106 THE PLANT WORLD. 



"A supposed Aroidea with an immense, nearly aphyllous, climbing, 

 terete green stem, about 100' long, 1" diam., with scaly, early decidu- 

 ous leaves and aerial roots resemblins; those of Vanilla." One might 

 guess that a plant of this description belongs to the large genus Philo- 

 dendron, ])ut it is going far enough in the way of conjecture to call it 

 an Aroid. I think the Florida plant has some aerial roots, but my 

 memory is not clear on that point. 



Another interesting plant of the Florida coast which has not been 

 identified appears to be a cypress. It grows on the sand ridges next 

 the sea south of Jupiter Inlet. It has a stout, horizontal stem grow- 

 ing about two inches below the surface and sending up numerous scaly 

 branches which bear rosettes of short leaves at the surface. A spec- 

 imen l)rought to the surface reminds me of a miniature row of palms. 



Another plant of the same habit as the last and which has never 

 been seen in flower or fruit, is evidently an Halophila. It grows 

 among sea- weeds, "along the West coast of Florida" according to 

 Chapman, but also on the South and East coasts. Twenty years ago 

 I sent specimens to Dr. Englemann for study. He was much inter- 

 ested in it, and a year or two later it was formally named Halophila 

 JEnglemann i. 



The habit of extensive multiplication by other means than seeding 

 tends to a corresponding abatement of flower and seed production. 

 This is perhaps sufficient explanation of the sterility of the two plants 

 I have mentioned. Other examples are found in the cane (Arundina- 

 ria) and the grass too well known in Florida as "maiden cane", so 

 named because of its stabilit}^ and its resemblance to cane, especially 

 in its pernicious habit of spreading by deep stolons in cultivated 

 ground. It wa& impossible to give a botanical name to this grass till 

 ten or twelve years ago when an observer in South Florida produced 

 some specimens evidently of "maiden cane, " with well developed in- 

 florescence identical with that of Panicuin d > g i tar i aides. I was the 

 less surprised at this proof of identity because of having observed 

 that this Panicum ceased to flower after the partial drainage of a 

 swamp although seeming to grow" as vigorously as before. Dry land 

 seems to completely sterilize it. Analogous cases are found in Smilax 

 glauca and Ilamamelis Virginica which are abundant on dry ground, 

 but produce flowers only in moist locations. 



About fifteen years ago while attending the forestry congress at 

 De Funick Springs, in West Florida, I found a strange plant growing 



