BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 



Notes on the Tillandsia.— These singular air plants, with two exceptions, I be- 

 lieve, are confined to the State of Florida. The Long Moss extends its range, and is 

 met in all humid situations through the Southern coast states. Bartram's plant is 

 credited by its author as growing in Southern Georgia. It was my good fortune tomeet 

 all the species in the growing state within the short period of three months, and, there- 

 fore, enjoyed the opportunity for their study. These plants are firmly attached to the 

 limbs or trunks of trees by strong fibrous roots. They adhere, especially the larger ones, 

 with such tenacity that it often requires some effort to effect their separation. Singular- 

 ly strange, they seem to have a piedilection to the Live Oak and Cypress. The 

 T. recw-vata, Pursh., was found growing upon old fences around Gainesville, but, with 

 this exception,! do not recollect having seen any on other than their two favorite trees. The 

 Cypress usually grows in low, wet situations, in circumscribed areas through the exten- 

 sive pine forests, and the Live Oak selects, likewise, damp situations, preferably rich 

 hummock soil. But these trees completely monopolize the ground on which they grow, 

 and are constantly surrounded by an atmosphere which is peculiarly humid; also, their 

 foliage intercepts well the piercing rays of the hot sun, conditions esssentially requisite to 

 l\ni grow'ih. oi Tillaudsia. It is therefore presumable that these air plants seek these 

 trees more on account of the shade and damp atmosphere than any inherent property in 

 the bark which would favor their germination and attachment. Exposed to the hot 

 sun and drier atmosphere, they soon lose their healthy appearance, and become stunted 

 in their growth, This change I have frequently noticed in specimens which had been 

 removed to shade trees around dwellings. All are vernal species except the Long Moss, 

 which flowers during the summer. 



T. iitricuhitu, Lecoute, occurs abundantly on the upper St. Johns River and the Keys 

 south of Manatee. It is usually two to four feet high, yet it grows taller. My French 

 guide carried a stalk from a rich hummock to his palmetto cabin which measured about 

 seven feet. The stems of the larger plants branch considerably, while the smaller onts 

 do so but sparingly. T! e flowers are white, and not blue, as in the next five species. 



7^. 6r«fi^eate, Chapman, the most handsome of all the Tillandsias, with its large, 



. bright and scarlet bracts, attracts one's attention from quite a distance. It is beautiful, 



and would be really an acceptable acquisition to our collection of exotics. This species 



is not common. I met it in about 28- lat., at Lake Monroe, Tampa, and Keys further 



South. 



T.hulbom, [look, resembles smaller growths of the next species, Init the blue-green 

 color of the plant, the spreading and recurving of the leaves, and llie ovoid bulb formed 

 by the dilated leaves at the base, are at once good characteis ft.r discrimination. It ap- 

 peared rare and was sparingly in Hillsboro and Manatee couutics. 



T. juncea, Lecoute, grows abundantly in the humuiocks along the up|)er St. Johns 

 River. It seems very prolific, as every Live Oak and Cypress is full of it in its circum- 

 scribed localities. 



T. Bniimmn,'E\\, on account of its green leaves, appears not unlike tufts of green 

 grass growing on the limbs of trees. It is the only species which docs not have the scurf 

 on the leaves. It occurs sparing!}' on the Keys south of Sarasota, the only locality ob- 

 served. At Palatka grows T.cimjritoini, Lecoute, and forms large reddish clusters on the 

 trunks and larger limbs of trees. I observed it irequently along the St. Johns River as 

 far south as Lake George. The isolated clusters of a reddish appearance are character- 

 istic of this species, and enable one to scj)arate it readily in its general api)earaiice from 

 T.jancea, Lecontc, which it somewhat resembles. T. rerurcittii, Pursh, in a bunch might 

 be mistaken for the Long Moss, but the single plants are characteristic in their upright 

 stems and recurved leaves. This is the smallest species, and was detected growing on 

 old fences and the Live Oak at Gainsville, the only locality observed. 



T. usneoideft, L., the last and perhaps the most generally admired by all observers. 

 Its benntifnl festoons and pendiiVni:; bun^bos o'" '^r■^^■ fnlinr-o. su«;H'n V' 1 fv^i'i Mir^ v.-'dr- 



