BROMELIADS — FOSTER 359 



to this, geologically speaking, young territory will produce interesting 

 new species. 



In the great primeval forest at the Cacao Experiment Station in 

 Agua Preta, Bahia, we found a lush jungle garden, a plant paradise 

 for eager collectors. Great masses of climbing begonias startled 

 us, Philodendrons of fantastic shapes and design blended in an 

 ornate pattern with Calatheas and Tradescantias of fancy foliage, 

 and ferns crowded every available opening on trees, rocks, and 

 ground. Many areas were almost impossible to walk through. If 

 we were not being tripped by stout cords of lianas, thorny leaves 

 and treacherous small palms were always reminding us of the things 

 on the ground and interfering with our more ethereal aspirations 

 of looking for the epiphytic beauties above us. 



There in the "upper strata" we found two huge epiphytes, both 

 new species. These plants, Aechmea conifera and Aechmea de- 

 pressa, were giants among epiphytes. The flower head alone of 

 Aechmea conifera weighed nearly 12 pounds and measured 18 inches 

 in length, resembling a huge pine cone. This plant was reposing 

 serenely and securely in the crotch of a limb over 80 feet from 

 the ground. Secure it was until, with the assistance of three human 

 "monkeys," we succeeded in loosening it from its aerial home and 

 with ropes lowered it to earth. This epiphyte, including its several 

 side shoots, weighed considerably over 125 pounds. From the 

 ground this Aechmea did not greatly differ in appearance from 

 Aechmea depressa^ but the field glasses helped to convince me that it 

 was another species. That meant another tough climb. 



To climb these huge trees one must resort to monkey tactics and 

 not try to tackle first the tree he wishes to conquer. A small tree 

 possibly 50 feet away may be the first one to climb, for its upper 

 branches will intermesh with those of the larger tree. And so with 

 the assistance of ropes and vines the climber finally reaches the 

 lower branches of the giant tree and then all he has to do is to finish 

 the climb and get the plant, which may be accomplished in another 

 hour or two. 



But we forgot all about the difficulties of getting it when our 

 thoughts turned to the perseverance and determination that a plant 

 must have to be able to live perched at such a precarious height. 

 With its huge reservoir to catch rain and vegetable matter it builds 

 a body heavier than almost any of its terrestrial cousins, with the 

 exception of some of the great Puyas of the high Andes. These 

 great Aechmeas often hold from 1 to 3 gallons of water, which not 

 only serves the plants themselves but also becomes a breeding place 

 for animal life and even aquatic plants. Utricularias and aquatic 

 mosses and algae are often found living in some species. In various 

 specimens we found lizards, frogs, scorpions, small snakes, centi- 



