BOTANICAL GAZETTE. 83 



restricted to ;i small area of liii^li banks of a stream in a liummock drainini;- a series of 

 poiids. The soil is m(jsUy elay intermixed with a small per i^eut. of sand and veyetahle 

 matter. On the sides of the high banks and near the water's edge, apparently in pure 

 clay and rocks, the fronds are narrower, more rigid and erect while upon the banks 

 and a little distance from the wai;er, they are wider, more flaccid and generally reclin- 

 ing. All fronds appeared fertile and measured 2-4 inches in width and i^'-B feet in 

 length. In drying a novel character was developed in the flexible nature of the stripe 

 suddenly curving in removing pressure, as though there was au inequality of tension 

 of the elastic tissue in the cellular structure. 



Poll/podium iiiciniujii, Sw/. Common and general, but rarely seen on other than 

 the live oak. This fern shows a sensitive character in the abstraction of moisture in 

 curling of the fronds and which instantly unfurled in a heavj^ dew or rain. 



Polt/})()diiim. Phi/llitidia, L., is conflned to low, humid and densely shaded hum- 

 mocks. It was observed in several localities in Dade and sparingly in Manatee coun- 

 ties. It is a handsome fern 3-3 feet in height. The stalks occur sporadically, each 

 sending up 6-12 rigidly erect fronds of a yellowish green color due to their translucent 

 character and which is in part or wholly lost in drying. Very commonly the stalks are 

 lodged in the decaying trunks of prostrate trees or old stumps near the ground, some- 

 times on the ground where the soil chiefly consists of decomposing woody or vegetable 

 matter. 



Polypodiuin 'tuiruj/t, L., is common and general on the main-land but rare on the 

 Keys. It is always associated with the Cabbage Palmetto, growing from its stem, usii 

 ally above reach and just beneath the si)reading palm leaves which contribute constant 

 shatle and moisture. The novel lattice work of remaining dead petioles covering the 

 trunk of this tree, off'ers a favorable and secure lodgement for the large creeping root- 

 stalks of this fern. The glaucus fronds appear pendent, spreading or erect according 

 to their length, which varies from ^.y^'S feet. The fiuit dots occur in single rows 

 in the smaller and double in the larger fronds, but very commonly there appear breaks 

 in the lines of fruit dots where the sporangia failed to develop. 



Vi'ftiiriii liiieata, SwAVt'A. A frequent comiKinion of the preceding and like it re- 

 stricted to the same tree. The pendent linear fronds appear in large tufts, lodged any- 

 where on the trunks. The fronds are commonly 1-2 feet long, but occasionally attain 

 a length of 3 feet. 



Pteris lon.(/if()ll(i, L., inhabits the rocky ledges in the oi)en [)ine barrens at Miami, 

 and is firmly rooted in the crevices of the rocks. The fronds, a few to many in a tuft, 

 are usually erect, Vo-i feet high and of narrower pinn;e than tiie same in cultivation. 

 It seemed rather limited in its range and was not noticed elsewhere. 



Pterin ttquiliiiK, L., is extremely common, appearing alike in pine barrens and fer- 

 tile hummocks, but in the tbrmer is more dwarfed, 1-2 feet high; while in the latter, 

 growing in rich vegetable mould, often attains a height of 5-6 feet with a black glossy 

 stii)e suitably large for a light walking cane. 



BlrrhinimHerridatfim, Miclix., is not uncommon south of 28 N. Lat., and (piilc abund- 

 ant where it grows. It inhabits boggy grounds along btiyons, rich huiiunocks or adja- 

 cent pine lands, and appears in patches with the stalks of several fronds often regu- 

 larly i/j'-l foot apart. These stalks have a simple or forking underground root-stem, }-2 

 inch in diameter and i-^-l foot long, which give origin to one or several new stalks an- 

 nually, and apparently is the chief mode ol' propagation. The sterile and fertile fronds 

 are ecpially common, but the former are wider and taller. The prevailing dimensions 

 of the frontls are 2-3 teet in height, 3-5 inches in width, but in drier soil appears more 

 dwarfed, while in very fertile and damp soil I have met the sterile fronds, exception- 

 ally, 5 feet high and 1 foot wide, 



