India to Malaysia; llajmocharis Salisbury includes 9 American and 5 Asiatic species; Stewartia Linn^, which includes 5 species, is found in North jimerica and Japan ; Taonabo Aublet has 20 species in South ^Vmerica and 8 in Asia; Adinandra Jack has 19 African species and 1 Asiatic ; Eurya Thunberg, which comprises 36 species and many varieties, is confined to tropical America and the East Indies. This remarkable existing distribution and the pairmg of America and Asia, as well as the fact that 5 suljfamilies are required for only 16 genera, are sure indications that the family has an extended geologic history and that many of the genera were once cosmo- politan. Unfortimately most of tliis history is imknown. The genus Stewartia is represented ux the Bal- tic amber by a fine flower (Steinartia Tcnwalowskii Caspary), by fruits in the Pliocene of Limburg, and by leaf remauis from tlie Plio-Pleistoccne of Japan (Mogi). Gordonia has a species in the Pleistocene of Java. The genus Eurya Thun- berg, now American and East Indian, is repre- sented by a species in the Oligocene of France (Freziera Swartz). Fossil wood described by Felix and named Ternstroemiacinium occurs in the Eocene of the Caucasus. Visnea Lirme, now confined to the Canaries, uicludes a typical fruit in the Aquitanian of Rhenish Prussia. The genus Ternstrceraia Nuttall (antedated by Taonabo Aublet) includes several fossil species, the oldest of w-liich (Ternstroemiphyllum) comes from tlie Perucer beds (Cenomanian) of Bohemia. It is represented by 2 species in the Ypresian of the Isle of Wight, one in the Miocene of Bohemia, and another in the Miocene of Croatia. I have described 4 well- marlced species of Ternstroemites from the Wil- cox group and similar forms are found in the overlying Claiborne group (Lutetian). Finally the very al^undant species in the North American Cretaceous described as Celastro- phyllum, already mentioned in the discussion of the Celastraceie, are very probably, in part coMi'osrnox OF the flora. 115 at least. rciVi-al>l(' to tliis family, so tliat ciioui^h is kllo^v^l of the geologic history of the group to confirm at least the statement previously made that it must have had a long and complex history. The family Lauracea\ which includes al)out 1,000 existing species distributed among 40 to 50 genera, is often placed next to the family ^Vnonacete among the Ranales.' It may be noted, however, that the spiral arrang(>ment of floral organs characteristic of the order Ranales is replaced by a cyclic' arrangement, and liypogyny is also replaced by epigyny, so that I follow various students in referring the Lauracca? to the order Thymeleales, the other large family of wliich, the Th_ymela>aceffi (not known in Wilcox flora), contains about 400 exist mg species, chiefly of temperate Australia and the Cape region of Africa. The geographic distribution of tlie Lanracete can not be set forth as briefly as the classifica- tit)n, since there are not only many anomalies in the distribution of the existing species, but so much of the geologic historj- is kno\\'n that the difficulties seem increased therel)y rather than diminished. Thus the existing species of the family arp divided into 8 tribes, no one of which, except the monotypic Eusidoroxylese of Borneo, is restricted to a smgle continental region. The largest of these tribes, the Cinnamomeie, includes more than 500 species endemic on all the continents but Europe, though cliiefly Asiatic and America)!. The 4 genera Persea, Phoebe, Notaphocbe, and Mespilodaplme are found in both hemispheres: Cinnamomum and Machilus are oriental; and Oreodaphne, Strych- nodapline, Nectandra, Pleurotliyrium, Um- bellularia, Dicypellium, and Synandrodaplme are occidental. The first tlu'ee of these genera are large, and the last four are monotypic. The tribe Litseese, which includes 6 genera and about 200 species, is represented on all the continents except Europe and Africa. Only 9 of these 200 species are found in the Oc(;iden.t, yet among these is the monotypic North American genus Sassafras, and the genus Sassafridium which is confined to the American Tropics. All the other genera are found on more than one continent. The tribes Apolloniese, Cryptocaryeie, and Cassythese are found on all the contments but 'Engler, A., and Prantl, K., Die natilrlichen Pflanzenfamilien, 1SS7-1901. Europe. Tlie i.aure* are Eurasiatic and the Acrodicli(Uea>, are confined to Cc^ntrul and Soutli America, except the genus Endiandra,, whicli comprises 16 species in the East Indies and Australia. The problem of correctly identifying leaves of the genera of this family is beset with almost insurmountable difficulties, not tho least of which are tlie wide differences in usage among students of tho recent forms, whore the whole jilant is available for study. Long-continued paleobotanic practice has Ixhmi to refer most fossil loaves that lackiHl the morc^ apparent characters of Cimiamomum oi' Sassafras, Persea or Malapcemia, and the like, to the compre- hensive genus Laurus, a practice adopted at a time when Laurus was used in a comprehensive sense. Some paleobotainsts generalized still further, as by usmg Laurophyllum for laura- ceous leaves of uncertain generic affinity and not necessarily close to the_ existing species of Laurus. In fact the species of LaurophyUum are in general not true species of Laurus. I have departed from this practice of describing new species of Laurus for many reasons, fore- most among which is the very great affinity between the Wilcox flora and the existing flora of the American Tropics, so that the evidence from the foliage of a large number of genera is corroborated by fruits or seeds or wood anat- omy. I have used tliis similarity with a great deal of confidence, perhaps with too much, and the result has been that the following stand out as the more important lauraceous types in the Wflcox flora. Nearly all these forms are seem- ingly members of the subfamily Persoidese of the tribe Cinnamomese, as segregated in Engler and Prantl's "Natiirlichen Pflanzenfamilien." First, the genus Cuuiamomum, usuaUy readily recognized and certainly represented in our Eocene floras. Second, the genus Persea, represented by the larger and wider forms with the typical vena- tion of this genus. Third, tho genus Nectandra, so abundant and characteristic of the existing flora of tropical and subtropical America, representcMl by sev- eral species very close to motlern forms. I have f aUed to f oflow the latest usage, which recognizes the genus Ocotea as sucli, since for obvious reasons it seems wise to recognize the genera Mespilodapluie and Oreodaphne of Nees rather than to regard them as subgenera of 116 LOWER KOCEXK FLOHAS OF SOTttHEASTERN' NORTH AMERICA. Ocotca. Tho third suI)!i, Strvch- nochipluic, I liiivo failcnl to recognize in the Eocene flora of this area. 'r\w only apparent oihUty in distril)ution shown hy the Wilcox i^anracefe in coni])arison with recent floras of tro])ical America is the al)unclanc(> of Cinnanionnini, anil this simply confirms the well-known cosmopolitanism of this genus in the early Tertiary. Grisebach n^cords only 28 species of Laurace» in his flora of the British West Indies, most of which are not coastal forms, although many have a wide range from lowlands to mountains. Hemsley records only 36 species of Lauracege in his flora of Mexico and Central America, though Brazil on the other hand has furnished more than 350 species. As regards the Lauraceis, those of the Wilcox, which number 30 different forms, are more closely comparable with the more abvm- daiit modern representation of this family in nortbern South America. Tliis receives more or less confirmation from a study of the remainder of the Wilcox flora. AH the facts seem to show that the early Eocene floras of the Mississippi emba_^Tncnt are much more like those existmg at the present time along the Caribbean Sea m Central America and northern South America tiian they are like those of the West Indies. I do not moan that the Wilcox flora has not many points of resemblance to tho lowland flora of the West Indies and that of the Florida Keys. Tliey contain very many common types but with this difference. The Mississippi embay- mcnt Eocene floras represent a maximum northward extension of a flora like that which now inhabits northern South America. At the end of the Oligocene, along with the southward migration of the temperate Miocene fauna as far as Florida, this flora retired to the South American mainland, and the present floras of the West Indies, Florida Keys, Bahamas, and Bermuda represent a later northward migration from that area, a migration in which some of the Wilcox types were left behind. The existing, species of Cmnamomum ' nmn- ber about 50. They are confined to the oriental Tropics except for their extension into the warmer, more; humid part of tho Temperate Zone in Japan, and they have tlieir chief center of differentiation in tho elevated region of Burma, Siani, Cochin-China, and Malaysia, ' Staub, M., Die Geschichte des genus Cinnamomum, Budapest, 1905. although they an^ cultivated in all tropical countries and outside th(^ Tropics in Europe, Africa, and North America. Their fruits are eaten by birds, which seed tluMU freely so that tiiey commonly escape from cultivation. Thus Cinnamomum camphora (Linne) Nees and Elx^rmaier is naturalized throughout peninsular Floi'ida and the commercial Cinitamomum zcy- Idiilciini Breyn is readily naturalized in the same maun(>r from the oriental camphor ])l:ui- tations. Though the i-(X'ords for constructing the geologic history of Cinnamomum are far from comph^te the known fossil species are more numerous than the recent species, and, as is th(^ case \vith so many plant groups, the exten- sion of range during the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary is surprising. The original home of the genus is unknown, for iff appears in the early part of the Upper Cretaceous at about the same time in New Zealand, Australia, central Europe, Greenland, and North and South America. The European and North American records appear to be slightly older than the others and would indicate that the Asiatic region may have been the original home of the genus, wliich spread northeastward across the Bering region to America and northwestward into the European region, which was largely an archipelago at that time. The Eocene records include all the continents except the Antarctic Continent and South America. The Oligocene records are chiefly European and African, although the gcTius is stiU represented in the Alum Blufl' formation of Florida. During the Miocene Cinnamomum was abundant in Europe and also occurred in Asia but appears to have become extinct in North America— at least there are no conclu- sive North American records. Some fruits from the lignites of Brandon, Vt., have Ixhmi referred to (Tmnamomum, but these hgnites are in my opinion pre-Miocene in age. The Pliocene records are entirely European and East Indian. The genus appears to have lin- gered as a common type in Mediterranean Europe until the changing climates that ush- ered in the Pleistoi-ene glacial ion caused its extinction. Any conniH'ted distribution with its jiresent oriental home across southwestern Asia had alrivuly Ix'cn interrupted by tho oro- genie movements and tin; di>velopment of arid conditions in southwestern Asia. COMPOSITION OF TIIK FLORA. 117 Six well-marked types of Cliiuaiudinuin leaves are descriltcd from the Wilcox i^roup, some of tliem al)Uiidant and generally distriV)- uted, and all hut two a|)|)('ar to l)e new to science. In adtlitioii l)uds and llowers that suggest this genus are descrihed luuler th(^ form genus Lam'ophyUuin. There are 2 species of Persea in the Wilcox flora. Besides the fossil forms referred to Laurus in a comprehensive sense there are about 50 known fossil species of Persea, which is about the number of the existing species. All si.x of the Upper Ci-etaceous forms are. widely distributed in America. By Eocene times they had reached Europe and South America and tliey are cosmopolitan in the Northern Hemisphere throughout the Tertiary, being especially al)un(hint in the Pliocene of the Mediterranean region. It would seem as if their Cretaceous origin was occidental, that they spread over the Northern Hemispliere dm-ing the Tertiary and became restricted to southeastern Asia, the ("anary Islands, and America during the Pleistocene. The genus Ocotea Aublet, wliich includes more than 200 existing species, is, it seems to me, composite, and I regard the 3 genera Mespilodaphne, Oroodaphne, and Strychno- daphne of Nces as distinct. The modern species of Mespilodaphne are confined to South Africa and tropical .Vmerica. Tlie fossil record is almost entirely merged in the forms referred to Laurus. I have recognized 4 well-marked species in the Wilcox flora, which are abundant types. Some of them range from the base to the top of the deposits and along the Wilcox coast from Mississippi around the head of the embayment and westward to Texas. The genus Oreodaphne has been recognized in the Americain Upper Cretaceous and thi'ough- out the European Tertiary. At present its numerous species are confined to the American Tropics. In the Wilcox it is represented by 7 weU-marked species, wliich are abundant indi- viduaUy, some of which range from Mississippi to Texas and from the base to the top of the Wilcox. The genus is probably of American origin and it has been a member of the flora of the American Tropics from the Upper (^re- taccous to the present. The geologic history of the genus Nectandra, which includes 70 existing species that are confined to tropical and subtropical America, is prol)ably entangletl witii I he fossil forms referi-ed to Laurus. It occurs in the American Upper Cretaceous and the Eiu'opean and Soutli American Tertiary. There are a) least .5 char- acteristic Wilcox species, some of which were abundant along the Wilcox coasts, and some I'ange from the base to the top of the de- l)()sits. Like Oi'eodaplnie, tiiis genus apjjcars to liave been of American origin, becoming cos- mopolitan in the Tertiary and restricted to its original liome during tlie i'leistocene, wher(> it is still a vigorous and much differentiated type. T]i(> triltes Eusidci-oxyknr, Litseea?, Apol- l(uhea\ Acrodic'lidiea', Laurea:', and Cassythea^ do not appear to be represented in tlm Wilcox flora, altiiough the Litseea- ar(> re|)resented in the I'pper Cretaceous of the Mississippi em- l)ayment ai-ea and the Laurea> are common in the American Upper Cretaceous. The tribe Cryptocaryese, now largely American, is repre- sented in the Wilcox by a single weU-marked species of Cryptocarya. The existing species of (^ryptocarya number about 40, one-fourth of which are South American and the rest Oriental. Only 2 or 3 fossil species are known. They com(> from the Tertiary of jVustralia and Soutli jWeriea and the Pleistocene of Java. The form genus Laurus, which serves to render insecure the discussion of the geologic history of the preceding genera, includes a very large number of fossil fonns, of which no less than 25 are Cretaceous, the oldest of which come from the Albian of France and Portugal. Species of Laurus are abundant throughout North America in the Cenoinanian, ranging northward to Greenland, and they also occur in Europe and Australia. There are more than a score of species in the Eocene and these have a smiilar wide range. The 30 or more Oligo- cene species are confined to Europe. More than 30 Miocene species are confined to Europe and America, and the score of Pliocene species are Mediterranean and largely ItaUaii. 1 will mention only one other genus, since it definitely shows a past history that is probably typical of a large number of genera of Lauracea-. The genus Sassafras,' which is monotypic and confined to Noi'th America in the existing flora, ^ belongs to a large tribe — the Litseeae, which to-day is chiefly oriental, ranging from Asia ' Berry, E. W., Bot. Gazette, vol. 34, pp. 426-4.W, ng. (Vetaeeous radiation and iiu-huU^ nnincnous new types evolved on that continent, as Anth-ews has sug- gested. This is exactly tiie reverse of the hypothesis proposed by Deaue,' but one that accords far better with the facts not only of geologic history but vv'ith those of existmg dis- tribution. As is pointed out in the systematic part of this work all the Wilcox forms are coastal types closely related to existmg American species of similar habitat. About 150 fossil forms have been referred to the Myrtacepe, one-third at least having been described as species of Eucalyptus. At least haK of these forms occur in the Cretaceous of all parts of the world but particularly through- out the Northern Hemisphere. They are es- pecially well represented in North America, and the possibility that they are ancestral forms of M>Tcia or Eugenia has already been pointed out. A similar widespreatl distribu- tion but less specific variation characterizes the Eocene forms that have been referred to Eu- cal3^ptus. The Oligocene records are all Euro- pean and the Miocene records include both Europe and Asia. The genus Myrtus is represented by about 24 fossil species, all European, most of them al- most equally divided between the Oligocene and the Miocene. The oldest forms are early Eocene, but the form genus Myrtophyllum lieer includes several Upper Cretaceous species in Europe, America, and Australia, as well as Tertiary species in Europe, Asia, and South America. The genus Myrcia De CandoUe, so well rep- resented in the Wilcox flora, contains species in the European Oligocene, 4 species in the early Tertiary of Chde, 1 in the Tertiary of Ecuador, and 1 in the Pliocene of Brazil. Tlie oldest known s[)ecies of Eugenia, a genus also prominent in the WUco.x flora, occurs in the Dakota sandstone. The genus is repre- sented in Europe throughout the Tertiary from the lower Eocene to the Pliocene and is recorded fi'om the Tertiary of Ecuador. The genus CaUistemon R. Brown has been identified in both the Upper Cretaceous and 1 Deane, H., op. cit. Tertiary of Europe, and no less than 25 spe- cies have been referred to the genus Callistenio- pliylimu Ettingshausen. These species include Upper Cretaceous forms in America and Eu- rope, Eocene forms in Greeidand, Oiigocen(^ forms in Australia, and numerous Oligocene and Mioc(Mie species in Europe. The genus Myrciaria Berg, often inchuU'd in Eugenia, contains about 60 existing species ranging from the West Indies to Brazil and Peru. It is recorded by Engelhardt from the Tertiary of Ecuador. Leptospermum, L(>ptospermites, and Lep- tospermoearpum have been identified from the Upper Cretaceous and Tertiary of Europe; Tristania-like fruits have been described as Tristanites by Saporta froni the lower Miocene of France, and by Kitson from the Miocene of Australia; the genus Psidium Linne, which in- chuU's al)out 100 modern species in the West Indies and Mexico, is represented in Chile by an early Tertiary species; and finally the genus Metrosideros has been identified in the Atane beds of Greenland and in both the Oligocene and Miocene of Europe. The family Combretaccie (Terminaliacea") embraces about 16 genera and 285 existing species of shrubs or trees and tropical vines that bear simple, entire, coriaceous, persistent, exstipulate, alternate or opposite leaves. The inflorescence is racemose or capitate, and the flowers are regular, perfect or polygamous, many of them apetalous. The stamens are two or tlu-ee times as numerous as the petals and the one-celled ovary develops into a drupa- ceous or berry-like indehiscent fruit, in many species crowned with the accrescent calyx, and containing a solitary seed without endosperm. The e.xisting species are all tropical or sub- tropical, ranging from 34° north latitude to 35° south latif utle, and a relatively large num- ber are littoral or strand types. The conti- nental areas contain the following numl)ers of peculiar species: America 75, Africa 85, Mada- gascar 36, Asia 57, Australia 23. About ten or a dozen species ari^ found in more than one area. There is a remarkable identity between the American tropics and those of West Africa, the genera Caeoucia, Conoc^arpus, and Lagun- cularia having identical species in both regions. The geologic history of the family is most in- complete, but it is exceedingly prominent in tlie Wilcox flora, where it is represented not COMPOSITION OF THE FLORA. 121 only by chiiractcristic loiives but by fl(>w(M's and fruits. No spccios arc certainly known fi'iini luirizons as old as tli(> U|)|)cr ('rctaccous, allhoui^h a s])('<-i('s of Tcrniinaliphylluiu luis been described {nnn tlie Perucer beds (Ceno- inanian) of Bobeniia, a sp(>cies of ('onil)reli- pliyllum from tiie Upper Cretaceous of tlie Kanaerun (West Africa), and a species of Cono- carpites from the Tuscaloosa formation of Ala- bama. So far as I know there are no autiicMi- tic occurrences as old as those of the Wilcox. In tliis flora there are 3 well-marked speci(>s of Combretum, a genus that contains about VSO existing species found in all tropics except Australia and Polynesia. More than .30 of these species are endemic in South America, and their alnnidance in the Wilcox, as well as t]ii> occurrence of a sj^ecies in the early Tertiaiy of Cliilc, strongly suggests that the genus is of American origin. This statement, as well as tiie (h'termination of the Wilcox species of leaves, receives confirmation in the remarkably preserved flower from these beds described as Combref ant bites. Combretum has been re- corded from the Miocene of Switzerland and Germany and from the Pliocene of Italy. It occurs in the Claiborne group of tiie Mississippi (Mubayment, and Felix has described petrified wood fron^ the supposed Eocene of tlie Caucasus which he calls Combretacinium. The genus Conocarpus Gartner, a member of the tro]Mcal mangrove association, is repi'c- sented by a well-marked species in the Wilcox flora that is supposed to be descended from tlie Conocar])ites described from the Tuscaloosa format ion in this same general region. Another species very close to the modern form of the American Tropics occurs in tiie Claiborne group. Fruits of Conocarpus have also been described recently from the Aquitanian of Rhenish Prussia. The genus Laguncularia Gartner, mono- typic in tiie mangrove association of America and the west coast of tro])ical Africa, is repre- sented by both leaves and fruits in the Wilcox flora. Tlie only otiier genus of (\)mbretacese that has Icnown fossil representatives is Termi- nalia Linne. It is a large genus in the existing flora and contains more than 100 species almost equall}' divided between America, Asia, Africa, and Australia; several of tiie species arc very wide-ranging littoral ty])es. There are 3 Wil- cox species, based on botli leaves and fruit. One of llio species makes its appearance in the uiuh-rlying Midway ( '.) formation of f lie western Gulf region and possildy represents tlu^ l)e- ginning of its extension northward along tlie coast in the enit)ayment region from tropical America. It continues in this i-egion as lafo as the upper Kocene after nearly tiie entire Wilcox flora iiad been replaced by difi'crent foi"ms. Five Oligoccuie s]>ecies of Terininalia liave l)een described from Europe, the determina- tions resting on both leaves and fruits. The occurrences range from the Samioisian to tlie Cliattian and geograpliically from southeastern France to Greece. There are 7 well-distributed Miocene species in Europe, as well as Pliocene species in botli Spain and Italy along the shores of llie Pliocene Mediterranean Sea. A su])- posed Pliocene species is also recorded from Bolivia. Though future discoveries must greatly am- plify the fossil record before the Jiistory of the family in past times can be traced with any degree of surety, the remarkable display of those forms in the Mississippi embayment region, evidently derived from the American Tro|>ics, gives mucli probability to the theory tliat the family originated in tlie American Tropics during the Upper ('retaceous. The genus Trapa Linne formerly included in the family Onograceas, is now made the type and onl}^ genus of tiie family H3-drocar\'acetB (Trapacese Dumortier, 1827). There are 3 ex- isting species, aU aquatics and all confined to the Old World except for the natm-alizatioii of Trapa natanti Linne in New England and New Yorl<;. This species is irregularly scattered throughout central and southern Europe, though its area of distribution is contracting, as is showm by its occurrence in postglacial de- posits at many localities b(\yond its present range in Russia, Finland, vSweden, and Den- mark. The two other existing species are Trapa bicornis Linne of Ciiina and Trapa, hi- spinosa Roxburg of southeastern and s()utlu>rn Asia, which is said also to occur in Africa. The genus has an extended geologic history. Rosettes supposed to represent the floating leaves {Trapa? mirroplyUa Lesqu(>rcux and Trapa? cvncata Knowlton) are widespread in tlu! Rocky Mountain province in beds of late Cretaceous and early Tertiary age. The oldest recognizable fruits are a large bicornute form 122 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTIIEASTERX NORTH AMERICA. from the Eocene of Canada and Alaska and Trapa ii-Ucoxensifi of the Wilcox flora. Two supposed upper Eocene species o(;ciir in the Payette for- mation of Idaho. An Oligocone species {Trajxi credneri Schenk) has been lU^scribed ivom Sax- ony, and no less than 5 species have been described from the Miocene, 1 occurring in Japan and the rest in Europe, where 2 species continue into the Pliocene. A species from the late Phocene of America is found in south- ern Alabama. The existing Trapa natans has been recorded from the preglacial beds of England and Saxony and from very many hiterglacial and postglacial deposits in Portugal, Italy, Netherlands, Germany, Sweden, Russia, and Denmark. Guimar Andersson in a paper published in 1910 mentions 18 localities in west Prussia, 6 in Denmark, 17 in Sweden, and 29 in Finland. Tlie family Melastomatacei» is relatively large, prevaiUngly shrubby rather thim arborescent, and includes about 150 genera and more than 3,000 existmg species. It comprises distinctly humid types and is almost strictly tropical, although some members range southward to 40° south latitude. Although it abounds in Malaysia, it is a typically American family, 7 of the 15 tribes into which the family is divided being confined to tropical America, and about 2,500 of the existmg species being also endemic in this region. It ranks ninth m Hemsley's flora of Central America and abounds in the West Indies and especially in Brazil. Though the geologic history of this vast assemblage of forms is practically unknowm, there is no evi- dence to disprove the theory that, like the allied families Combretacese and Myi-taceae, the Melastomataceae had .its origin in that most prolific; region — the American Tropics. The few fossil forms that have been found, inchuHng leaves, flowers, and calices, have been referred to the form genus Melastomites, first proposed by Unger. A doubtfully de- termined species, which probably belongs to the Lauracea?, has been recorded from the Upper Cretaceous of Westphalia. Th(> only known Eocene species is the well-marked form present in the Wilcox flora. Four Oligocene species have been described from Bohemia, Styi'ia, and Egypt ; 4 Miocene species from Switzerland, Prussia, and Croatia; and a Pliocene species from Italy. TheorderUmlxdlales (I'nibelliflonrof Ejigler) includes onlv three families, the Araliaceae, Umbellifene, and Cornacea-, but more than 3,000 existing species, of which nior(> tlian two- thirds belong to the Umbcllifcru'. Tlie thr(>e families are closely related and stand somewhat apart from the rest of the choripetalous orders. Thougli undou])tedly there has been great specific variation m modern times, especially among the licrbaceous forms of Umbellifer£e, some members uf the alliance go back as far as undoubted dicotyledons have been found, and this fact is one of the strongest arguments for considering its relationships to the GamopetaljE to be less close than some botanists have sus:- gested, a suggestion based primarily on a con- sideration of the floral structures apart from the morphologic features of the whole ])lants. As regards floral evolution the Umbellales clearly mark the highest expression among the ChoripetaliB and parallel the Gamopetala;. The flowers are epigynous, the stamens cyclic, the carpels reduced, and the sepals commonly reduced. The Araliacete and Cornacese are both rejiresented in the Wilcox flora and the UmbelliferiB doubtfully so. The family Araliacese contains about 52 genera and 500 existing species, chiefly m- habitants of the Tropics, though notable exceptions are found in North America and eastern Asia. The modern center of develop- ment is in Asia and Australia, no less than 3.3 genera being confined to Asia, Malaysia, ,\us- tralia, or Polynesia. Africa contams 3 peculiar genera and about 30 species and America 5 peculiar genera and about 100 species. The genus SchefBera is cosmopolitan. Hedera and Polycias occur in P^urasia and Africa. Two genera arc common to Asia and America, and a third (Aralia) is found hot only in these conti- nents but in Australia. Pseudotenax wliich contains about 6 species is peculiar to western South America and New Zealand. The fossil record is not nearlj^ complete enough to afford a secure basis for generaliza- tions. Several genera are found, howev(>r, in the oldest deposits in which undoubted dico- tyledons are known. The largest genus is Aralia, which is commonly used by ])aleobotan- ists as a form geims for generically mudentified species of Araliaceic, rather than for forms fallhig withm a strict modern definition of Aralia. No less than 50 species of Aralia have been described from the Cretaceous, 2 of which come from horizons as old as the Albian of COMPOSITION OF THE FLORA. 123 Portunera and more than 2,000 existing species, is distinctly an extratropical family witii numer- ous boreal forms, chiefly herbaceous and of relati\'ely modern origin. It is very sparingly and doubtfulh' represented in the fossil state. The only Wilcox form that suggests such an alTmity is the fruit described as CarpoUthus pi-angosoides, which greatly resembles the existing genus Prangos Lindley. The third family of the UmbeUales, the Corna- cese, is relatively small. It comprises only 16 genera and about 100 existing species, mostly of the Temperate Zone. The majority of the fossil forms are confined to the two genera Cornus and Nyssa, although the oriental genus Camj)totheca is represented by fruits in the Dutch Pliocene. Cornus includes about 40 ex- isting species of herbs and small trees, mostly confined to theNorthTemperate Zone in Eurasia and Xorth America but represented in Mexico and also by a single species in Peru. More than 50 fossil species have been described. There are at least 12 forms in the Upper Cretaceous, all confined to North America, ranging from Greenland to Alabama. There are about a dozen Eocene species in America, Europe, and the Arctic region, one of which is sparingly represented in the Wilcox flora. Oligocene records are few, but more than 25 Miocene species have been described. The genus was parti('ularly abundant at this time throughout central Europe and was also represented in botli North America and Asia. About 5 Pliocene species are recorded from Spain, France, Italy, and Japan, and the genus has affonled Pleisto- cene material in New Jersey, Holland, England, and other covmtries. Tlie genus Nyssa Liime (including also Xys- sidium Heer and Nyssites Geyler and Kink- eliii) comprises about 7 existing species that range from slirubs to large trees and luv natives of southeastern North America and eastern and central Asia. It is represented by more t lian .">() fossil forms, most of tlieni l)ased on the cliarac- teristic costate stones. The ohh^st Icnown forms come fi-om beds near the base of the I p])er Cietaceous (Dakota and Tuscaloosa) of North America. By F'ocene time Nyssa had reachetl Alaska, Greenland, and Europe. There are 2 characteristic species in the Wilcox, both based on stones, and a third occurs in the overlying dejxisits of the Claiborne group. In the lignite de])osit of Brandon, Vt., wliich is of uncertain but ])robably early Tertiary age, no less than 18 so-ciiUed species of stones have been described. Tiiough doubtless the specific differentiation is overrefined, the abundanc of Nyssa in New England at that time is indicated. Nyssa is abundant in the Eiu-opean Oligocene, and survives on that continent in the Pliocene. There are Miocene species in New Jersej', Virginia, Europe, and Asia. A Pliocene species occurs in Alabama. Some of the mod(^rn species are common in tlie Pleistocene of this country from y^ew Jersej^ southward. Though much remains to be learned regard- ing the liistory of the (\)rnace£e, it seems clear that the two genera, Cornus and Nyssa, that have yielded fossil forms are types that origi- nated in Xorth America during the Cretaceous. No family of the Choripetalse has succeeded in maintaining a world-wide distribution, as have several families of IVIonocotyledona^ and Gamopetalfe. No distinctly boreal group has been developed, as among the Gamopetalas (Ericales). Certain great families characterize the X^orth Temperate region, and these are all herbaceous forms, believed to be of relatively recent origin, such as Poh'gonacess, Carj'ophyl- lacese, Cruciferse, Saxifragacese, Onagracese, and UmbeUiferse. Though atjuatic forms are com- mon, this habit does not characterize whole families, as among the ^lonocotyledonae. Tlie Choripetahe ])redoininate in the American Tropics, and many of tlie families in the Wilcox flora probably originated in that region. The second grand divisit)U of the Dicotyle- domr, the Ganiojietala' (Sympetala=>) , const itutes a rather well defined group, presumably de- rived from the Clioripetala% which is character- ized by a complete cyclic arrangement of the floral jiarts, a corolla that is generally gamo- petalous, and ovules that have a small nueellus and as a rule a, single integument. The Gamo- petala? contain nine or ten orders and more than 50,000 existing species. Most of the orders COiMI'OPITIO.X (>K TITK l''l,()l!.\. 125 appear to bo more conipMcl and iintui-al t;;r()ii])s than tlio ('orrcsjxmdiii^ alliances among the Choripetala:>. The Krieales. I'limuhiles, and Ebeiiales are |)enlacveli<- and isocai'pons, hnl th('(jentianales,Polenioniales. l'ersoii;des,Phin- tagiiiales, IJnhiales, Valeriaiiah's, and Cani- panuhilos are tetracyclic and anisocarpic, the last throe orders Ijoinij episivnons. 'rh<' lierl)aceous i'ornis ol' tiie alJiance pre- dominate and several of the families are dis- tinctly horesil. Though theComjiosita", Lai)iata', and Plantaginacese are of \\cirld-\\i(h' distril)ii- tion, there are no notable continental |)airings, such as usually accompany an extended geologic history. These and many otiier facts suggest that the Gamopetaho as a whole, especially the more evolved, herbaceous. extratro])ical fami- lies, are of relatively modei-n origin and that their major specific differentiation was concomi- tant with their occupation of tlie Temperate zones after the retreat of tiio Pleistocene ice sheets. The so-called Composita? are, from tlie view- point of floral structures, clearly the culmination of tlie evolution of floral structures, as is shown not only by their gamopotaly, epigyny, coimi- vent anthers, and tiie formation of seedlike fruits with a pappus but by the complex flowei'- head, the prevalence of diclinism, the dimor- phism of the corollas, and ot lier special features. This evidence is corro])orated by the general modernness of the alliance. Six gamopetalous orders are represented in the Wilcox flora. The first of these, the Pri- mulales, in its fullest development in cxistmg floras mcludes the three families MjTsinaceaa, Primulacea', and PlnmbaginacefP. They are structurally much alike and have a single cycle of stamens opposite the petals and a unilocular ovary with a free central placenta. Thi^ com- munity of floral organization can only bo at- tributed to convergence and notr to filiation, since the Myrsinacea^ are old forms whicli in modern floras are predominantly ti-opical and American, whereas the Primulacea^ are ciiielly North Temperate and bor(\al lierbs of relatively recent evolution, and tiie Plumhaginaceaj are very modern halophytic herbs and undershrubs of salt beaches and stopp(>s, mostly of the Med- iteiTaneau and Casj)ian i-cgions. The Myi-sinaceae, the only family represented in the Wilcox flora, is characterized by alter- nate, simple, coriaceous, puncttate, exstipulate l(>avos; ])erfect. regular (lowers; and single- seeded drupac(M)us fruits. The family contains al)out ;•!() genera and n.'A) existing s|)ecics of shrubs or trees, la.rg(4v trop- ical and predominantly American. Thus. 1 1 gencrji and more than 2()() species ai-e peculiar to America, only 4 g(Miera and loss than a dozen species are p(H-uliar to Asia, and :i goiu^ra and about 100 species are ])eculiar to Africa. The genus Myrsine Liune is found in all the continents except lilurope and hi Polynesia. Its distriliution is extratropical in the African region. Euardisia Pax is found in all the Trop- ics. Maesa Fiirskal lives in all oriental tropical Countries as does also the monotypic genus /Egiceras Gartner, a member of the coastal man- grove association. The genus Cybianthus Mar- tins, largely South American, is represented by species in the Philippiiu^s and in New Grenada. There is little that is signilicant in the recent distribution of the family, and the fossil record is very incomplete. More than 75 fossil forms have been referred to Myrshie, the oldest of which are the 7 or 8 forms recorded from the Upper Cretaceous. AU the older of these forms (Cenomanian) come from North America, and only one, from the Turonian of Bohemia, occurs in the European Upper Cretaceous. The ^Vmerican forms are not varied specifically, but have a wide range and are common, extending from the Atane beds of Greenland along the Atlantic coast to the Tuscaloosa formation of western Alabama. They ai-e also found in the Dakota sandstone of the western interior region. The Eocene records of Myrsine number 7 or S species and include an early Eocene form of Alum Bay, 3 in the upper Eocene of France, and 2 m western Alaska. M.>Tsine is exceed- ingly varied and abundant dui-ing the Oligo- cene throughout southern P^uropc, more than 80 species having been described, of which 1 1 occur in the basal Oligocene of southeastern Franco (Sannoisian). There are more than 30 Miocene species throughout Europe, one from Colorado IxMng the only known Anuirican occurrence. One species is also roconhnl from Australia. Several species linger in the Plio- cene of southern Europe in France and Italy, and one species is found in the Pliocene of Brazil. In addition to the forms referred to Myi-suio several forms from the Eurojioan Ti-rtiary have been referred to the form genus 126 LOWER EOCENIJ FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN XOKTH AMEHTCA. Myrsinites. Ettiiigshauson recorded a species of Pleiomerit(>s from the Miocene of Bohemiii, siiid the genus Mnesu Foi"skiil, which contains about 40 nuxU^rn species in Asia, Africa, Australia, and Polynesia, is represented in the Oligocene of Transylvania and Egypt, in the Miocene of Styria, and in the Pliocene of Limburg. Tlie genus Ardisia Swartz (iiicludmg Ai-disio- phyllum Geyler) mcludes about a dozen fossil species, the oldest of which, a very doubtfully determined form, comes from the Turonian of Bohemia. There is an Eocene or Oligocene species in Chile. Thi-ee Oligocene species are found m Bohemia and one occurs in Transyl- vania. There are 4 Miocene species in France, Bohemia, and Styiia, and Pliocene species in Holland, Itah*, and Borneo. The genus Icacorea Aublet is the only mem- ber of the MyrsmacejB found m the Wilcox flora. The genus contams numerous existing species confined to South America. The fossil record is meager but includes 2 or 3 species of the European Oligocene. The Wilcox species is thus considerably older than any European occurrence. It represents a fonn which is very close to the modern Icacorea panicuhta Sudworth, a shrub or slender tree of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, Cuba, and the east coast of southern Mexico. In addition to the foregoing records at least 4 kinds of flowers have been described from the Baltic amber (Sannoisian). These are Berendtia Goppert (2 species), Myrsinopsis Conwentz, and Sendelia Goppert. Though the geologic history of the family is so incomplete it is not without significance that, like so many families previously discussed, the oldest fossil representatives of this predomi- nantly American family in the existing flora occur in the basal Upper Ci-etaceous of North America. The order Ebenales includes the families Sapotaceaj, Ebcnacea?, Styracaceai, and Symplo- cacea;, which contain more than 1,000 existing species. The larger families are the Sapotacese and Ebenacese, both of which are represented in the Wilcox flora; the other two families are sparingly represented in the European Ter- tiary. The considerable rang(\ in floral struc- tures, from indefiiutcuiess in the number of stamens and carpels and polypetaly to a 4 to 8 cyclic an-angement, leads floral morpholo- gists to consider the order as among the most primitive of the Gamoj)etala3. T]i(> family Sapotacere comprises trees or shrubs liiat have a milky juice and that bear altei-nale, simple, entire, mostly coriaceous, pcti(>lat<', exstipidate leaves. It contams about 32 genera and nearly 400 existing species in all tropical countries. About half of the existing species are American. Eleven genera are cqnfmed to America, 7 to Africa, 3 to Aus- tralia, 2 to New Caledonia. 2 to Asia and Malaysia, 2 to Malaysia, and 1 to Asia. The three large genera Sidcroxylon, Chiysophyllum, and Mimusops are represented in all tropical countries. Four genera and 12 species are represented in the WUcox flora. The largest of these genera is Bumeha Swartz, whit'Ji mcludes 6 weU-marked Wdcox species. Bume- lia, which contains about a score of species, is confuied to America in the existing flora, ranging from the southern United States through the West Indies and Central America to Brazil. It mcludes numerous fossil species, the oldest of which comes from the Upper Cretaceous (Dakota sandstone) of the western interior region. In addition to the 6 Wilcox species, which are prototypes of stfll existing forms, there are 2 Eocene species (Ypresian) in south- em England. There are about a doz(>n Ohgocene species, 10 of which ai-e widespread in Europe, 1 is found in the Apalachicola group of western Florida, and two forms, representing both leaves and fruit, are found m the Vicksburg group of Louisiana and Texas. Seven or eight Miocene species are widespread m Europ(\ and one is recorded from the late Miocene of Colorado. The genus Chrysophyllum Linne, which includes about 60 existing species, found in all tropical countries luit chiefly American, con- tains a supposed species in the Tapper Creta- ceous of vSaxony (Niederschoena), a well- marked species in the Wilcox, 3 Oligocene and 6 Miocene species in Europe, and 1 in Colom])ia. The genus Mimusops Linne, which contains about 40 existing species in the Tropics, includes 3 weU-marked Wilcox species and a fourth in the overlying Claiborne deposits. To it has been referred a species from the Upper Creta- ceous of Saxony (Niederschoena), and it is undoubtedly represent(>d in the Upper Creta- ceous of the embayment region as well as else- where bv the leaves that have been referred to COMl'OSITIOX OF THE FLORA. 127 the form {jenus Sapotacites. Kcid refers a seed from the PUoceiie of Limburg to this genus. The gemis Sitl(>roxylon Liiuio, which inchules about SO existing species m the oriental Tropics and about 15 in the American Tropics, is rep- resented by 2 species in the WUcox flora, which are the oldest thus far discovered. To this genus have been referred 4 Ohgocene and 1 or 2 Miocene species from Europe. Isonandra Wright, a small modern genus of the Malayan region, is represented in the Ter- tiary of Borneo by Isonandrophyllum Geyler. The genus Achras Linne (Sapota Plumier), now monotypic in tropical America, contains 3 spe- cies in the European Miocene. Labatia Swartz, which includes 6 existing species in the American Tropics, has been doubtfully determined in the Miocene of Prussia and Italy. Felix has descrihed two forms of petrified wood, which he refers to this family under the name Sapotoxylon, one species from Germany and the other from an unknown locality and hori- zon. The genus CalophyUum Pierre is repre- sented by handsome leaves, as yet undescribed, in the upjier Eocene (Jackson formation) of Texas; and a ver}- characteristic seed has recently been described ' from the middle Eocene (Claiborne group) of Mississippi as the type of a new genus, Eoachras. A large number of fossil forms of Sapotaceae have been referred to the form genus Sapota- cites proposed by Ettingshausen (also Sapoto- phyllum). At least 10 Upper Cretaceous forms are widespread in North America and are rep- resented in Europe in the Perucer beds of Bohemia and the Credneria stage of southern Saxony (Cenomanian). Three of these Upper Ci'etaceous forms from the Tuscaloosa forma- tion of Alabama undoubtedly represent the ancestors of some of the Wdcox forms. There are about 10 recorded species of Sapotacites in the Eocene of France and southern England. There are about a score of species in both the Oligocene and Miocene, most of which are European, though there is an undescribed spe- cies in the Apalachicola group of western Florida. In the Pliocene there are species in southern Europe and on the island of Java. Notwithstanding the incompleteness of the record, the family obviously became well dif- ferentiated during the Upper Cretaceous, and 1 Berry, E. W., Am. Jour. Sci., 4th ser., vol. 39, pp. 208-213, pi. 1, 1915. thougli it would not he safe to assign its ])lace of origui to the American region, it is probable that at least several of the genera, such as Bumelia, originated in this region. The faniLIy Ebenacew includi^s about 8 genera and more than 300 existing shrul)s and trees, of wliic-h over half are referred to the genus Diosp>Tos Linne. Tlie family is mamly tropical, as are most of the species of Diospy- ros, though that genus is represented in the North Temperate Zone in eastern North Anuu- ica, eastern Asia, and the Mediterranean re- gion. The 3 modern nionotyi)ic genera, Tetra- clis, Brachynema, and Rhapidanthe, are con- fuied, respectively, to Madagascar, Brazil, and West Africa, and none have been found fossil. The genus Royiuia is mostly South African; Euclea is enth'ely confnied to Africa; Maba, a large genus, ranges fi'oin Africa eastward to Polynesia; and Macreightia is common to tropical Africa and America. Dios]3;\Tos, which includes about ISO exist- ing species, is cosmopolitan. Between 90 and 100 fossil forms have been described. In that grand display of dicotyledonous genera which during the middle-Cretaceous replaced the old Mesozoic flora of ferns, cycads, and conifers, and which appearctl with such apparent sud- denness in many localities m the Northern Hemisphere, we find unmistakable evidence of the abundance and wide distribution of species of Diospyros. No less than 17 different forms have been described from the rocks of this age, and the localities are scattered from Australia to Bohemia, Greenland, and Vancou- ver Island. Nearly aU these species are Ameri- can, and they seem to have been especially at home along the Cretaceous coast of the Atlan- tic and along the border of the Mediterranean Sea which extended northwestward from the GuK of Mexico over much of our present Great Plains area. One of these species, weU named Diospyros primseva by Heer in 1866, is espe- cially widespread and abundant. It occurs not only in Iowa, Kansas, and Nebraska in the West, but also from Texas eastward through Alabama and northward in South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, New Jersey, Long Island, and Greenland, or from latitude 33° to latitude 71° north. That these early per- simmons were not VvU'y different from those of to-day is shown by tlieir similar foli-age. This resemblance is also tliowii by tin; fossilized 128 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. remains of the calices of viirious species. One of tliese eulices from another early Cn'taceoiis species, recently describecl hy the writer as Diospyros vera, is found in wliat is known in the Potomac River valley as tlie Raritan for- mation. Apparently the habit of accrcscencc hail not been fully formed, but the calyx was pei-sistent then as now and entirely like a mod- ern calyx m appearance. It was four-parted, as is the rule m existmg persimmons, but other fossil forms had a five-parted calyx, like manj' present-day tropical species. In the Eocene epoch, which succeeded the (Cretaceous, the records of the fossil occurrences of UiospjTos show that it was truly cosmopoli- tsm. These records include about 20 species in Siberia, Alaska, and Greenland on the north and in Caiaada and various localities in Europe, as well as Colorado, Montana, Wyoming, Ne- vada, Oregon, Washington, and other West- ern States. Unfortimately we have no Eocene or later Tertiary records along the Atlantic coast of North America outside the embayment region, since the preserved deposits are all of marme origui and contain no fossil plants. There is little doubt, however, that Diospyros continued to be an abundant element in the arborescent flora of this area. Tlaere are 2 well-marked species of Dios- p>TOs in the WUcox flora, one of which contin- ues in this region through the Claiborne. A large calyx is found in deposits of Jackson age in southwestern Texas. There are about 24 Oligocene species, most of them especially common tiirougliout southern Europe. There is an American species of this age in the Apalachicola group of western Florida and abundaiit petrified fruits in the Oligocene of the Istlunus of Panama. The luxuriant forests of the Miocene have furnished about 20 species of Diosp\Tos. Tlie known dis- tribution at this time includes European locali- ties from Spain to Hungary and American records in Oregon, California, Yellowstone Park, and Colorado. There are 7 Pliocene species in southern Europe and in Java, and the genus is still represented hi Holland. Tiie allied genus Royena Linne is represented by splendidly preserved fruits from the oasis of Chargeh in Egypt (Tapper Cretaceous) as well as by 4 Oligocene and 2 Miocene species in Europe. It seems never to have been cosmo- politan like DiospjTos, since it has never been recognized in tlie Western Hemisphere. The fossil history of tiie geiuis Euclea Liime was evidently similar to tliat of Rovena. It makes its appearance in the basal Ohgocenc of Europe, where it is represented throughout the Oligo- cene and Miocene epochs and becomes con- fined to Africa in Pliocene and Pleistocene times. The genus Macrciglitia De Caiidolle includes 9 or 10 existing species, one occurring in tro]>- ical Afi-ica and the remainder in iVmerica. Macrciglitia is represented by both leaves and flowers in fossil floras and it has been a favorite receptacle for tripartite calices, not all of them of assured ])otanic identity. The oldest form comes from the German Oligocene, and there are 5 or 6 species in the European Miocene. It has not been deflnitely recognized in Nortli America, although some of the Wilcox mate- rial is not unlike some European material referred to Macrciglitia. Felix has recognized wood of this family (Ebenoxylon) in the Oligocene of Antigua. The order Gentianalcs (Contortie of Engler) includes 6 families and between 4,000 and 5,000 existing species. The largest famQy is the Asclepiadacea?, which contains more than 2,000 species. The families are complexly related among themselves and with the next two orders, almost the only constant characters being the opposite leaves and the generally twisted corolla in aestivation. The Asclepiada- cea?, not found in the Wilcox, shares with the ApocynaceiB in the development of a latex system and in other specializations, and the elaborate contrivances for entomophily in the Asclepiadacese reach a degree of complexity almost comparable with that of the Orchida- ce;e. The LoganiaccEe, also not represented in the Wilcox flora, are lianas characteristic of South America and Asia, which are regai-ded by Engler as r(4atively primitive and possibly the ancestral stock of the Gentianalcs and Rubiales. The order as a whole is numerically massed in the Tropics by reason of the many tropical genera of the two largest families, the A,sclepiadac(>;e and Apocmacca>, whicli together contain three-fourths of the existing species of the order. The family Oleaccfc, sometimes considered as an order, thci Oleales, contains 2] genera and about 400 existing species. Three small genera are peculiar to Asia and 4 are peculiar to COMI'OSITION OF THE FLORA. 129 America: tho remaining 14 genera are found in more than one continental area. The o largest genera, Fraxinus (40 species), Mayepea (50 species), and Jasniinum (160 species), tire all cosmopolitan. Eight of the 21 genera have l)een foiuul fcis.sil, and the family evidently has an extended history, although there are no known Cretaceous records worthy of credence. Nor is tho record well enough laiown to war- rant generalizations. It is obvious from the early Eocene occun-ence of leaves of Fraxinus associated with characteristic fruits thiit the f amdy must have been evolved before the close of the Upper Cretaceous, but none of the genera have any well-marked or almndant known rep- resentation until Tertiary times. The genus Fraxinus Linne is represented by 2 species in the Wilcox flora — a character- istic samara and foliage identical with that described by Heer from western Greenland as Fraxinus johnstrupi. Heer's species furnishes an interesting example of the extended distri- bution of members of the Eocene flora, at the same time illustrating the northward radiation of floras during the Eocene. More than 10 additional Eocene species are known, all of which are American, ranging from Tennessee to Alaska and Greenland. The Oligocene marks the appearance of the genus in Europe, from which time to the present the genus has been represented tlu-oughout the warmer parts of the North Temperate Zone, at least 4 of the existing species making their appearance in the Pleistocene. The second genus represented in the Wilcox flora is Osmanthus Loureiro. It includes about 10 existing species of eastern North America, eastern Asia, and Polynesia. The Wilcox species is exceedingly close to Osmantlms ameri- canus Bentham and Hooker, of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts from North Carolina south- ward. A second fossil species is foimd in the Miocene of Florissant, Colo. The Old World genus Phillyrea Lume is foimd fossil in Em-ope. The genus Notelffla Vent enat, which contains G existing Australian species and an isolated remnant of its former distribution in Madch-a and the Canary Islands, is represented in the Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene of Eurojje. The genus Olea Linne, which includes more than 30 existing species, about equally divided between Africa, Asia, ami Australia and Polynesia, is represented by about 50243°— 16 9 20 fossil forms (including Oleophyllum Con- wentz and 01ea'car[)um Meiizel) in Europe, where they range in age from the l)asal Eocene through tiie Oligocene, Miocene, and Pliocene to the Pleistcx'cne. The genus is not known in American fossil floras, but there is a supposed species in the early Tertiary of Australia. The genus Ligustrum Linne, which contains about 35 existing species in southeastern Asia and the East Indies, is repi'esented by 3 species in the Oligocene and Miocene of Europe. A species of Ligustrum recorded by Hollick from the Upper Cretaceous of Long Island is probably a Pisonia. Saporta has described representatives of the genera Syringa Limie, based on floral remains from tlu^ Sannoisian of southeastern France. Tlie family Apoc_>maceiB comprises 133 genera and between 1,000 and 1,100 existing species of perennial herbs, vines, shrubs, and trees, most of which have a milky acrid juice and simple exstipulate leaves. The fruit as a riile con- sists of a pair of folUcles or ch'upes and the seeds of many forms are comatose. The family is ahnost equaUy divided into 2 subfamflies, the Plumeroidea>, which contains 68 genera and about 550 species, and the Echitoideje, which includes 65 genera and about 500 species. The genera Plumeria Linne, which comprises about 40 species, and Rauwolfia Linne, which comprises about 45 species, are cosmopoU- tan, mostly tropical. Twenty-four genera and about 300 species occur in more than one con- tmental area. America heads the list, with 36 peculiar genera and about 325 species, foUowed by Africa, with 28 pecvfliar genera and about 130 species, and Asia, with 20 peculiar genera and about 75 species. Australia has few endemic genera or species, but numerous genera range froni Asia or Africa to the Australian region, and several genera are peculiar to Malaysia and to Polynesia. In the present state of our knowledge the distribution does not fm-nish material for generalization. The fossil record, although it includes repre- sentatives of at least a dozcMi gcrnera, is too incomplete to shed much light on the history of tho family or its existing distribution. The largest fossQ genus is the form genus Apocyno- phyllum, proposed by llecr, which embraces fossil forms that resemble Thevetia, Cerbera, ApocAnium, and oth(>r existing genera of the famil}'. Five species which are recorded from 130 LOWER EOCENE FLORAS OF SOUTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA. the l'])])!'!- Cretaceous eoiiie fi-oiii the Dakota saiidslono of the western interior States and from Australia, Westphalia, and Saxony. More than a score of Eocene species are widely distributed. Of 5 species in the Wilcox flora sev(>ral are exceedingly well marked and common. There are also 5 species in the Ypresian of southern England. Other Eocene records mclude GreeiUand, New Zealand, and Chile. The score or more of knowm Oligocene species are confined to European localities. The Miocene species number about 25, mostly confined to Europe, but recortUxl also from Australia. Fossil fonns have been sparingly refen-cd to the followhig genera: AUamanda, Hsemadict- yon, and Thevetia have been recognized liy EngeUiardt in the early Tertiary of Chile. Alyxia, Alstonia, Cerbera, and Tabernsemon- tana have been recognized m the Em-opean Tertiary by different students. Tlie genus Neritiniimi Unger mcludes 4 or 5 species in the European Miocene. Tlie genus Plumeria con- tains 4 Miocene species m Europe and a Pliocene species in Brazil. The genus Echitonium Unger mcludes more than a dozen fossil species. There are 5 species m the Eocene, includmg a well-marked form in the Wilcox flora; 2 m the Oligocene and 5 in the Miocene of Europe. The genus Nerium Linne contams only 3 or 4 existing species of shrubs or trees in the warmer parts of Eurasia. However, the com- monly cultivated Nerium oleander Lume of the Levant grows to a relatively large size and is extensively nattiralizcd in Florida, Bermuda, and the West Indies. Saporta recorded an Upper Cretaceous species, Nerium rohlii, from the Campanian of Westphalia, but it is almost certainly a member of the Myrtacese and not a Nerium. Undoubted species do occur in the Eocene of Em-ope, including the remains of a characteristic flower from the Paris Basin. There are several Oligocene and Miocene species in Europe, and the existing Nerium oleander or its immediate ancestor occurs in the Pliocene of southern Europe in France and Spain. The Wilcox species ApoeynophijUum iahellarum is \evy suggestive of Nerium, but tlie genus is not certainly known in the Western Hemisphere. It may be noted that with tlic exception of species of Apocynophyllum, which are not certainly identified, the family is not repre- sented in tlie abundant knowni Upper Creta- ceous floras of the world, which might indicate that it origmated in the Southern Hemisphere. The order Polemoniales or Tuliiflora) (not the Tubiflora?. of Engler, which includes the orders Polemoniales and Personales, here regarded as distinct) contams the foiu* families Convol- vulace;¥, Polemoniacea", Hydrophyllacea\ and Boraginacea'. The first tlu-ee are character- istically American. The Convolvulaceae are chiefly tropical, and the largest family, the Boragmaceae, is typically developed in the North Temperate Zone. The family Boraginacea?, the only one of the order known in the Wilcox flora, contains about 8.5 genera and 1,600 existmg species, clucfly of widely distrilmted North Temperate herbs and shrubs, or of trees m tropical coun- tries, characterized by alternate, exstipulate, mostly entire leaves. The known fossil forms are few and of slight significance. They com- prise for the most part Tertiary remains de- scribed as species of Boraginites and Helio- tropites. The family is represented in the Wilcox by two species of Cordia, a genus that contains about 2.30 existing species of shrubs and trees of the warmer regions of both hemi- spheres, especially the western. There is a species in the Upper Cretaceous of the Missis- sippi embayment area (Tuscaloosa formation) and a Miocene species in Europe. Early Ter- tiary forms arc recorded .from Clnle by Engel- hardt and from Tasmania by Ettingshausen. The slight evidence available indicates that the genus originated in the American Tropics and that the bulk of the family is of late Ter- tiary origin. The order Personales or Labiatiflor.'e in- cludes 16 families distmguisiied from the Polemoniales by the zygomorphism of the flowers. The specific difi'ercntiation is great and the lines of descent arc confusing. The largest famihes are the Labiatre, which con- tains more than 3,000 existing species; the Scrophulariacere, which contains about 2,500 species; the Acanthacese, which comprises about 2,000 species; and the Sohuiacea', which com- prises about 1,800 species. Two of the 16 families, the Verbenacea) and Solanacese, are represented in the Wilcox flora. The family Verbenacea) includes about 73 genera and 1,300 existing species of widely distributed luu'bs, shrubs, or, in tropical coun- COMroSITIOX OF THE FLORA. 131 trios, trees. The family is largely tropical or subtropical and is notably rcpresenti^d in tlie South American region. The fossil record is most incomplete. The largely Old World gc^nus Clerodendron Limie is unmistakalily present in both Eocene and Oligoceno of Europe, and Ettingshausen has referred somewliat doubt- fully determined forms from I lie European Ohgocene to the An\erican genus PetnB Linne and to the cosmopohtan genus Vitex Linne. The genus Citharexylon Linne con- tams about 20 existing species, which range from the Florida Keys and Lower California through the American Tropics to Bolivia and Brazil. A single species found in the IloUy Springs sand and Grenada formation is ex- tremely close to the existing Citharexylon villosum Jaccjuin, a small coastal tree of the Florida Keys, the Bahamas, and tlie Antilles. With the exception of one or two doubtfully determined forms in the Miocene of south- eastern Europe and a form described by Engel- hardt from the Tertiary of Colombia it is the only known fossil forni. The genus Aviccnnia Linne, sometimes made the type of a distinct family, the Avicen- niaceiJe or black mangrove family, includes from 3 to 30 existing species, according to the mterpretation of different students. These plants are found on all tropical tidal shores. Two species have been recognized in the Wilcox flora, one based on leaves and the second on a not conclusively identified capsule. The family Solanacea; mcludes about 70 genera and about 1,600 existing species, widely distril>uted and largely tropical but extending into the Temperate Zone, notably in the West- ern Hemisphere. It comprises herbs, shrubs, vines, or, in tropical countries, trees, which bear opposite, stipulate, toothed, lobed, or dissected leaves. Their fossil history is almost entirely unknown. The single Wilcox rep- resentative of the family is a flowi-r described as Solanites, a genus founded on the some- what younger remains of a similar flower found in the Sannoisian of France and com- parable with the existing South American genus Saracha Ruiz and Pavon, as well as with W^itheringia, Solanum, and similar forms. The last order of Gamopetalse positively rec- ognized in the Wilcox flora is t\w. Rubiales, wliich includes more than '),()(){) existing species, segregated into 5 families. More than four- fifths of the species are referred ti) tiie family Rul)iacefe, the only one represented in the Wdcox. The Rubiacea3 includes about 355 genera and more than 4,500 existing species of herbs, slu'ubs, and trees that bear simple, opposite or verticillate, mostly stipulate leaves. They are widely distributed and largely tropical. Ac- cording to Beccari the RubiaceiB is the largest fa