Quercus kootenayensis
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Authority
Hollick, Charles A. 1927. The Flora of the Saint Eugene Silts, Kootenay Valley, British Columbia. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 7: 389-428.
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Family
Fagaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Leaf somewhat bent or curved to one side, about 8 centimeters in length by 6 centimeters in maximum width, apparently oblong-ovate in shape, with a rounded-truncate base; margin wavy or broadly crenate-dentate; midrib relatively slender, and curved in conformity with the curvature of the leaf; nervation simply pinnate; secondary nerves irregularly disposed, subparallel, each terminating in one of the marginal dentitions, those on the convex side of the leaf subtending angles of about 45° with the midrib, those on the concave side subtending angles somewhat more obtuse.
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Discussion
I have not been able to match this leaf satisfactorily with leaves of any existing or fossil species of oak, although its reference to the genus Quercus appears to be correct. In connection with its marginal characters it is suggestive of the existing eastern North American species Quercus Prinus Linnaeus; but leaves of that species are always more or less narrowed to cuneate bases, whereas the base of our specimen is rounded-truncate. The general type of oak leaf with which ours may be somewhat more closely compared is represented by the Mexican species Q. tepicana Trelease; but the resemblance between them may be regarded merely as suggestive of possible closer relationship with the oaks of the southwest than with any of the eastern species.
Leaves referred to Q. Prinus were described and figured by Berry from the Pleistocene of Alabama and North Carolina, and certain of the figures last cited (loc. cit., figs. 6, 7) are suggestive of our specimen; but in each instance the narrower base serves to differentiate them. A fossil leaf that bears a somewhat closer resemblance to ours, from the Pliocene of Italy, was described and figured by Gaudin and Strozzi and referred to Fagus dentata Goeppert; but a comparison between the two figures shows the latter to be much more sharply dentate. The Italian specimen appears to represent a Quercus rather than a Fagus, and to represent the same general type of leaf as ours. Kecently, also, a leaf that appears to be closely comparable with the latter species, from the Tertiary of Silesia, was described and figured by Krausel, and referred to Castanea alavia Unger. Specific identity with Unger's species does not appear to be very striking, but the resemblance of Krausel's specimen to ours appears to be very close. Foliar distinctions, in many instances, between fossil specimens representing the genera Quercus, Fagus, and Castanea are, however, not very obvious and, in connection with imperfect specimens it is, in certain instances, difficult to differentiate between them with certainty.