'' 1 .. 

I , . I 

• , 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE . TERTIARY LAKE . BEDS OF. SOlJTH-CENTRAL 

FOLORADO. :• 

I 

By [F. H. KNOWLTON • 

. I 

The first of the Tertiary lake beds o.f C~lorado 

to be brought to scientific attention were those 

at Florissant, discovered' in 1873 by D~. A. C. 

Peale, of _ the Hayden Geological Survey. 

Lake Florissant was a small lake,. approximately 5 miles in length and n.'ot much if any 

€xceeding a mile in width, occupying a tmountain valley with its laterals eroded in granite by 

stream action. The present altitude of the 

lake beds is a little more than 5,000 feet above 

sea level. The composition of these beds is 

described. by Henderson 1 as follows: I 

The beds are composed chiefly of volcanic ashes, mud, 

and sand, the component particles of which are generally 

somewhat though not very much worn by the kction of 

water. The conclusion reached in both field and laboratory is that the deposits were· formed largely by !volcanic 

ashes from repeated eruptions falling upon the surface of 

the water and settling to the bottom, assorted by !the sluggish lake currents; also by mud and ashes falling or flowing into position where they were rapidly washed into the 

lake by rains, streams, and waves '.vithout much krinding. 

The Florissant lake beds have provef to be 

highly fossiliferous, perhaps more abundantly 

so than any other deposits in the world.! They 

are especially rich in remains of plants and 

insects. During the period of nearly 5e years 

since their discovery these fossil riches have 

been abundantly exploited, and . they re now 

known to include more than 1,000 sp~cies of 

insects and nearly 250 species· of plants 1

• • 

The Florissant lake beds were long supposed 

to be unique, but the more -and 'more intensive 

geologic work prosecuted in the Rocky ~fountain . region, especially within. the last -2p. years, 

has · disclosed . a number· of other .lake.,. bed 

deposits i:t;J. the San Juan Mountain region of. 

south-central Colorado. . T,he . object ~ of the 

present paper is .to bring to scientific· attention 

the location, present known extent, and flora 

of these scattered lake beds. The desqription 

of · the flora is purely preliminary and will 

undoubtedly be greatly increased . with more 

thorough exploration. 

The plants described in the following pages 

were' all collected from rocks deposited during 

the volcanic period of the San Juan Mountain 

region, though from several .different formations. The lake beds aggregate some thousands of feef in thickness, and there is evidence 

to show that several of the formational units 

were separated by periods of extensive erosion, 

during which canyons were cut to the depth of 

several thousand feet. The position in the 

geologic column can· be understood from the 

accompanying genera~ized section, which has 

been supplied by E. S. Larsen, of the United 

States Geological Survey. 

Mr~ Larsen makes the following statement: I 

The periods of erosion separating these formations were 

all of sufficient length to develop canyons several thousand 

feet deep and a youthful topography comparable to that 

.of the present San Juan Mountains. This no doubt repre-

.sents a very great number of years but only a small fraction 

of the time required to develop a mature topography. 

The most abundant and best-preserved ·plant remains 

were collected from the Creede formation .. This formation 

is made up chiefly of thin-bedded rhyoli_te tuff i:q. its lower 

part, but it carries much gravel, and some lava flows in its 

.upper part. Some travertine is present ... The formation 

was deposited in a deep, steep-walled basin that w:as cut 

in rocks of the Potosi volcanic serief'l and that coincides 

approximately with the present valley of the Rio Grande 

from Wagon Wheel Gap westwa;rd to th~ mouth of Trout 

. Creek, a distance of about. 25 mi_les, but was cons.iderably 

narrower. The maximum thickp.ess is pver 2,000 feet. 

·The best plant remains were collec~ed from the thiiJ,ly laminated tuffs in the lower part of the forma~ion. The cliffs 

exposed above Seven:mi,le Bridge are about 100. feet high 

. and are almost continuous Oil, the northwest bank of the 

1 Henderson, Junius; Colorado ·univ. Studies, vol. 3, .p}l. 1i 5-151, 1906. . river for over ·a mile. 

183 

I 

1. 
184 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1922. 

The localities and the species found at each are listed 

below. 

Cross. No. La G. 2 [5951]. Crude formation, La Garita 

quadrangle, Colo. Ridge north of stream which passes Hot 

Spring Hotel at altitude of 9,000 feet: 

Minute fragments of bark, coniferous leaves, etc., 

. but nothjng determinable. 

Cross. 'No. La G. 24 [5952): Cree.de formation,· south 

bank of Rio Grande 150 yards above wagon bridge, 3~ miles 

below Creede, Colo.: 

Feather of bird. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Ribes protomelaenum Cockerell. 

Rubus? inquirendus Knowlton, n. sp. 

Vitis florissantella Cockerell. 

Odostemon marginata (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. 

comb. 

Odostemon hakeaefolia (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. 

comb. 

Sterculia aceroides Knowlton, n. sp. 

Phyllites, two sp. 

From the foregoing lists it appears that 5 

of the 8 collections and no less than 18 of Fragments. 

Cross. No. La G. 93 [5953). Creede formation, west side the 19 forms enumerated come from the Creede 

of Rio Grande one-fourth mile north of Sevenmile Bridge, formation. From beds believed to belong to 

below Creede, Colo., near boundary of San Cristobal quad- the Huerto formation the single collection 

rangle: yielded three named species, all of which 

Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp. occur also in the Creede formation. 

Abies rigida Knowlton, n. sp. 

Myrica myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. A complete list of forms described in this. 

Feather of bird. paper is as follows: 

Cross. No. S. C. 1566 [5954]. Huerto formation, in a Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp. 

lens 100 yards long, N. 3no E. of houses at north end of Pinus similis Knowlton, n. sp. 

Lake Santa Maria, San Cristobal quadrangle, Colo., alti- Pinus florissanti? Lesquereux. 

tude 10,350 feet: Pinus coloradensis Knowlton, n. sp. 

Pinus similis Knowlton, n. sp. Abies rigida Knowlton, n. sp. 

Rihes protomelaenum Cockerell. Abies longirostris Knowlton, n. sp. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell? Sabina linguaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Phyllites potentilloides Knowlton, n. sp. Populus lesquereuxi Cockerell. 

Cross. 1911. No. La G. 536 [6198). Creede formation, Alnus? larseni Knowlton, n. sp. 

west side of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, near Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Creede, Colo., altitude 8,800-9,000 feet: Ribes protomelaenuni Cockerell. 

Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp. Rubus? inquirendus Knowlton n. sp. 

Abies rigida Knowlton, n. sp. Vitis florissantella Cockerell. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. Odostemon marginata (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. 

Odostemon marginata (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. comb, 

comb. Odostemon hakeaefolia (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. Vitis fiorissantella Cockerell. comb. 

Populus lesquereuxi Cockerell. Sterculia aceroides Knowlton, n. sp. 

Insect (beetle?). Phyllites potentilloides Knowlton, n. sp. 

Feathers. Phyllites, two sp. 

Cross. 1914. No. 516 [6889). Conejos t?) formation, 

Saguache quadrangle, Colo., gulch west of Henderson On eliminating the forms not named there 

Mountain, about ll miles north of Saguache River: remain 8 species described as new and & 

Coniferous wood, not further studied. previously known species. As all these preCross. 1914. No. 437 [6858]. Saguache quadrangle, viously known species are found in the lake 

Colo., rhyolite tuff in railroad cut below (west<..~~ Marshall beds at Florissant, Colo., it seems reasonable 

Pass, where railroad crosses gulch at Shavano siding; geologic position uncertain but probably considerably below to conclude that the age of the lake beds of 

Conejos formation: the Creede formation is the same as that of 

· Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp.? the Florissant beds, namely, upper Miocene. 

Fragments not determinable. From the Huerto formation were obtained 

Larsen. 1916. [7242]. Creede formation, north bank I . d · (P · · · "l" Pl 

f R. G d s ·

1 B "d b c d c 1 1 three name speCies ~nus s~m~ ~, anera o 10 ·ran e near evennn e n ge, a ove ree e, o o .. : · . . . 

Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp. . myr~caefoha, and R~bes protomelaenum) and 

Pinus similis Knowlton, n. sp. an unamed Phyllites. All three of the named 

Pinus coloradensis Knowlton, n. sp. species are found in the Creede formt\tion; 

Pinus florissanti? Lesquereux. and two of them are well-known Florissant-· Abies rigida Knowlton, n. sp. · Th n1 h 11 · h f 

S b. 1· f 1· (L ) c k 11 sp_eciCs. e o y ot er co ectwn-t at rom a 1na mguae o 1a esquereux oc ere . . . . Alncis? larseni Knowlton, n. sp. Marshall Pass-contains a single doubtfully 

Populus lesquereuxi Cockerell. identified form (Pinus crossii?) and detached 
Geologicjormatilms in a part of 11ouJhwestern Colorado. 

P latoro-Summlt'\'ille oilstrlrt' soutbwe-;tem C«o- I 

rado. { Pattoo, H. B. (quoting unpuiJ!isb Croodedistrkt,.outb nero Colorado. (Em- namrs or Whitman Cr.· nnd E. . LA nl. mODS, W. H., end Larsen, E. ·.,U.S. Oeol. 

Colocndo Goo!. survey Bull. 13, •vitb mnp, 1~17 ) un-ey Bull. 71 • tro:!.) 

Hinsdale Yolcanic series. 

I Quartz latite porphyry dikes. Mio- cene. 

Fisher quartz latite. 0;-3 .+. feet. I Fisher quar~z latite. ~amcd for x~es m VlClnlty of 0-100 ± i t 

Fisher Mountalll, Crecde quad.rangle.] ee · 

fiocene. 

I Creede formation. 0- 2,000± feet. 

Lake beds of tuff with some flow 

of quartz latite in upper part. Miocene. 

n Juan Mountain region, southwestern Colorado. (Cross, Whitmnn. folios of U. S. Oeol. urvey Oeol. Atlas and other published reports.) 

Hinsdale volcanic series. 0-1,200± 

feet. Probably Miocene or Plio- cene. Lava flow of rhyolite, an- desite, and basalt. amed in 1911 

( . . Geol. urvey Bull. 478, p_. 22), 

for important development in Hinsdale County, Colo. 

Intrusive rhyolite, andesite, Ja.tite, 

and quartz monzonite porphyry. 

--.--------------------------~~--~~~- ~ 

~ 

~ UJ 

() 

·a 

Piedra formation . r A series of volcanic flows, witn subordinate 

tuff, predominantly of rhyolite 

and quartz latite. 0-2,000+ 

feet. eparated from underlying Huerto formation by an ero- sion interval. amed for ex- posures in Piedra Peak, San 

Cristobal quadrangle, Colo.] 

Huerto formation. [A series of 

andesitic flows and tUff breccias, 0-2,000+ feet thick, which com- monly overlie the Alboroto for- mationratherregularly. amed 

for occurrence on Huerto Peak, 

in the southern part of the San 

Cristobal quadrangle, Colo., west 

of fluerto Creek.) 

~ 1---------- ~ 

'al 

~ 

A.lboroto iormation. [A seri of 

quartz 1:\titc and rhyolite !lows 

with somo tuff. o-::!,000+ feet. 

Sopa.raLed from Summitville an- desite by an erosion interval. 

Named ior occurrence in Albo- roto Mountain, in the southeast corner of the San Cri tobal quad- rangle, Colo.) 

Summitville andesite. [ amed 

for exposures near Summitville, 

Colo. o-3,000+ feet.] 

Treasure Mountain latite. [ a.med 

for ex:posures on Treasure Mountain, m the northwestern part 

of the u.mmitville quadrangle. 

0-1,000+ feet.] 

Palisade andesite (Conejos formation). [Palisade has long been 

preoccupied by the Palisade 

diabase of ew Jersey. The name adopted by the U. S. Geol. 

Survey for these rocks is Conejos 

formation, derived from their 

exposures along Conejos River. 0-3,000+ feet.] 

I 

Q;' 

1::1 

8 

0 

~ 

ill ·g 

., 

u 

·a 

~ 

0 

;> 

'al 

~ 

Xelson Mountain quartz latite. Q-350 feet. 

Rat Creek quartz latite. 

Q-500 feet. 

Quartz latite tuff. Q-500 

feet. 

Andesite. D-500 feet. 

~ 1---------------------1 ;:l 

to Intrusive andesite. 

~1 --1 

1l Tridymite latite. D-4.00 feet. 

p.:: 

Windy Gulch 

rhyolite 

breccia. 

100-200+ 

feet. 

Horn blend 

quartzlatite 

200 feet. 

Rhyolite tuiT 

(to east). 

o-200 feet. Mammoth 

Mountain 

rhyolite. o-1,000 f et. 

Equity quartz latite. o-1,000 feet. 

Phoenix Park quartz latite. 0-500 feet. 

Intrusive rhyolite. 

Campbell Mountain rhyo- lite. 0- 1,000 feet. 

Willow reek rhyolite. 

1 0- 1,000+ feet. 

~I 

Outlet Tunnel quartz latite. 25Q-350+ feet. 

Potosi volcanic erie . o-2,000± feet, 

fiocene. Lava flows of rhyolite, 

quartz latite, andesite, and tuff. 

Locally divisible into several formations. amed in 1899 (l . S. 

Geol. urvey Geol. Atlas, Telluride folio, o. 57), for velopmen~ 

on Potosi Peak, ilverton quadrangle, Colo. 

--L---------------------------- ---L--------------------------~~~~~~~~~ 

Silverton volcanic series. 0-4,000± 

feet. Probably Oligocene or early :Miocene. Succ on of flows of 

andesite la.tit , rhyoli.te1 ~uff, ~d 

breccia. Locally dlVlSlble mto 

several formations. amed in 1901 

( . . Geol. urvey Bull. 1 21 p. 32) 

for extensive development m SilYerton quadrangle, olo. 

an Juan tuff. 0- 3,000± feet. Probably Eoc ne. eri of stratified 

and water-laid andesi tic tuffs, breccias, and agglomerate . amed in 

1 96 ( olorado ci. oc. Proc., vol. 

5 pp. 225-24.1 for important dev'elopment in an Juan Mountaius, 

olo. 

Lake Fork breccia.. o-1,000± feet. 

Probably Eocene. Chie~y chaotic 

a.ndesitic flow and brecCias locally deYeloped in the ncompahgre and 

adjoining quadrangles, Colo. llere 

named by \Thitman r and E . S. 

Larsen for expo urea on the Lake 

Fork of Gunnison River, in the 

l ncompahgre quadrangle, Colo. 

Telluride conglomerate. 0-1,000 feet. 

Probably Eocene. Coarse con- glomerate containing pebbles and 

boulders of schist, granite, quart~­

ite, lim ne, and other Paleo1.mc rocks, with locally fine sandy lime- stones. riginaUy named " an :lligu I formation ' in 1 96 (Colorado ci. c. Proc., vol. 5, pp. 

225-241) for e.'<posures on north 

side oi • an Iiguel River in the 

Yicinity of Telluride, olo. an ¥iguel being preoccupied by a Cretaceous formation of Texas, this 

conglom rate was in 1905 ( •. . Geol. urvey eol. Atl , ilv~n 

folio, No. 120) renamed Tellurtde 

conglomerate. 

91(),1 •-23. (Face p . 184.) 
FOSSIL PLANTS .-OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO. 185 

leaves of Pinus and probably Abies. This pines and the hard pines, the former known 

collection is supposed to be much older than by their cluster of leaves in fives or fours. 

the others, but its position is somewhat un- The next in · abundance and interest are the 

certain. two species of Odostemon, the genus to which 

So far as present known facts go it appears the well-known Oregon grape belongs. Both 

that the same flora ranges through the entire species-if they are really distinct-occur also 

thickness of these lake deposits. Although in the Florissant beds, and it is believed that 

the formational units involved are hundreds of they are correctly placed generically, as they 

feet thick, and although many of these units agree in all essential particulars with the living 

are separated _ by unconformities representing species. Four living species of Odostemon are 

periods of erosion during which thousands of now found in the Rocky Mountain area, and it 

feet of beds were cut out, the deposition of the would seem that they are the direct descendants 

whole series occupied relatively so_ short a of the Miocene forms. 

time that the changes in conditions do not None of the other genera (Populus, Alnus, 

appear to be reflected in the flora. Of course Ribes, VitiS) offer features of particular bio-

:subsequent studies and collections may modify logic interest. The species referred with some 

this conclusion, but it is all that can be said at question to Rubus is a small spray of flowers and 

present. immature fruit that if not actually a member of 

The . flora of these lake beds as described this genus is certainly very strmigly suggestive 

in this paper is so smail that it is perhaps · of it. 

hardly worth while to attempt any extensive The climatic requirements of this little flora 

discussion of the affinity, probable origin, and would seem to be temperate, perhaps cool 

.climatic requirements of the species included, temperate, but it is still too small to warrant 

yet they show a number of biologic features a very positive conclusion. 

of considerable interest. The most abundant 

element in the flora consists of the Coniferae, 

which comprise · over a third of the species 

and nearly half of the individual specimens. 

Although nine forms of conifers have been 

reported from the Florissant lake beds, all 

but one or two are very rare as inq.ividuals. 

It is probable that the increased elevation of 

the Creede deposits may account for the abun-

·dance of conifers, though more extended exploration will doubtless reduce this apparent 

preponderance. The Jost interesting of these 

·conifers are the species of Abies, of which the 

specimens collected represent leafy branches 

.and cone scales. It 1 is possible ' that the 

branches and scales may belong to a single . - I species, but as they are wholly unconnected 

it has been necessary /to give them separate 

names. The cone sca~es indicate the group 

·of Abies in which the bracts adhere firmly to 

the scale and are prolo~ged above into a long, 

:slender tip, which may be as much as 4 centimeters in length. This group seems to be 

most closely related tb Abies venusta Koch, 

the so-called silver fir J of California. This is 

the first time, at leastJ in this country, that 

~one s?ales of this typie have been observ~d. The pmes represent bpth the soft or white 

Pinus crossii Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLI, figures 3, 8-10. 

Leaves in clusters of five, stout, rigid, slightly 

incurved, sharp pointed, 2.5 to about 4 centimeters long; sheaths of the leaf clusters deciduous. 

· This species is represented by a number of 

specimens, several of the best of which are figured. lt is assumed that the normal number of 

leaves is five in each cluster, but there are a few 

examples in which only three can be made out. 

Thus, {n the fragment of a branch shown in figure 3, there are two clusters, each with three 

leaves that otherwise agree with the five.:. 

leaved clusters. Although it is not impossible 

for the leaves to vary in number from three to 

five in the same species, it seems improbable in 

the present case, and, as stated above, the normal numbe~ is presumed to be five. 

This species seems clearly to belong to the 

group of soft or white pines, not only as shown 

by the leaves being in clusters of five but more 

particularly by the comple'te absence of the 

sheath to the leaf bases. It seems to be most 

closely related to P.inus albicaulis Engelmann, 

a species of alpine slopes and exposed ridges 
186 SHOR.TER CONTRIBUTIONS •ro GENERA~ GEOLOGY, 1922. 

·throughout the Rocky Mountain region, at altitudes ranging from $,000 to 12,000·feet. 

Two speci~s based on leaves· have been described from the lake .beds at Florissant-Pinus 

hambachi Kirchner, 2 supposed to have the 

leaves in clusters of three,_ and Pinus wheeleri 

Cockerell,3 with the leaves in fives. In the 

original description of P. wheeleri the leaves are 

said to be 12 centimeters or more in length, but 

in descriptions of later specimens the length has 

been given as somewhat less. Nothing is said 

as to the sheath in this species, so this feature 

can not be compared with P. crossi·i. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

· of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo.; rhyolite tuff of unknown age but probably considerably older than Conejos formation, 

below (west of) Marshall Pass, Saguache quadrangle, Colo. 

Pinus sirnilis Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLI, figures 11, 12. 

. · Pinus fiQrissanti? L_esquereux. 

Plate 4LI, .figure 7. 

Pinus jlorissanti L~squereux, U. S. Geol.: Survey Ten _ 

·Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiary floras)~ 

p. 138, pl. 21, fig. 13t 1883. 

The collection contains a single large frag-· 

mentary cone that seems to be ·the same as 

Pinus jlorissanti Lesquereux. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Grande, near .Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

Pinus. coloradensis Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLI, figure 6. 

Cone with a ·very short, thick stalk, ovoid,. 

very obtuse at apex, 3 centimeters long,. 

2.3 centimeters in diameter; scales much_ 

thickened at the end; apparently with a short. 

sprne. 

The example figured is the only one of this . 

type observed in the collections. It is fairlyperfect except for a few scales at t~e. bas_e. 

By making an impression in cl~y the original 

appearance is -restored, as shown in figure 6. 

Leaves in clusters of four, stout, straight, At first it was presumed that this specimen 

4.5 to 5.5 centimeters long; sheath of· the leaf, was probably the cone of Pinus crossii, with_ 

clusters absent. which it was associated, but whereas the abIt is w1th considerable hesitation that this sence of persistent sheaths to the leaf clusters. 

form is described as a new species, as it may be proves that form to belong to the _ soft ·pines, 

-only a slightly larger form . of Pinus . cross~i., the· thickened tips of the scales in the present . 

. The base of the leaves is indistinguishable In form show it clearly to belong to the har~ 

appearance in the. two forn;J.s, and ; the pre~e~~e pines. This . form -is, for instance, not greatly 

of only four leaves in the cluster of P. s~rn~l?:S unlike the cone of Pinus arizonica Engelmann,. 

may be due to .accident, th.ougP, there is no but · this resemblance is doubtfully to . be 

. evidence of it in the best preserved e~ample. ··interpreted as a real relationship. . 

A single detached leaf on the . same .Piece ~f . . The . only fossil . species of the ·region and 

·matrix is the largest one observed· (5.5 centi-.. age with which this may be compared . is. 

meters). . . . Pinus jlorissanti Lesquereux, 5 from· the FlorisIndividual leaves of this fo:m are rndis~. sant lake beds, but this is a cone 10 centitinguishable from leaves o~ P~nus hambach~ meters or more in length and 6 centimeters in 

Kirchner, 4 from the . Flor1s~ant lake be~s, diameter and moreover, the thickened tips 

but that species is said · to have. the leaves In of the co~e sc~les appear to be· different. 

clusters of three, and the resemblance .may be Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

only superficial. · . · of Rio· Grande, near Sevenmile Bridge, ·Creede, Occurrence: Creede formatwn, north bank C I 

of Rio Grande, near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 0 o. 

Colo.; Huerto formation, north end of Lake 

Santa Maria, San Cristobal quadrangle, Colo. 

2 Kirchner, W. C. G., St. Louis Acad. Sci. Trans., vol. 9, p. 179, pl. 13, 

fig. 3, 1898. ' 

a Cockerell, T. D. A., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 24, p. 78, pl. 6, 

figs. 5, 11, 1908. 

·4 Kirchner, W. C. G., St. Louis Acad. Sci. Trans., vol. 9, p. 174, pl.13, 

fig. 3, 1898. . 

Abies rigida Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLI, ~gures 1, 2, 4, 5. 

The ·collection from . Creede contains a 

number of leafy branches that appear to belongto the genus Abies, but whether they represent 

o Lesquereux, Leo, U. S. Geol. Survey Terr. Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous. 

and Tertiary floras), pl. 21, fig. 13, 1883. 
I 

FOSSIL PLANTS . OF SOUTH-CENTRAL .CDLORADO.' 187 

more than one· species is. difficult to decide. 

The one shown in figure 5 is , a segment from 

a branch and is about 6 centimeters long, 

· 6 millimeters in diameter at the base, ·and 5 

millimeters at the ·ttpex. It shows the scars 

of leav~s disposed in oblique rows. on· one 

side the leaves are attached, these being 

apparently rather rigid, slightly arched ·upward, and obtusely pointed at the tips; they 

are about 12 millimeters long. . The branch 

shown in figure 2 is the tip of a branch about 

4 millimeters in diameter and has the leaves· 

preserved on all sides. The leaves are much 

the same as in figure 5. Leaf scars are present 

at several points on the branch. Figure 4 

is also the tip of a branch that retains most 

of the leaves. The leaves seem ·narrower 

and less rigid than in the other specimens mentioned; they are 2 centimeters or more in 

length. The specimen given in figure 1 is 

a shoot segment from which most ·of the leaves 

have fallen and is figured m.ainly because it 

shows the leaf scars so plainly. The leaves 

appear to agree most closely with those of 

figure 2. . . 

It is possible that the specime.ns 'shown in 

figures 1 and 2 are specifically distinct from 

those of figures 4 and 5, but as only one type 

of Abies cone has been found it seems best 

to keep them together frir the ,present. It 

is of course not at all certain ~hat the .Pone 

scales belong to either o( the branches, though 

it is perhaps a fair inference that they do. . · 

Occurrence; Creede for:rp.at~on, north bank 

of Rio Grande, near Seveninile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

Abies ·longirostris Knowlton, n. sp. 

Pl~te XLII, figures 1, 2. 

Cone scales thin, fiat, much broader than lo~g 

(16 to 18 millimeters wide, 8 to 10 millimeters 

long exclusive of the basal attached point); 

bracts of cone scales oblong, firmly attached to 

the scales and deciduous with them, prolonged 

above into a slender, rigid tip 2 to 4 centimeters long. · 

The collection contains a number of detached cone scales that appear certainly to 

belong to Abies. They are excellently preserved, the two 'selected' for figuring being 

practically perfect. They show both sides of 

the scale. The one in figure 1 shows the back 

of the scale with the ' :narrowly oblong bract 

firmly adhering to it and prolonged above into 

a rigid tip or spine fully 4 centimeters long. 

The other ~fig. 2) exhibits the upper side of the 

cone scale with the bract · prolonged above it 

for more tfan 4 centimeters. 

This spscies appears· to be most closely related to A~ies yenusta Koch,_ the. so-called silver 

fir of the $anta Lucia Mountains in Monterey 

County, C~lif.; ,at least it agrees with that 

species in orne important particulars, such as 

the firm consolidation of the bract with the 

cone scale~, and its prolongation into the long, 

slender ti~. . · 

Occurre! ce-: Creede formation, north bank of 

Rio Gran· · e near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. · . 

Sabina linguaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Sabina linguaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell, Colorado 

Univ. ~tudies, vol. 3, p. 175, 1906; Am. Mus. Nat. 

Knowlto , U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 51, p. 249, 1916. 

Hist. iull., vol. 24, p. 79, 1908. . 

W1:ddri71:gtoni linguaefolia Lesquereux, U. S. Geol. Survey T rr. Rept. , vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiary 

floras), p. 139, pl. 21, figs. 14, 14a, 1883. .· 

This· ch racteristic species is represented by 

a s.ingle brt nqh with two .or three short branch~ ~~. . . 

Occurre ce: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Gr nde near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

O.l.)ulus lesquereuxi Cockerell. 

Plate XLIV. ' 

Populus lesq ereuxi Cockerell, Torrey Bot. Club Bull., 

vol. 33 p. 307' 1906. ' 

Populus heer i Saporta. Lesquereux, U. S. Gedl. Survey 

Terr. ept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiary floras), 

p. 157, pl. 30, figs. 1-8; pl. 31, fig. 11,1883. 

The bas t portion with its petiole complete 

of a very l rge leaf is all that was found of this 

species. he petiole is nearly 3 millimeters 

thick and .5 centimeters long. The width of 

the blade s slightly more th8tn 6 centimeters. 

This lea is similar in size to the largest one 

figured by Lesquerelix (op. cit., pl. 30, fig. 5), 

which lac E! the basal portion and the petiole, 

which the resent leaf supplies. Lesquereux's 

leaf must ave been nearly or quite 24 centimeters in l ngth. 

Occurre ce: Creede formation, west bank of 

Rio Gran e nea.r S~venmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. • 
188 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS. TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1922. 

Alnus? l~rseni Knowlton, n. sp. 

· Plate XLII, figure 3. 

Leaf Gmall, evidently firm in t~xture, elliptical, about equally narrowed to both base and 

apex; margin sharply serrate; petiole long, 

slender; nervation faintly preserved) consisting of a relatively strong midrib and seven or 

eight pairs of thin secondaries at an angle of 

about 40°; finer nervation not retained. 

Only a single specimen of this form with its 

counterpart was found in the collection. It is 

regularly elliptical, 6 centimeters l 'lng and 2.8 

centimeters wide, with the petiolt preserved 

for a length of 1.5 centimeters. 

' I am a little in doubt as to the generic reference of this leaf. In living species of Alnus 

the margin is often doubly serrate, sometimes 

crenate-dentate, and only rarely-as, for instance, in Alnus maritima Nuttall-simply 

serrate. The present leaf is similar to Alnus 

corrallina Lesquereux, 6 . from the Miocene of 

California, but it has fewer, more irregular 

secondaries. The finer nervation can not be 

compared. 

The species is named in honor of Esper S. 

Larsen; of the United States Geological Survey, 

who collected it. 

. Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank of 

Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell. 

Plate XLIII, figures 16, 17. 

Planera myricaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell, Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 24, p. 88, 1908. 

Knowlton, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 51, p. 266, pl. 

21, fig. 2, 1916. ' 

Planera longifolia myricaefolia Lesquereux, U . . S. Geol. 

Survey Terr. Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiary floras), p. 161, pl. 19, figs. 14-27, 1883. 

Rubus? inquirendus Knowlton, n. sp. 

· Plate XLIII, figure 11. 

Inflorescence racemose, main axis zigzag, 

about 14 millimeters long, flowers scattered, 

pediceled, the pedicels slender, 2 o~ 3 milli~ 

meters .long; calyx inferior, five-p~rted; fruit 

( ?) obscure. 

It is with some hesitation that this little inflorescence is referred to Rubus. It is very 

small and delicate, and the preservation is 

not all that could be desired. Neither the 

main axis nor the pedicels are provided with 

prickles or glands, nor is each pedicel subtended by a bract, as in many living species; 

but, on the other hand, there are a number 

of recent species without' all or some of these 

features. The calyx is very obscure. It appears certainly to be inferior and five-parted, 

though only three lobes are preserved in any 

one flower. . The central part of the "flower" . 

is so poorly preserved that its exact nature 

can not be made out with certainty. It may 

consist of a definite number or possibly a mass 

of carpels. 

It is possibly unwise to attempt even ·a tentative placing of this fragment, but fossil 

flowers and fruits are so rare that even poorly 

preserved specimens may have sorne value . 

This form is perhaps definite enough to permit 

its recognition if again found. 

Occurrence: ·Creede formation, north bank of 

Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

Ribes protomelaenum Cockerell. 

Plate XLII, figures ~9. 

Ribes protomelaenum Cockerell, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

Bull., vol. 24, p. 93, pl. 7, fig. 15, 1908. 

This species was founded on a single example 

from the Floris~ant lake beds and is described 

The collection from Creede contains about a \as being about 4.6 centimeters long and fully 

dozen leaves that are undoubtedly identical 6 centimeters broad. It is described as having 

with this species. They are smaller than the the base deeply cordate, "the sides of the , 

average leaves figured by Lesquereux, though basal portion rounded, without lobes." The 

not smaller than the smallest one. figure shows that the basal portion is entirely 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank absent on one side, and the other appears. 

of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, rather indefinite. 

Colo. Huerto formation, nor.th end of Lake The collection from Creede contains about 

Santa Maria, San Cristobal quadrangle, Colo. a dozen leaves referred to this species, of 

. ' . I various sizes and very perfectly preserved. 6 Lesquereux, Leo, U.S. Geol. Survey Terr. Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous • • · 

and Tertiary floras), pl. iil, figs.l-3, 1883. · They are all d1stmctly five-lobed,, and the 

• 
FOSSIL PLANTS OF SOUTH -CEN COLORADO. -

bBSal lobes are smaller than the upper lobes 

and in some specimens nearly· entire. · The 

largest leaf (fig. 8) is 5.3 centimeters long to 

the top of the petiole and 5.7 ceentimeters 

broad. It has the petiole preserved for a 

len~th of 1 ~entir1eter. The ~ext inl s~ze (fig. 

9) Is absolutely perfect and .!lS 3 ce:p.trmeters 

long and 4 centimeters br-oad between the 

upper lobes. The petiole ·eomp1ete is 1.8 

centime~ers long. Still ~maller ler ves are 

shown rn figures 5-7. F1gure ? rfpresents 

an almost perfect leaf L7 oontuneters long 

and 2.3 centimeters wide, with the petiole 1.2 

centimeters long. · I 

Ribes protomelaenum resembles closely a 

number of living species. Cockerell compared 

it to Ribes nigrum Linne and R. hud~onia~um 

· Richards, but even more dearly it 8eems to 

me to resemble R. rubrum Linne 1 and R. 

prostratum L'Heritier. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge1

, Creede, 

Colo.; Huerto formation, north end 1 of Lake 

. Santa Maria, San Cristobal quadrangle, Colo. 

Vitis fiorissantella Cockerell. 

Plate XLII, figure 4. 

Vitis jlorissantella Cockerell, Am. Mllil. Nat. ~t. Bull., 

vol. 24, p. 102, pl. 7, fig. 18, 1908. j . 

. A single leaf with its counterpar~ clearly 

belongs: to this species. It is even smaller 

than the : type, being only about 22 millimeters long and 23 millimeters bto~d. It 

lacks the basal portion but otherwise agrees 

with the type. 1 

• 

Occurrence: Creede formation, west bank 

of Rio Grande near Sevenmile BridgJ, Cree<J,e, 

Colo. 

Odostemon marginata(?) (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. comb. · 

. . Plate XLIII, .figures 7-10. . . . 

Hedera marginala Lesquereux, U. S. Geol.. Survey Terr. 

Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiaq floras), p. 

17~, pl. ·40, fig. 8, 1883. . ·' .f 

Leaves pinnate 0), at least trifoliolate, 

petiole short, stout; leaflets coriaceous in 

texture, closely sessile at the top of thf( petiole, 

nearly circular or broadly ovate, very obtusely 

wedge-shaped, truncate or even slightly heart..: 

shaped at base, the margin with usually 'three 

91048°--23----113 

,. 

I. 

strong t eth or lobes on each side, the lobes; 

sharp-po· ted and apparently' spine-tipped.;: 

nervatio palmate from the base, the middle· 

rib slig tly stronger, other nervation much · 

joined r sometimes running to the lateral 

lobes. 

The s ecimens from Creede that are hert:Y 

figured ave been the basis of. a good deal of 

study a d not a lit.tle speculation. It was. 

early r cogniz~d that they were certainly 

identical ·with the Hedera marginata of Lesquereux, bu't the question of their relationship· 

was mu h in doubt. It seemed improbable, 

that the were correctly referred to Hedera;·-

in fact, Lesquereux expressed the opinion 

when th species was first described that he 

knew " othing to which this leaf may be' 

related,' and others have expressed the same· 

uncerta· ty. It was. not until the specimen 

with the leaflets attached was discovered that 

.the a:ffin ty of this form was suspected. This 

specime (fig. 7) has one leaflet complete and 

the base of the other two, together with. the 

perfect · etiole. The best leaflet is ·10 millimeters l ng and 7 or 8 millimeters broad. The 

spread o the whole leaf should be· about 22 

millimet rs; the length of the petiole is 8 millimeters. The best preserved leaflet has three 

teeth on the lower side and two on the upper 

side. T e terminal leaflet has . only the obtusely w dge-shaped basal portion preserved. 

Anoth r well-preserved leaflet is the one' 

shown in figure 9. It is slightly larger than the. 

one just escribed, being· about 18 millimeters 

long an 17 millimeters wide. It has large' 

spine-tip ed teeth and in size, teeth, and n<~rvation c osely resembles the type of Hedera. 

marginat . Still larger, but so fragmentary 

that-it c n· not be accurately measured, is the 

one seen in figure. 10. This has the nervation 

well pres rved and also the spine on one of the 

teeth. he largest specimen-figure 8-is 

nearly erfect. It is oblique and slightly 

heart-sh ed at the base and has the usual 

strong · te th and the characteristic nervation. 

Its lengt is about 28 millimeters and its width 

about 30 millimeters. 

The ge us Odostemon Rafinesque (Mahonia 

of .N utta l; ·Berberis section Mahonia of authors) co prises about 20 species in central 

Asia,· Ch a,. North America, and adjacent 

Mexico. They are unarmed shrubs with pin-
190 SHORTER CONTRIBUTIONS TO GENERAL GEOLOGY, 1922. 

nately compound spinose-toothed evergreen 

leaves. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Grande, near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

Odostemon hakeaefolia (Lesquereux) Knowlton, n. comb. 

Plate XLIII, :figures 1-6. 

Lomatia hakeaefolia Lesquereux, U. S. Geol. Survey Terr. 

Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous and Tertiary floras), p. 166, 

pl. 32, :fig. 19, 1883. . 

Lomatites haekaefolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell, Am. Mus. 

Nat. Hist. BulL , vol. 24, p. 89, 1908. 

Knowlton, U. S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 51, p. 267, pl. 

26, :figs. 1, 2, 1916. 

Carduus jlorissantensis Cockerell, Torrey Bot. Club Bull., 

vol. 33, p. 311, text :fig. 6, 1906. 

'?Odostemon }lorissantensis Cockerell, Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. 

Bull., vol. 24, p. 91, 1908. 

The leaves of Odostemon are pinnate, and it 

is assumed that the leaves of the present fossil 

species were similarly arranged, but as none 

have thus far been found attached it is impossible to be certain. The leaflets, if this has 

been correctly interpreted, were closely sessile, 

with an obtusely wedge-shaped or nearly truncate base and slender, sharp-pointed apex. 

They are lanceolate in general outline, with 

usually three teeth on each side; these teeth are 

separated by rounded sinuses and are spinous 

tipped, as is the apical lobe. The nervation 

consists of a relatively strong midrib and a 

rather loose network of veins that supply the 

sev.erallobes. The leaflets are evidently thick 

· and coriaceous in texture and have the margin 

all around thickened as if bound with a cord, 

precisely as in the living species. The length 

varies between 2 and 4 centimeters and the 

width between 1 and 2 centimeters. Some of 

the specimens, perhaps the majority, are broadest at the base, and others are broadest between the points of the upper lobes. 

If my assumption is correct, as it is now be-' 

lieved to be, this species was first described 

under the name Lomatia hakeaefolia Lesquereux 7 from material collected in the Florissant 

lake beds. It was based on a single specimen 

about 5 centimeters· long and 2.5 centimeters 

wide. It has four teeth or lobes on each side 

and no trace of nervation .except a strong . 

midrib. 

1 Lesquereux, Leo, U.S. Geol. Survey Terr. Rept., vol. 8 (Cretaceous 

and Tertiary floras), p. 166, pl. 32, fig. 19, 1883. 

Lesquereux states that his Lomatia hakeaefolia he regards as closely related tohisLomatia 

spinosa, which was described 8 at the same 

time. L. spinosa was also based on a single 

specimen about 8 centimeters long and 2.5 

centimeters wide and differs from · L. hakeae-

.folia in being deeply cut into very large, sharppointed lobes. The apical portion especially is 

drawn out into a long, slender point. There is 

no nervation preserved except a short . basal 

portion of the midrib. 

These two species are certainly congeneric 

and probably conspecifi.c. Additional examples of Lesquereux's Lomatia hakeaefolia have 

been procured at Florissant by Cockerell, 

Knowlton, and others. The leaves figured in 

my recent paper 9 on the Florissant plants are 

undoubtedly identical with L. hakeaefolia; · 

and L. spinosa of Lesquereux is only an elongated, narrow, stronger-toothed form. It is 

comparable, for instance, to the specimen 

shown in figure 1 except trs regards size, the 

latter being only about half as long. 

The leaf described by Cockerell10 as Oarduus . 

fiorissantensis undoubtedly belongs here, being indistinguishable from figure 1. The 

thickened margin and peculiar arched veins 

more or less parallel to the midrib he describes 

are characters of Odostemon. 

Cockerell11 also described as Odostemon fiorissantensis a leaflet from Florissant that probably belongs with Odostemon hakeaefolia. It 

was not figured but is said to be similar to 

Odostemon simplex (Newberry) Cockerell (Berberis simplex Newberry), from the upper 

Eocene of Bridge Creek, Oreg., except that the 

"inferior basal angle is produced into a tooth, 

so that the truncate base of the leaf is greatly 

broadened." It is about 4.2 centimeters long 

and 4.8 centimeters wide and has three teeth 

on each side, "not counting the base." This_ 

.seems to fit the description of Odostemon 

hakeaefolia, and therefore Cockerell's form has 

been referred to that species. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Gt-ande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

s Lesquereux, Leo, op. cit., p. 166, pl. 43, fig. 1. 

v Knowlton, F. H., U.S. Nat. Mus. Proc., vol. 51, p. 267, pl. 26, figs. 

1, 2, 1916. 

10 Cockerell, T. D. A., Torrey Bot. Club Bull., vol. 33, p. 311, text 

fig. 6, 1906. 

n Cockerell, T. D. A., Am. Mus. Nat. Hist. Bull., vol. 24, p. 91, 1908. 
FOSSIL PLANTS OF SOUTH -CENTRAL COLORADO. 191 

Sterculia aceroides Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLIII, figure 12. 

Leaf small, semicoriaceous in texture, rounded and truncate at the base, three-lobed, the 

· central lobe apparently much the longest and 

strongest (broken), lateral lobes short, acute, 

at an angle of about 45°; nervation obscure, 

except for the very strong midrib and the 

much lighter lateral ribs. which arise near the 

base of the blade. 

This little leaf, the only one seen in the 

collection, has the basal portion well preserved, 

but the evidently large central lobe is broken. 

The distance between the tips of the lateral 

lobes is about 3.5 centimeters. 

Two species of Sterculia have been described 

from material found in the Florissant lake 

beds-Sterculia rigida Lesquereux 12 and S. 

engleri Kirchner. 13 These species are of the 

same type, about the only difference being in 

size; they shouid probably be combined. 

· The present form differs from the Florissant 

forms in being rounded and full ·instead of 

wedge-shaped at the base and in having relatively shorter lateral lobes. The central lobe, 

to judge from the ve~y strong midrib, was 

probably very long a~d slender. The nervation, except for the three ribs, is practically 

obsolete. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio. Grande. near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

·colo. 

Phyllites sp. 

Plate XLIII, figure 15. 

Leaf minute, delicate in texture, obovate, 

rounded at the apex, long ridge-shaped at the 

base~ apparently short petioled; margin entire; 

nervation very delicate, consisting of a straight 

midrib and about three pairs of thin secondaries 

that pass up for a considerable distance; finer 

nervation obsolete. · 

This little leaf or leaflet, the only one observed in the collection, is about 7 millimeters long and 5 millimeters broad. It was 

r.pparently sessile, or nearly t:o. 

I have hesitated to assign this leaf to a definite genus, as it is so nondescript that it is 

12 Lesquercux, Leo, U.S. Geol. Survey'Terr. Rept., .;ol. 8 (Cretaceous 

and TP'.'tiary floras), p. 179, pl. 34, fig. 12, 1883. 

1a Kirchner, W. C. G., St. Louis Acad. Sci. Trans., vol. 8, p. 180, pl. 14, 

fig. 3, 1898. 

hard to place with any degree of reasonableness. It resembles a number of described 

forms, such as Oelastrus murchisoni Heer, 14 

from the Swiss Miocene, though it is much 

smaller. It is also similar to certain leaflets 

that have been ·called Leguminosites, but 

conjectures as to its affinity would hardly' 

serve any useful end. 

Occurrence: Creede fonnation, north bank 

of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede 

Colo. 

Phyllites sp. 

Plate XLIII, figure 13. 

In the collections from Creede I find the 

little leaf her~ figured, which with its counterpart is the only one noted. It is small, about 

18 millimeters long and 9 millimeters broad, 

ovate, somewhat decurrent at the base, and 

moderately pointed at the apex. The margin 

has about four relatively large, sharp-pointed 

teeth on each side. The nervationis very light, 

consisting of a straight midrib and four pairs 

of thin, opposite secondaries, which end m 

the teeth. 

It is so difficult, not· t'o say impossible, to 

place this-little leaf in the correct genus that 

it has been ref~rred without specific name to 

the nondescript genus Phyllites. 

Occurrence: Creede formation, north bank 

of Rio Grande near Sevenmile Bridge, Creede, 

Colo. 

. Phyllites potentilloides Knowlton, n. sp. 

Plate XLIII, figure 14. 

The material from Lake Santa Maria includes 

the single example figured, which appears to 

be a small compound leaf with at least seven 

leaflets. The terminal leaflet is deeply cut 

into three lanceolate segments, the margins 

of which are provided with rather remote, 

sharp teeth. The lower leaflets are sessile or 

nearly so, lanceolate-acuminate, with sharply 

toothed margins. The nervation consists of 

a very strong midrib and a few secondaries 

that seerri to enter the teeth. The whole leaf 

is about 5 centimeters long, and the lower 

leaflets are . 1.5 to 2 centimeters long and 0.5 

centimeter wide. 

.H Heer, Oswald, Flora tertiaria Helvetiae, vol. 3, pl. 121, fig. 6, 1859. 
192 

· · This spooimeh is so well preserved that seem-

. ingly it should not be difficult to place generically,' but nevertheless its generic reference is 

uncertain . . It resembles a number of things, 

particularly certain pinnate-leaved species . of 

Potentilla, such as P. hippiana Lehmann, but 

there are features that do not agree, an·d rather 

•' 

th~n make a \Vrbrig g~neri6[' :rgre}eti:ce I think 

best to place it,: atjleastitemporarily, inPhyUites. 

It ~as be~n g~v~A fSp~e¢~ . ~ame: t~~~ SlJ,ggests 

its resembLaqce to.Potentilla. r· . •• , 

Occurrence { :H:u'erto:. foxm~tion, . north end 

of Lake San ta)4ar~, 1 9~:q. c~is~~~.a.l, q-q~~r~ngle, Colo. t' . l 

i ., ;-, __ ' ll.: ,. ,· .. 

•. ' l , I ,' 

I J • '_f ' • • ~ ·, ·;! 

. ) •; ,. 

I' I I • ~ ~I ., 

i. ; 

'!·_. j 

, ... J.,, I,'{: ' 

~ , ) 1 , • ~ 'j r 

: l,r .,. ~' ' 1 ~- ;.... 

J' ' ; 'l • I • 

( . ~ ... • • ....1 .i i f .. ! . i . 

, , l 1 f ~ • ' 

, ' • .,.; ) • i j j I ' '~ ~ • 

.. • r .·. ' . 

• ;-< , ... ;·\ •. ' . \. 

: J 

! .. ~ 

,' l '·'.'. •'(' • ,f 

'_. ;•,'f•, )~ , .' :' t. tf\. 1 , I .. , ; , I 

,'I' 

• I' 

'• 
I. 

I · !:: .. 

t . 

S iXLi--· XLIV. -· 

, I i • .[ 

. '- ~~~ · ~- ~· ... 

) 
PLATE XLI. 

Page. 

FIGURES 1, 2, 4, 5. Abies rigida Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. catalog 

No3. 36505, 36507, 36508, 36509 ................ _, __ .............. _ ..• _ .. _____ .•...... 186 

6. P(;tus coloradensis Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat Mus. 

catalog No. 36506 . . ............. ......... ................ _ ................... _....... 186 

7. Pinus jlorissanti? Lesquereux, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

catalog No. 36510 .....•..... _... ........................................... .. ........ 186 

3, 8-10. Pinus crossii Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. catalog 

Nos. 36511, 36512, 36513, 36514 .................... . . . . . ... -........................... 185 

11, 12. Pinus similis Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. catalog. 

Nos. 36515, 3651G ...................... ·............................. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 186 

194 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 131 PLATE XLI 

8 

6 

1 

9 

7 

11 

3 

10 

4 5 12 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE TERTIARY LAKE BEDS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO. 
U. S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 131 PLATE XLII 

4 

1 

3 

5 

6 

2 

7 

8 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE TERTIARY LAKE BEDS OF. SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO. 
FmunEs 1, 2. A~:.~~~;~'; ~o~l~n, frolll ;;~;;~:. + C;reede,_ ~olo: .. ~- S: _Nat: ~UB: eaffi]og 

3. Az~u;: ~~~~e~~~~~~~t~~-'-~~-~~~~~~ _£~~~~~~~: -~~~~ -r-e_e_~~'- ~~~~-- _ -~~ -~·- ~~t_. -~:~s_. -~~~~~~-~~~ 

4. vi;~~;~. ~;;~t~~~~ -~~~~~~~~1-, ~~~ -~~~~~~-£~~~~~~~' .. ~r~ -~~~~~~~ -~~1~_. __ ~-- ~: -~~:~ ~~~: _c_a_t~~~~ 5-9. Ribes protomelaenum Cockerell, from Creede formatitn, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. 

catalog Nos. 36521, 36522~ 36523, 36524, 36525 .............................. ·.---. ~ .. -- ..... . 

Page. 

187 

188 

18!) 

ISS 

• 195 
PLATE XLIII. 

Page. 

FIGURES 1-6. Odostemon hakeaejolia (Lesquereux) Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. 

Nat. Mus. catalog Nos. 36526, 36527, 36528, 36529, 36530, 36531.............................. 190 

7-10. Odostemon marginata (Lesquereux) Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. 

Nat. Mus. catalog Nos. 36532, 36533, 36534, 36535 ........................... ·_.............. 189 

11. Rubus? inquirendus Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U.S. Nat. Mus. catalog 

No. 365.36 .......................... · ........................... ~..................... ... . . . . 188 

12. Sterculia aceroides Knowlton, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. catalog 

No. 36537 .................................................. ~. .. ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191 

13. Phyllites sp., from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. c~talog No. 36538. . . . . . 191 

14. Phyllites potentilloides Knowlton, from Huerto formation, north end or Lake Santa Maria, San 

Cristobal quadrangle, Colo. U. S. Nat. Mus. catalog No. 36539 .......... ~ ................. ~. 191 

15. J::.hyllites sp., from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U.S. Nat. Mus. catal~g No. 36540.... 191 

16,17. Planera myricaejolia (Lesquereux) Cockerell, from Creede formation, near Creede, Colo. U. S. 

Nat. Mus. catalog Nos. 36541, 36542 ............................... ~................ ........ 188 

196 

. I 
U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ROFESSIONAL PAPER 131 PLATE XLIII 

3 

1 2 

4 5 7 6 

9 10 11 

8 

13 

12 

14 15 16 17 

FOSSIL PLANTS FROM THE TERTIARY LAKE BEDS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO. 
U, S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 131 PLATE XLIV 

FOSSIL PLANT FROM THE TERTIARY LAKE BEDS OF SOUTH-CENTRAL COLORADO. 
, 

r 

PLATE XLIV. 

_Populus l~squereuxi Cockerell, from Creede formation, near C:r.:eede, Colo. U.S. Nat. Mus. catalog No. 36543----

197 

Page. 

187 

·'