95 



five hundred, or perhaps one-sixth of the higher flora, and 

 at least two-thirds of these are found within a radius of ten 

 miles with Cinchona as a centre. The mosses are abundant and 

 some grow in the greatest profusion in the higher altitudes ; they 

 have only recently been studied with any degree of thorough- 

 ness. The same may be said of the hepatics, of which pro- 

 bably a greater number exists than of the true mosses. Lichens 

 are abundant and have been only partially studied. The algae 

 which swarm in the tropical waters of the coast have been parti- 

 ally collected and have been listed by Mr. F. C. Collins, yet this 

 group awaits further study. Of all the groups of plants the fungi 

 alone seem to be deficient in number of species as compared with 

 temperate regions, although no very serious mycological work has 

 yet been done in the island. Within easy reach of Cinchona we 

 find abundance of original forest conditions. Naturally shrubs 

 and trees form the larger portion of the terrestrial element of the 

 higher plants, while epiphytic bromeliads, orchids, and aroids, 

 parasitic Loranthaceae and succulent Piperaceae and Urticaceae 

 exist in great profusion. The Eusporangiate ferns are represented 

 by Marattia and several species of Danaea, and by three genera of 

 Ophioglossaceae; six species of Gleicheniaceae form thickets at 

 the higher elevations wherever land had once been cleared : the 

 moist woods beyond the divide abound in numerous representatives 

 of Jamaica's large array of endemic tree-ferns, and filmies (Hy- 

 menophyllaceae) are found on every bank, log and standing trunk, 

 while epiphytic species of Polypodium and Elaphoglossutn appear in 

 bewildering variety, especially in the elevations above five 

 thousand feet. Along the single trail from Cinchona to Morce's 

 Gap (three miles) over one hundred species of ferns can be seen 

 without leaving the bridle path. 



Since the Laboratory at Cinchona was leased by the Garden 

 some sixteen persons have made studies at Cinchona. The writer 

 spent two periods of several weeks each at Cinchona just prior to 

 the date of the lease, making a study of the ferns : on the second 

 visit he was accompanied by Mr. William R. Maxon of the U. S. 

 National Museum, and by Dr. Johnson and Mr. Forrest Shreve 

 from Johns Hopkins University. During the summer of 1903 

 Dr. D. T. MacDougal visitied the station and accomplished the 

 formal leasing of the property for the Garden. 



The later students at the laboratory are as follows : 



1903. Professor A. W. Evans, of Yale University, made exten- 

 sive collections of the Hepaticae. He was accompanied by one of 

 his students, Mr. George E Nichols, who made collections of the 

 higher flora. 



1904. William R. Maxon, of the U. S. National Museum, spent 

 some time studying the ferns of Jamaica. Miss W. J. Robinson, 

 instructor in Vassar College, spent several weeks studying the 

 «arly stages of certain filmy ferns.* Miss Mary M. Brackett, of 



*For Miss Robinson's impression of Cinchona, cf. Jour: N. Y. Bot. Garden 5: 187- 

 194. 1904. 



