MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN BULLETIN 99 
come closely appressed to the surface, thus diminishing to 
a great extent the loss by evaporation. The necessary min- 
eral food of the moss is gathered from the air by these very 
same scales. Dust particles blown about by the wind and 
containing substances which may be utilizable as mineral 
food come to lodge in them, and becoming dissolved in the 
water held by the scale eventually pass into the plant. The 
“host” plant in this instance simply acts as a support, and 
one might expect that the moss could grow and thrive on 
almost anything that offered such a support whether it be 
tree or not. This explains the phenomenon reported from. 
time to time in popular magazines, of plants growing on 
telephone wires and the like. Propagation is chiefly by 
means of wisps which are blown about by the wind or are car- 
ried by birds as nest material. 
Besides the Florida moss there are some other exception- 
ally good specimens of epiphytic bromeliads in the brome- 
liad house. Several species of Tillandsia looking very much 
like aérial pineapple plants are perched on the old stum 
Just inside the entrance. These are all of the so-called “tan 
pe an ao type, that is, the leaves are firmly appressed to 
each other at the base (Plates 23 and 24), thus forming 
—- or reservoirs in which water collects during rains. 
n the larger plants as much as two or three quarts of water 
may be held in the pockets so formed. Not only water is 
collected, but leaves and decaying vegetable matter as well 
which are made use of as a food supply for the plant. The 
roots are very poorly developed; indeed, in most cases they 
simply act as anchors to fasten the plant to its host. The 
leaves, on the other hand, assume most of the root functions, 
and one finds in their basal portion special modifications 
which permit the taking in of water and substances in solu- 
tion. Many of the plants of this group, which in their 
native habitat ordinarily have an aérial habit, may also grow 
on the earth, several such being shown on the ground on 
either side of the walk, particularly species of Karatas, 
Aechmea, and Billbergia. 
The ferns also have many representatives which, under 
their native conditions at least, are epiphytic. One of the 
best examples possessed by the Garden is the ‘‘stag-horn 
fern, of wun a number are found attached to the rustic 
railing just inside the fern house door. When examined 
the plant reveals two of leaves—those which simulate 
the stag-horn, and the broad basal ones. Decaying vegetable 
matter, humus and the like, collects in these latter and is 
held by means of the peculiar clasping manner of growth. 
Thus a natural reservoir is formed which affords an 
