62 BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Here we have 75 species which might have been considered 

 rare at the beginning of 1878, more than one half of the whole num- 

 ber of species then known. It will be observed,however,that the great- 

 er number of these species were southern — mostly in the gulf-states — 

 ana south-western,extending through the territories into California, 

 with only an occasional species in the north, and one might have 

 mierred from this that, for most part, they were rare only because 

 of the partial explorations in those regions. 



Subsequently a marked change began. The growing interest 

 in fern pursuits, stimulated by the inspiriting work on our North 

 American Ferns by Prof. Eaton — to whom we are all under such 

 deep obligations, and who is justly to be regarded as the founder of 

 systematic American Pteridology — led to many nearly simultaneous 

 efforts on the part of numerous collectors which resulted in making 

 a large percentage of our rare ferns common, others more readily 

 obtainable, and adding other species to our national hora. 



In 1877-78 the lamented Dr. Garber was in Florida, making 

 finer specimens of Florida ferns than had been seen before, and 

 bringing to light many hidden treasures. The re-discovery of As- 

 plenium dentatum-, Pteris longifolia, and the discovery of Asplenium 

 serratum and Ceratopteris thdlietroides in that state will always be 

 associated with his ever to be remembered name. 



The veteran Chapman, who in his old age seemed to have 

 quaffed an invigorating draught from that "Fountain," for which 

 Pouce de Leon sought so long in vain, not to be outdone, had sig- 

 naled the renewal of his activity, and shed new lustre on his honor- 

 ed name by the fine discovery of Ophioglossum palmatum in 1875; 

 and now. the discovery of Asplenium cicutarium by Capt. C. F. 

 Adams, the re-discovery of Asplenium myriophyllum and Pter- 

 in Cretica by Mr. Shockley, was followed by the fine collections of 

 J. Donnell Smith, and his splendid discovery of Aspidium conter- 

 minum. 



Latterly that indefatigable botanical collector, A. H. Curtiss, 

 has been vigorously pushing his explorations of the southern coast 

 region of Florida out on to the Florida Keys with excellent results, 

 supplying prominent herbaria with his fine complete specimens and 

 adding ( 'heilanthes microphylla,Aspidium trifoliatum,Ta nitis lancec- 

 lata and Poh/ podium Swartzii to the flora of that state — the two, and 

 at the time of Collection, the three last of these being new to the 

 United States as well. 



The discovery of Asplenium riride, Woodsia hyperborea and 

 Botrychium simplex in Vermont by C. G. Pringle; oi Bofri/ehium 

 Lunaria in Connecticut by Oscar Harger and Dr. F. W. 

 Hall; of Asplenia ni ebenmdes in the same state by J. S. 

 Adam, and in New York state by Clarence Lown; the unexpected 

 discover}^ of Scolopendrium vulgare in Tennessee by Mr. Cheat- 

 hem, as recorded by John Williamson; the re-discovery of Botrij- 

 eli i urn boreale — doubly interesting as a verification of Milde's re- 



