( 74 ) 
in the climate, there is no trace of this in tropical fens. Accordingly 
their structure resembles that of the coal measures: just as, in the 
latter, the roots of Sigillaria and of Lepidodendron — the Stigmarias — 
are found on the floor of the seams, so the trees or tropical fens 
take root in the subjacent clay. As these trees continue their growth 
and are not choked by peat-mosses, and broken as in temperate and 
cold regions, they frequently remain erect, as is the case with many 
tree-trunks in the coal measures 1 ). 
In one respect, however, there is a great difference, because the 
flora of the carboniferous period has been almost completely modified. 
The ferns alone, which occur sporadically in recent fens, still remind 
us vaguely of a remotely distant epoque. 
Botany. — “ Some brief remarks relating to the communication of 
Professor Dr. C. E. A. Wichmann on t( “fen formations in 
the East-Indian Archipelago””. By Dr. S. H. Koorders. 
In order to supplement the above communication by Prof. Dr. 
C. E. A. Wichmann and also to supplement, what has recently 
been published on the same subject by Dr. E. Mohr of Buitenzorg 
and Prof. Dr. J. F. Niermeijer of Utrecht*), I cannot refrain from 
briefly communicating here a few short remarks, mainly concerned 
with the botanical side of the subject. 
It appears from a letter from the Konigliche Geologische Landes- 
anstalt, dated from Berlin on April 28* last, N°. 5026/A, VIII, that 
a memoir by Prof. Dr. H. Potonie will soon be published, dealing 
with the extensive tropical fenformations, discovered in 1891 by the 
IJzERMAK-expedition in the hot plain of Sumatra; at the time.of writing 
the manuscript was ready for publication. 
The principal contents of this letter were as follows: 
“Anbei erhalten Sie Ihrem Wunsch gernass Ihre.Bleistiftskizzeder 
mikroskopischen Zusammensetzung des sumatranischen Tropentorfes 
mit dem verbindlichsten Dank zuriick und ebenso den Brief des 
*) Sinec the same tree species which occur in tropical fens, are also foundI on 
the surrounding dry land, it is not necessary to regard the Sigillarias, Lepidoden* 
drons and Galamites as bog plarts. 
*) Mohr, Dr. E., in Bulletin du Departement de 1’ Agriculture Buitenzorg (1» 
Niermeijer, Prof. Dr. J. h\, Rede bij de aanvaarding v/h Hoogleeraarsambt i/a 
aardrijkskunde van N. Oost-lndie aan de Rijks-Universiteit te Utrecht (1908). 
Koorders in Potohie, Prof. Dr. H., Ein von der Hollandisch-Indiscben Suma ia- 
Expedition entdecktes Tropenmoor (in Naturwiss Wochenschrift 20 Oct. 190/ nr. 
42, p. <557. 
