52 
THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 
those of this hardy native, there are few plants of late summer 
that can be compared with a clump of it in full bloom. It is a de- 
sirable addition to any flower garden. 
More Extinct SPECiES.—Those not personally interested in 
the combat, must derive no little amusement from the species 
tinkering so much in evidence at present. The species makers 
are not having it all their own way, as at first, but as soon as one 
botanist has set up a long line of new species another of the same 
craft rises up and knocks them over. The latest to go are some 
twenty species of the genus Nemophila to which the well-known 
''baby-blue-eyes" belongs. H. P. Chandler says in the Septem- 
ber Botanical Gazette. "An almost infinite variation makes an 
accurate limitation of species absolutely impossible. Were these 
all described they would fill a volume, but nothing would be gain- 
ed thereby. Convenience should be the aim of classification and 
this aim is most effectually defeated by the multiplication of un- 
certain species." The opinions held upon this subvject by Mr. 
Chandler seem to be gaining ground among thoughtful botanists 
and a large number of our most cherished new species appear to 
be on the verge of extinction in consequence. 
How the Indian Pipe Lives.—Au interesting feature in its 
life history is the comparatively modern discovery that it is not, 
as formerly supposed, a saprophyte, living on humus deposited 
by decaying leaves ; but is, after all a root parasite, with a fungus 
for the host plant. For this the term symbiosis has been con- 
structed—literally, plants living together. But they do' more than 
this. It is supposed they are essential to each other's existence. 
This may be correct so far as the Monotropa is concerned. We 
find the dense ball of roots closely interwoven with the mycelium 
of a fungus—but evidently the same fungus is abundant in the rot- 
ting leaves around without any Indian pipe growing with them, 
and owing nothing to the "pipe" as symbiosis would imply. There 
is yet much to be learned about the behavior of these plants : Sar- 
codes sangiiinea, Hypopitys and Monotropa all seem to have their 
'elaborated food" from the same fungus and are yet all essential- 
ly different in color, and may therefore be reasonably charged 
with some hand in the elaboration— M^'^^Aan^.y Monthly 
