190 VEGETATION 



Dr. Britton accompanied by Mrs. Britton visited New Providence in April of 

 1904, and again during August and September of the same year. His 

 plants are in the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden, of which 

 he is Director. Drs. jMillspaugh and Howe visited New Providence, Joulters, 

 Gun, North Cat and South Cat Cays, North Bimini and South Bimini. The 

 plants collected by Dr. Millspaugh during this expedition number about 39i 

 sheets and are now divided between the Field Columbian Museum of Chicago 

 and the herbarium of the New York Botanical Garden. Dr. Howe devoted his 

 attention to the Algae and Fungi and brought back a large number of these 

 forms, which were also deposited in the New York Botanical Garden." 



COMPOSITION AND RELATIONSHIPS OF THE BAHAMA FLORA. 



The number of native and naturalized flowering plants and ferns so far 

 collected and identified from the Bahama Islands is about nine hundred and 

 fifty. This includes collections made by Dr. Britton and Dr. Millspaugh since 

 the return of the Bahama Expedition and not yet published, together with 

 the collection of Mr. A. H. Curtiss, made in the spring of 1903. This number 

 undoubtedly coniprises by far the greater part of the plants of the Islands, but 

 there is yet much work to be done before we can know even approximately the 

 extent and variety of their indigenous flora. 



The ferns and fern-allies are represented by twenty-five species. Of 

 these, all are ferns except Psilotum nudum (L.) Griseb., which is known only 

 from Andros. Lycopodium, Selaginella and Equiseium are not found. The 

 maiden-hair fern (Adiantum capillus-veneris L.) and Asplenium dentatum L. 

 have been found only on New Providence. There are but five native species of 

 Gymnosperms, the Cycads being represented by three Zamias and the Conifers 

 by Pinus bahamensis Griseb. and Juniperus barhadensis L. All are confined 

 to the northwestern group. Grasses and sedges are represented by a large 

 number of species, most of which are widely distributed in other countries. 

 Of these groups only Eragrostis bahamensis Hitch, is endemic. 



So far as we are able to determine at present, there are seven indigenous 

 palms in the Islands. The different species have been so variously named, how- 

 ever, that only by examination and comparison of collections can their identity 

 be definitely settled. Hitchcock and Gardner, Brace and Dolley list Sabal um- 



" Notes on Bahama Algse. Bull. Tor. Bot. Club, Vol. XXXI, 1904, pp. 93-100; 

 also Collections of Marine Algae from Florida and the Bahamas. Jour N Y Bot 

 Garden, Vol. V, 1904, pp. 16-166. 



