THE PLANT WOKLD 67 



me now from giving certain exact details wliicli might be of greatest in- 

 terest to botanists ; therefore, in the following notes I shall confine my- 

 self mainly to reminiscences of my fern gathering in the peninsular 

 state. 



In Maxon's list of American ferns found north of Mexico Florida 

 is credited with 54 species and varieties and California with 58. My 

 finding of Cheilaiithes Alabamensis Kunze in northwestern Florida last 

 summer adds one to the Florida list, but I dare say some one has 

 offset this gain in the great Pacific state. I believe there is no rivalry 

 as to ferns except between California and Florida. Sixteen years ago, 

 at the Cotton Centennial Exposition, Mr. Lemmon and I had exhibits 

 of the ferns of our respective states on opposite sides of the main build- 

 ing. I forget what they numbered, but Mr. Lemmon admitted that 

 Florida was one ahead, California has an immense advantage over 

 Florida in her much greater area, range of latitude and diversity of sur- 

 face. So far as the influence of altitude on the flora of Florida is con- 

 cerned the state might as well be one vast plain. 



Except as to a small fraction of its area, Florida consists of level 

 or slightly undulating pine barrens, and, although these vary so greatly 

 in one way and another as to afford a large flora, there are almost no 

 ferns, a fact readily accounted for by the sandy nature of the soil and 

 the scant shade afforded by the tall, small-topped pines. Where the 

 land is naturally dry a variety of Pteris aquilina L. abounds ; in damp 

 lands Woodwardia Virginica is frequently met with, and far to the 

 south a depauperate Blechnum serridatimi. (I use the old familiar 

 names under which my collections have been distributed, and which no 

 one will fail to recognize.) In swampy spots Woodwardia angustifoUa 

 is usually to be found, as well as several very common northern ferns. 



The Pteris of the pine barrens (No. 5088 of my second distribution) 

 and my No. 3705 * from Cape Sable were a standing source of perplex- 

 ity to me until quite recently. Following the dicta of specialists, both 

 were distributed as Pteris aquilina caudata ; yet the two are very differ- 

 ent, the Pteris of the pine barrens having the habit of growth of the 

 northern P. aquilina, while that of the southern coast grows erect and 

 tall — 13 feet high in one locality, according to report — the primary 

 divisions spreading in different directions. A suggestion from Maxon's 

 List, followed by correspondence with Prof. Underwood, enables me 

 now to set the matter right. The Cape Sable fern was correctly labeled, 

 and is confined, in the United States, to southern Florida. The fern of 

 the pine barrens (No. 5088) extends to New York and Texas, and has 

 been named by Clute Pteridium (Pteris) aquilinum pseudocaudatum. As 

 this variety extends so far north, I presume it has found its way into 

 nearly all herbaria under the name of Pteris aquilina caudata Hook. 



