Abstract:

   The fossils here described were collected from the Lai Yuan, Hebei Province in

north China.  Well-preserved plant parts are cones of Pinus, identified as Pinus pro-

totabulaeformis sp. nov.  The species is different from other taxa of Pinus by larger

cones and scales.  The size of the cone is a reliable diagnostic character in the group:

The large cone and scale indicate rather an arid climate in Summer in the region

where the fossils are discovered.

     The age of bearing-beds is considered Upper Eocene-Lower Oligocene.

     Diagnosis:  Cones ovate in general outline, 8.5 cm long, 4.5 cm in diameter. Seed

scales oblong, 2—2.5 cm long, 0.8—1.1 cm wide.   Apophysis  obviously  fattened  and

thickned, convex, compressed rhomboid, rostrate at the apical part of seed-bract.