Erdtman • Introduction to Pollen Analysis 211 



At present its volume has increased to identified, the more complete will be 

 such an extent, that a cleavage of the the picture of the former vegetation, 

 stream into different channels must be Pollen and spore research is con- 

 expected. From these channels an in- cerned not only with tlic late Quater- 

 creasing number of fields of scientific nan,' history of the vegetation, but also 

 activitv— from quaternary geology to with the history of the plant kingdom 

 climatolog}' and archaeology— may be during more distinct epochs, with the 

 fertilized as a result of a more and more elucidation of the enigma of the origin 

 efficient system of irrigation. of the angiospcrms, etc. A successful 



Improved research methods have attack on these great problems de- 

 contributed to the present situation, mands, abo\e all, an extensive knowl- 

 For example, by certain chemical edge of the pollen and spore t\'pes 

 methods it is now possible to dissolve among contemporary plants. Surpris- 

 away more of the matrix in which the ingly little, however, has so far been 

 fossil grains occur, thus greatly facili- accomplished in this field, 

 fating their analysis. Different soils, This outline of the potentialities of 

 previously considered more or less de- pollen analysis may easily be aug- 

 void of pollen (clay, raw humus, etc.) mented inasmuch as pollen research is 

 have become amenable to pollen anal- not confined exclusively to paleobot- 

 ysis. And by concentrating the pollen any, plant systematics, and plant geog- 

 grains of a sample, which in itself is raphy. It is also linked up with many 

 rich in pollen, rare kinds of pollen may other fields of scientific activit)s such 

 be discovered. as forestry, soil science, limnology, and 



To the pollen geologist pollen different geological disciplines. We 



grains are merely index fossils, by may also mention archaeology', cli- 



means of which a particular horizon matology and aerobiology— with its 



may be traced from one peat deposit ramifications in medicine, hygiene, 



to another, from province to province, phytopathology, etc.— and even phar- 



or even from one country to another, macognosy (the detection of honey 



To the pollen botanist, on the other and drug adulteration through pollen 



hand, identification is an important analysis), 

 consideration. The more pollen species 



QUESTIONS 



1 Name two facts which a pollen analyst 2. What contribution could pollen analy- 

 might tell us about a pollen sample. sis make to the evolutionary history of 



the angiosperms? 



