PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY AND AFFILIATED 



SOCIETIES 



BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON 



137TH MEETING 



The 137th regular meeting of the Botanical Society of Washington 

 was held at the Cosmos Club at 8 p.m., October 7, 1919. Thirty-five 

 members were present. The following paper was presented: 

 ^ John A. Stevenson: Some botanical aspects of Porto Rico. 

 i Porto Rico is essentially tropical, lying approximately in 18° 15' 

 N. latitude. The mean average temperature is 78° F. The rainfall 

 varies greatly, from 135 inches in the east to as low as 20 inches on the 

 south coast, with an average of 76 inches. The island is ver}' rugged, 

 a central range running from east to west, reaching heights of not over 

 4500 feet. The soil is typically a hea\y red clay. 



At the time of its discovery (1493) it was heavily wooded, but with 

 the rapid agricultural development that took place, was soon practically 

 denuded. Practically all that now remains of the original cover is the 

 small area included in the Luquillo National Forest. Most of the island 

 is devoted to sugar cane, tobacco, fruit, coiTee, and pasture. 



Of botanical formations there are notably the coastal mangrove 

 swamps composed chiefly of Rhizophora, Langiinctilaria , Avicennia, 

 the dry coastal areas grown up to Coccolobis and various other shrubs, 

 the limestone hills or foot-hill formation, composed of Psidium, Casearia 

 spp., many species of Melastomaceae, and other shrubs or small trees. 

 The rain forest (Luquillo) is of limited area, marked by tree ferns, 

 mountain palm, and large growing hardwoods {Sideroxylon, etc.). 

 On the dry south coast an open park-like growth occurs, particularly 

 marked by shrubby leguminous plants (chaparral) and various cacti. 



Following the temporary use of much of the land by peasant farmers 

 a second growth of shrubs springs up {Eugenia jambos, Casearia spp., 

 Psidium, many melastomaceous species and others). Coffee planta- 

 tions in the uplands are extensive, forming a forest type, with Inga 

 spp. and Erythrinia spp. as shade. Coconut plantations occur along 

 the coast. The phanerogamic flora consists of about 2400 species, 

 the fungus flora of at least 1500 species, with other groups in propor- 

 tion. 



19TH ANNUAL MEETING 



The 19th annual meeting of the Society was also held at the Cosmos 

 Club on October 7, 1919. The following officers were elected for the 

 ensuing year: President, Haven Metcalf; Vice-President, A. J. 

 PiETERs; Recording Secretary, Chas. E. Chambliss; Corresponding Sec- 

 retary, R. Kent Beattie; Treasurer, L. L. Harter. L. H. Dewey was 

 nominated as Vice-President to represent the Society in the Academy. 



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