SOUTH SHORE OF THE MAINLAND 99 



which binds and supports the young leaves, and 

 when this begins to decay it makes an admirable 

 bed for the roots of many plants and also a very 

 comfortable home for many kinds of insects. A 

 dozen species of ferns and an equal number of air 

 pines may take lodgment on these young palmettos. 

 The serpent fern (Phlebodium) and two species of 

 sword fern (Nephrolepis) commonly attach them- 

 selves among the dead bases of the palm leaves — 

 just under the crown of living ones, and the fronds 

 of one of them often hang down a couple of yards. 

 The seeds of the strangling fig often lodge and grow 

 among the boots, eventually destroying their 

 kindly host. Several orchids also flourish in this 

 little air garden, especially the pretty Epidendrum 

 tampense. 



If the young palmetto is a botanical garden it 

 may with equal propriety be called a zoological 

 park. The shelter afforded, the decajdng vegeta- 

 tion, and the wealth of plant life about the boots 

 combine to make the tree an ideal spot for a 

 menagerie of small life. Tear off a boot and a 

 swarm of great brown ants is sure to rush out and 

 attack the despoiler, biting severely; they may be 

 accompanied by a minute black species whose bite 



