358 ANTSrUAIi REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1942 



through the base of their leaves. However, I believe that the more 

 primitive forms such as Puyas, Dyckias, and Encholiriums still feed 

 mostly through their roots. 



In trying to grow these interesting plants I have not learned of all 

 the "food" they like, but I have learned certain things they do not 

 like. They cannot tolerate the dripping of water from lime, copper, 

 or galvanized iron. The drip from these will burn the leaves, and 

 any such burn often kills the plant in a short time. Even a small 

 copper w^ire piercing a leaf will usually kill that leaf. While they 

 have an amazing capability for going without apparent food and 

 withstanding adverse conditions, in other respects they are much more 

 fastidious. Any food given bromeliads must be acid, as alkalinity 

 derived from water or from foreign substances is disastrous to them. 



THE EPIPHYTIC RELATIVES 



Before going to Brazil our interest in bromeliads was focused on the 

 epiphytic types. From a decorative standpoint and because of their 

 interesting way of life, we found them completely fascinating. The 

 epiphytic types were found in the rain forests all along the coastal 

 areas where it is high and cool at night yet warm during the day, 

 where frequent rains or heavy dew supplied their water. The trees 

 were laden with a dazzling profusion of bromeliads and other epiphytes 

 making unique pattern and design everywhere in the lush jungle. 



We expected to find the epiphytes wherever there were moist areas. 

 A ravine, a stream, or a swamp seemed to be the very choicest spot 

 for them. But one of the greatest surprises and disappointments 

 came when we collected in the huge swamp areas of Matto Grosso. 

 We had come by train from eastern Brazil to the far west, where the 

 Rio Paraguay cuts through South America's largest swamp. Up the 

 river we had traveled for miles and had seen countless thousands of 

 trees, but they were barren of bromeliads. Only where there is an ele- 

 vation will be found trees and rocks that may harbor a few epiphytes. 

 If a similar swamp area occurred near the great jungles on the coast 

 it would be a paradise for the epiphytes, as w^ell as for the collectors 

 who enjoy finding them. 



The high plains between the vast swamp area and the jungles of 

 the coast section have been the "Green Hell" barrier that these moisture- 

 loving plants could not cross. A few Tillandsias that disperse by 

 means of wind-blown plumose seeds have flown over those dry areas, 

 and a few drought-resisting tubular types of Billbergias and Aech- 

 meas have also come most of the way. It would be interesting to go 

 back there a few thousand years hence to see what descendants will 

 be developed from some of these pioneers, for certainly the migration 



