No. 4, January, 1921) ECOLOGY, PLANT GEOGRAPHY 221 



1503. Harper, Roland M. Water and mineral content of an epiphytic fern. Amer. Fern 

 Jour. 9: 99-103. 1919. — Epiphytic ferns probably get some of the inorganic matter from the 

 bark of trees on which they grow as well as from dust. Three hundred and forty grams of 

 Poly podium polypodioides were collected shortly after a rain. The plants were chopped up, 

 and after remaining at a temperature of 46°C. for about a week were again weighed. The 

 dry weight was about 42 per cent of the fresh weight. When sonic of the desiccated material 

 was burned, it was found to contain 5 per cent ash. A partial analysis of the ash showed 27 

 per cent of potash and | of 1 per cent of soda. — F. C. Anderson. 



1504. Haviland, F. E. The stomata of the leafless plants of the interior [Australia]. 

 Australian Nat. 4: 107-110. 1919. — The arrangement, number, and location of the stomates 

 in a number of leafless plants of Australia. The stomates often appear to be unprotected 

 against excessive transpiration. — T. C. Frye. 



VEGETATION 



1505. Engler, A. Die Vegetationsverhaltnisse des Kongoa-Gebirges und der Bambuto- 

 Berge in Kamerun [West Africa]. [The vegetation of the Kongoa Mountains and the Bambuto 

 Mountain in Kamerun.] Bot. Jahrb. 55 (Beiheft) : 24-32. 1919. — Ledermann's Garua expe- 

 dition (1808-09) had thrown much light on the relations of the alpine floras of western and 

 eastern Africa. Engler wished to carry this study farther into the Kongoa and Bambuto 

 Mountains. — Vegetation of the Kongoa Mts. : There are many plants of Pachylobus edulis 

 in the forests of the foot-hills, also Phoenix reclinata and tree ferns. Above 1200 m. 

 frequent fogs cause the trees to be covered with Pilotrichella and Usnea. The lianes are 

 species of Urera, Grewia, etc. A list of plants in the forest at 1500 m. is given. The following 

 are some of the epiphytes: Polypodium lanceolatum, Oleandra articulata, Vittaria, Bulbo- 

 phyllum, Viscum, and Megaclinium. The forest floor is covered with Selaginellas, Pepero- 

 mias, Polyspathas, Clinogynes, and other plants. On Mbo at an altitude of 1900 m. are 

 fine examples of the Guinean rain forests; lists of the plants are given. Above Sanschu, at 

 1550 m. elevation, the forest becomes transformed into a pure stand of Pennisetum purpureum 

 (elephant grass). On the declivities oil palms extend up to 1800 m. A list of the plants in 

 the elephant-grass formation is given. Tree ferns are found on the stream banks here, 

 according to Ledermann. This formation passes in drier situations to grass steppes with 

 herbaceous Melastomaceae and other plants. At 1800 m. the alpine forest begins with low 

 thin-stemmed gnarly trees and a few lianes, the most common of which is the araliaceous 

 Polyscias Preussii. The typical plants on the eastern slope are listed. Vegetation of the 

 Bambuto Mountains: From Djutitsa the trail leaves the culture-land and enters the grass 

 steppes of the mountains. A list of plants is given of the Raphia region, where at the start 

 this plant (Raphia) is common. The gradually rounded hills are covered with grass 1-1.5 m. 

 high. A list of species in this grass formation at an altitude of 1700-1800 m. is given. Many 

 of these plants have very beautiful flowers. At 2000 m. the steppe-flora becomes still more 

 diverse, Vigna Ledermannii, Polygala tenuicaule, Gmidia bambutana, and other plants 

 appearing. Especially rich are the mountain steppes at 2200 m. altitude. Here Ledermann 

 discovered willows along the borders of brooks, and though these have been noted in a few 

 other localities, this was an important geographical discovery. Peucedanum Winkleri, 2-3 

 m. high, is found here; also Vernonia senegalensis, 4-6 m. high. At 2000-3000 m. groups of 

 Proteaceae appear. On the northwest slope at 2100-2300 m. is a low alpine forest. Here is 

 found Pleridium; then Vernonia senegalensis. Labiatae, a 3 m. high Lobelia, Spiraea, Ficus, 

 Peperomia, Hypericum lanceolatum, Tephrosia, and other plants gradually appear. Lianes 

 and epiphytic orchids are rare in this region. At the edge of the forest, at an altitude of 

 1900-2500 m., Ericinella mannii, 5 m. high, is common and forms the Ericinella association. 

 Here also is Pteridium, bushes of Trifolium Goetzenii, Crotalaria oreadum, Calamintha sinen- 

 sis, and other species. In places very rich in humus Hypericum Conrauanum, 2-5 m. high, 

 is found; also Brillantaisia Schumanniana, a splendid giant herb 4-5 m. high, Impatiens 

 Sakeriana, and others. In dry open places the ericaceous Blaeria bambutensis appears. 



