21. 



wessentlichen Bedingungen eines uppigen epiphytischen 

 Pflanzenletens dar." 



Goe"bel (7) studying some species of Polypodium 

 and Asuleniiun nidus conlude« that the Polypodium 

 can grow on tbs ground as well as on trees .The 

 Aspleniiam. however, builds a substratum about its 

 roots by means of the basal leaves v/hich collect 

 humus therby allowing the creeping stem to penetrate 

 and the roots to thrive within the substratum thus 

 formed.Later Goebel (8)observed tlrat when the seed 

 of an epiphyte lodges on the bark of a tree and 

 succeeds in germinating there, its main root, in the 

 course of time, flattens out and numerous side roots 

 are developed which anchor the plant to its substratum,' 

 He found that on the smooth stem of Bambusa only 

 crustaceous lichens occur.He also found that higher 

 up epiphytes do not inhabit the tall smooth barked 

 palms, while on the persisting lower portions of the 

 leaf bases of the sugar palm many epiphytes thrive 

 in the accumulated huraus.He concluded that the 

 character of the substratiim plays an important role 

 in the distribution of the epiphytes •According to this 

 investigator, the ability to be anchored to the 

 substratum, an abundant supplly of water, ajrid an 

 accumulation of humus within the reach of the roots 

 as well as protection for the roots against dessication 

 are necessary conditions for the epiphytic mode 

 of life.^ 



