Bulletin 3. The flora of the Raritan Formation, 1911 - State of New ...

198 THE RARITA2N FLORA.
parable with the similar variations in the leaves of the modern
Sassafras due to position and age.
There seems to be no basis for maintaining the distinction
between Aralia palmata and A. polymorpha Newb. The species
is abundant in the Raritan, and survives in the overlying Magothy
formation in a slightly modified form, which may prove
eventually to be a distinct species.
The genus Aralia, to which this and the several following
species are referred, is an important element in the Cretaceous
floras of the globe, with many species especially in the Dakota
Group and the Bohemian Cenomanian. The large number of
species, seven in all, in the Raritan furnishes corroborative evidence
of its Cenomanian age.
Occurrence. Woodbridge. ]
Collections.--N. Y. Botanical Garden.
ARALIA QUINQUEPARTITA Lesq.
Plate XX, Fig. 8; Plate XXIV, Fig. 5.
Aralia quinquepartita Lesq, Ann. Rept. U. S. Geol. and Geog.
Surv. Terr., 1871; 302, I872; Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv.
Terr., vol. I : 394, I876; Cret. FI. 9o, pl. 15, [. 6, 1874;
F1. Dakota Group, 136, 1892.
Newb., F1. Amboy Clays, ii5, pl. 4o, [. I, 2, I896; Mon.
U. S. Geol. Surv., vol. XXXV. : I23, pl. 9, f' I, 1898.
Description.--Leaves generally of large size and coriaceous
texture, from 5 era. to 17 era. in length by from 9 cm. to 17 cm.
or possibly more in greatest breadth between the tips of the
lateral lobes, petiolate. Palmately 5-lobed. Lobes long,
linear or lanceolate in outline, obtusely pointed. Terminal lobe
of the same size as the principal lateral lobes from which it is
separated by narrow but rounded sinuses extending threequarters
of the distance to the base. The ground plan of the
leaf is trilobate, with each of the lateral lobes more or Iess deeply
divided into two almost equal divisions, the basal one of which
is more or less subordinate. Primaries stout, 3 in number
NEW JERSEY GEOLOGICAL SURVEY