Florida Swamps and Forests 



and rusty brown beneath, gleam and mirror 

 the sunbeams most gloriously among countless 

 flower-heaps of the climbing, smothering vines. 

 It is bright also in fruit and more tropical in 

 form and expression than the orange. It speaks 

 itself a prince among its fellows. 



Occasionally, I came to a little strip of open 

 sand, planted with pine (Pinus palustris or 

 Cubensis). Even these spots were mostly wet, 

 though lighted with free sunshine, and adorned 

 with purple liatris, and orange-colored Osmunda 

 cinnamomea. But the grandest discovery of 

 this great wild day was the palmetto. 



I was meeting so many strange plants that I 

 was much excited, making many stops to get 

 specimens. But I could not force my way far 

 through the swampy forest, although so tempt 

 ing and full of promise. Regardless of water 

 snakes or insects, I endeavored repeatedly to 

 force a way through the tough vine-tangles, 

 but seldom succeeded in getting farther than a 

 few hundred yards. 



It was while feeling sad to think that I was 

 [91 ] 



