466 Eaton: Pteridophytes observed in Florida 



POLYPODIUM PLUMULA H. & B. 



On magnolia trees with the last, at Oviedo ; not observed 



elsewhere. 



POLYPODIUM POLYPODIOIDES (L.) Hitch. 



Principally on hardwood trees ; very common throughout my 

 itinerary except on the keys, where but few plants were observed. 



Phymatodes exiguum (Hew.) Underw. Torreya 3:18. 1903 



On my second trip to Bauer's hammock, Mr. Soar called my 

 attention to a small fern with sterile, obliquely ovate to lanceolate, 

 obtuse or rounded fronds, 1-2 cm. long, growing over the lime- 

 stone and on roots and twigs. I immediately concluded it was 

 Phymatodes exiguum and began a search of the surrounding trees 

 for it. It proved to be abundant in a spot perhaps 40 meters 

 across, mostly on small trees. The rootstocks were found to 

 have their origin in the sterile phase on the ground, to grow up 

 the trunks of the trees and shrubs to a height of twenty feet or 

 more and spread out on the branches of the shorter ones. They 

 are mostly simple, are clothed with dark-brown scales, and are 

 closely appressed to the tree, holding on by the numerous, short, 

 alternate roots. The fronds are alternate and confined to 3-4 dm. 

 of the upper portion ; are approximate and comparatively short 

 and broad, mostly rounded, when sterile; and narrowly lanceolate, 

 6—15 cm. long (including stipe) and 5—12 mm. wide, when fertile, 

 acute or acuminate at tip, obliquely acuminate at base. As most 

 of the fronds are several feet up the small trees, often on branches 

 where they appear like the proper leaves of its support, this fern 

 is easily overlooked and may be expected in abundance as soon as 

 collectors become familiar with it. The first locality on the main- 

 land. Found by Curtiss on the north end of Key Largo, where 

 it has since been collected several times. 



VlTTARIA LINEATA Sw. 



Very common on palmettos throughout ; sometimes on other 

 trees. In favorable localities in shaded hammocks, the grass-like 

 fronds are sometimes in large clusters that must contain thousands, 

 and are up to 10 or 11 dm. in length. 



