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The State probably contains fewer species of ferns than any 

 other Southern State. The surface is but little elevated above sea 

 level, the highest portion being in the northern and western part. 

 In the south, vast and impassable cypress swamps, intersected by 

 sluggish streams and bayous, that make collecting in this region 

 exceedingly difficult, stretch away toward the Gulf. Curiously 

 enough, although ferns love moisture, there are comparatively 

 few ferns in the swamps. The two flowering ferns (Osmunda) 

 and an occasional marsh fern (Nephrodium) seem to be about 

 the only inhabitants. The drier ground is usually sandy and 

 covered with pine forests, in which a rich vegetation flourishes. 

 While the summers are warm and the autumns mild, the winters 

 in Louisiana are much colder than in other parts of the United 

 States in the same latitude, and for this reason the State will 

 never rival Florida in the number of tropical species recorded, 

 though possibly a few more remain to be discovered near the 

 coast, such as Polypodium aureum, Vitaria lincata, Pteris can- 

 data, and Lycopodium cernuum. The principal collecting of the 

 State has been done in the vicinity of New Orleans. When the 

 plants of the northwestern portion are better known, we may ex- 

 pect a few more northern species to be added to the list, such as 

 Poly podium vulgare, Nephr odium noveboraccnsc, N. cristatum, 

 A r . maginale, and Cystopteris fragilis. The almost total lack of 

 rock outcrops will always make rock-loving species rare. At 

 present there is not an Isoetes known to grow in the State. 



Up to the present, twenty-seven ferns and eight allies have 

 been recorded from the State. The species in the following list 

 are all represented in the herbarium of R. S. Cocks unless other- 

 wise stated. Additions and corrections to the list will be gladly 

 received by the authors. 



OPHIOGLOSSACEiE. 



Ophioglossum vulgatum L. Adder's-tonguE. Very rare. The 

 form now called Bngclmanni was long ago collected by Dr. Hale 

 at Natchitoches, in April. 



Ophioglossum pusillum Nutt. Very rare. This species was 

 recorded from New Orleans in 1833 by Drqmmond. Apparently 

 not since collected. 



