﻿BOTANICAL GAZETTE 



next to those put forward by Thiessen in connection with the microscopic 

 study of coal, are those of White in regard to the formation of anthracites as 

 the result rather of thrust action than of heat devolatilization, and of Davis 

 as to the origin of vegetable accumulations in the United States, which he 

 considers to have been formed mainly under open water. Davis' conclusions 

 in regard to the origin of our peat accumulations are all the more interesting 

 as he accepts the orthodox geological view of German origin in regard to the 



significance that in a country of the extent of the United States, which today is 

 neither extremely cold toward the north nor extends into the tropical regions 

 in the south, the most important accumulations of vegetable matter in nature 

 are not in peat bogs, but in the depths of open waters. A stronger argument 

 derived from the conditions of the present for the aquatic origin of combustible 

 minerals could scarcely be advanced. 



It seems clear that improvements in botanical technique have brought 

 within sight the settlement of the long dispute in regard to the mode of origin 

 of what must be regarded both as the most valuable and the most abundant of 

 all minerals. Coal is the universal industrial energy-producing and deoxidizing 

 agent, since it is the only considerable mineral substance of natural occurrence 

 which is not combined with large quantities of oxygen. It will be of interest 

 to follow the investigations, now rendered possible, which will tend to establish 

 a relation between the organization of coal and its industrial utilization in 

 connection with the development of power, the manufacture of oil, gas, coke, 

 dyes, antiseptics, high explosives, lampblack, electric carbons, etc.— E. C. 

 Jeffrey. 



NOTES FOR STUDENTS 

 Current taxonomic literature —J. A. Nieuwland (Am. Mid. Nat. 3: 20 5" 

 270. 1914) has described 4 new species of Lythrum from the Central and South- 

 ern states— V. Norlind (Rep. Sp. Nov. 13:401-403. 1914) has published two 

 new species of Polygala from Brazil— F. Ostermeyer {ibid. 395) records a new 

 Cochlospermum (C. Zahlbruckneri) from Argentina.— N. Patouillard (Bull. 

 Soc. Mycol. France 30:345-354. 1914) under the title "Contribution a la 

 Flore Mycologique hypogee du Jura" proposes a new genus (Stephanosporo) 

 based on Hydnangium carotaecolor Berk. & Br.— J. Perkins (Eng. & Prantl. 

 Nat. Pflanzenf. Erganzungsheft III, zu II-IV fur die Jahre 1905-1912, p. 94- 

 1914) has proposed the name Carnegieodoxa for Carncgia Perk., not Britt. & 

 Rose— F. Petrak (Ann. Mycologici 12:471-479. 1914) under the title 

 "Beitrage zur Pilzflora von Mahren und Osterr.-Schlesien" includes the 

 description of two new genera, namely Herpotrichiella and Leptomassaria.—R- 

 Pilger (Notizblatt Konigl. Bot. Gart. u. Mus. Berlin 6:109-212. 1914) in 

 cooperation with several specialists under the title "Plantae Uleanae novae 

 vel minus cognitae" has published about 130 new species of Pteridophyta 

 and Spermatophyta from South America based primarily on the collections of 



