North American Species of Tillandsia. 129 



On the North American Plants of the Genus Tillandsia, 

 with descriptions of three new Species. By Captain John 

 Le Conte, U. S. Army, F. L. S. &c. Read August 21> 

 1826. 



The climate of East Florida, particularly on the sea-coast 

 and in the interior, approaching somewhat to that of the tro- 

 pics, can boast of productions that are found no where else 

 within the limits of the United States. 



In the spring of the year 1822, whilst engaged in explor- 

 ing the river St. John, on the borders of the small lake which 

 forms the source of that stream, I could perceive no effects of 

 the winter : autumnal plants, such as different species of Eu- 

 pat rium and of Aster, were in full bloom at the same time 

 with Violets and Irides, which are peculiarly vernal. A sea- 

 son thus lengthened out by the absence of cold, of course 

 allows many plants to grow in perfection, which a shorter du- 

 ration of warm weather would not permit to exist. 



The extensive savannahs, the boundless swamps, and the 

 ancient forests, as yet unpolluted by the encroachments of 

 men, present a variety of objects equally new and interest- 

 ing. The long fronds of the Acrostichum aureum, fre- 

 quently eight feet in height, the pendent Isaria, the towering 

 Palms, and the parasitic plants which clothe the branches and 

 trunks of many of the trees, all impress upon the mind the 

 assurance of our having entered a country differing essen- 

 tially in many things from the temperate regions of the more 

 northern states. 



From among the many plants collected by me in Florida, 

 I select the following as the more interesting, inasmuch as but 

 two species of the genus Tillandsia have as yet been with 

 certainty known to inhabit our country.* 



* I have preferred firing these descriptions in Latin : the English lan_ 

 guage, already sufficiently harsh an«l inharmonious, can ill bear the intro- 



