54. 



This apparently happens on Quercus stellata where small 

 clumps of the epiphyte v/ere found in the crotch of 

 a lower "branch immediately below a huge mass of the fern 

 two meters above .A search for young sporophytes o r 

 prothallia proved unsuccessful. 



It was found further that Quercus stellata .Ulmus 

 araericana and J uniperus virginiana serve as the best 

 supports for the epiphyte, for on these the polypody v^as 

 found in abundance.On the oak the epiphyte invariably 

 inhabits the oldest branches and the main trunk on the 

 north, northeast, and northwest sides, On the elm it is 

 found often inhabiting the trunk from the very ground 

 to the oldest branches, On the juniper the epiphyte 

 generally occurs in small clumps all along the stem. 

 It may be added, that on the latter tree the fern was 

 never found in the fruiting stage, which seems to indicate 

 that the bark of this tree is favorable for the start 

 of the epiphyte but that long before the fern matures 

 the bark together with the polypody is shed, This was 

 foimd true in many cases, for a number of clumps of the 

 fern were found lying on the ground apparently recently 

 detached from the tree. 



This definite distribution of the 

 epiphytes in relation to climatic conditions and to 



