March 11, 1898.] 



SCIENCE. 



359 



was the deposit of a large amount of sediment, 

 chiefly gravel and sand, which forms the pres- 

 ent floor of the valley. 



The other communication was on the Tertiary 

 of South Dakota and Nebraska, by Mr. N. H. 

 Darton, U. S. Geological Survey. 



This communication, which was illustrated by 

 lantern slides, set forth the results of recent 

 stratigraphic studies covering Nebraska west of 

 the 103d meridian and the adjacent area in the 

 Big Bad Lands of South Dakota. Several great 

 overlaps and unconformities were discovered 

 which explain variations in fauna of the Neo- 

 cene formations in different portions of the re- 

 gion. The White River series was found to be 

 overlain southward in Pine Ridge and the 

 Platte Valley by one, and in places two, forma- 

 tions which had hitherto not been differentiated. 

 New light was obtained on relations of the 

 Loup Fork beds of the northwestern Nebraska 

 region to the Tertiary grit, etc., of the Kansas 

 region. Account was given of the great sheets 

 of volcanic ash interbedded at five horizons 

 from the White River formation to early Pleisto- 

 cene. The Dsemonelix beds were studied and 

 much attention given to the underground water 

 resources. 



Wm. F. Moesell. 



torrey botanical club, january 26, 1898. 



The first paper, ' New Sapiudacese from 

 South America,' was by Dr. Radlkofer, of 

 Munich, and presented by Professor Burgess. 

 It contained descriptions of TJrvillea, Serjania 

 and Paullinia, soon to be printed in the Bulletin. 

 Their type specimens were exhibited, forming 

 part of a collection made bj' Dr. Rusby in 

 Bolivia. 



The second paper, by Dr. J. K. Small, ' The 

 genus Bumelia in the Southern States,' de- 

 scribed the distinctive characters of 13 species, 

 5 of which had been before recognized. Dis- 

 cussion on specific limitation followed. Presi- 

 dent Brown, Dr. Britton, Dr. T. F. Allen, Dr. 

 Small, Dr. Underwood, Professor Lloyd and 

 the Secretary participating. 



Dr. Britton spoke of cultivation in the Bo- 

 tanic Garden at Bronx Park as having already 

 settled some questions of specific limits. Mr. 

 Nash has, in this way, proved Potentilla Cana- 



densis and P. simplex to be distinct, also the 

 European Pyrola rotundifolia and the American 

 species long so known. 



The third paper was by Dr. N. L. Britton, 

 'Remarks on some species of Senecio,' with ex- 

 hibition and discussion of illustrative specimens, 

 and of several new species, soon to be printed. 

 One species from White Sulphur Springs is one 

 of three plants on Kate's Mountain, which find 

 their nearest relatives on the Rockies, 1500 

 miles distant. 



Discussion followed on the respective value 

 to be assigned to different characters. Dr. 

 Britton held that absence of rays is an uncertain 

 distinction in Senecio and that involucral char- 

 acters are more permanent. The Secretary re- 

 marked on the failure of achene characters in 

 Aster, and Dr. Britton upon the same in Seli- 

 anthus. Professor Lloyd remarking that a 

 priori we should expect to find greatest varia- 

 tion in organs like leaves which are in direct 

 contact with their environment, Dr. Britton 

 said that though leaves vary much in form 

 they vary but little in assimilation-tissues, their 

 special character. 



Edward S. Burgess, 



Secretary. 



engblmann botanical club. 



The Club met at the Shaw School of Botany, 

 February 10th, seventeen members present. 

 Mr. Colton Russell read a paper on the topog- 

 raphy and ecology of the Archean region of 

 Missouri, and briefly described the different 

 floral districts. He showed what an interest- 

 ing field is here presented for the study of 

 plants in relation to soil, humidity, exposure, 

 etc. This region, sometimes picturesquely 

 called the Missouri Island, is an ancient gran- 

 itic outcrop in the southeastern part of the 

 State, and contains rather extended sandstone 

 areas. It is surrounded by a vast extent of 

 limestone country. He exhibited specimens of 

 rare and local plants, also specimens of rocks 

 and soil. Five new members were elected. 



The Club met again on February 24th, thirty- 

 two members present. Mr. J. B. S. Norton 

 read some biographical notes on the late Dr. J. 

 F. Joor, whose herbarium recently became the 

 property of the Missouri Botanical Garden. 



