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Two very interesting ferns are found growing in the Pal- 

 metto trees (Serenoa serrulata). One is Polypodium aurcum, a 

 broad, handsomely cut fern, which waves its banners in the air 

 far above our reach, but fortunately we find a fallen tree and 

 secure the trophies. Another is the grass fern (Vittaria lincata), 

 well named, for if one is not on the lookout for it, it would be 

 readily passed by as a bunch of grass. The rich hammock 

 jungles about Miami are prolific of ferns of various sorts. 

 Growing with the more common sorts we find Polypodium 

 phyllitidis with its long narrow fronds filled with large fruit 

 dots, growing on decaying logs, Nephrolepis cxaltata, apparently 

 identical with our sword-fern, and a luxuriant growth of the 

 caudate variety of Ptcris aquilina, from perfect plants not more 

 than seven inches high, to many reaching three feet in height. 

 The formation of this part of the country is of limestone, and 

 here, near Miami, it crops out in rugged walls filled with holes, 

 large and small. In these holes, apparently destitute of either 

 earth or moisture, little ferns have established themselves, so 

 that the whole wall is embroidered with their delicate fronds. 

 Ptcris longifolia and Aneimia adiantifolia are the ferns most 

 frequently found, but are rathed starved specimens, some being 

 not more than two inches high. In the richer ground at the base 

 of the wall under sheltering shrubs the Pteris grows from twelve 

 to fifteen inches high, and on an adjoining hillside under the 

 pines and silver palms the Aneimia grows luxuriantly. This 

 latter is an exceedingly pretty fern, of which the two lower 

 branches of the frond elongate and bear the sporangia on the 

 pinnately divided branchlets. The sterile portion is deep green, 

 shining and coriaceous. 



Polypodium incanum, Swartz, is everywhere, fringing the 

 branches of the oaks, or covering the decayed stumps, and in 

 damp places on the ground. A trip up the Miami river to the 

 Everglades gave us several new treasures. We there first found 

 Woodivardia virginica in profusion on the banks at the foot of the 

 rapids. It is very abundant throughout the East coast in marshes 

 and almost rivals in this respect Nephr odium patens. The fertile 

 fronds of .V. patens at that time of year (February) were only 

 found in drier ground. 



