222 IOWA STUDIES IN NATURAL HISTORY 
which are very good eating, as well as the oyster-lke Perna. 
Many tube-dwelling worms, tunicates, ete. enerust these roots. 
The seeds germinate while on the trees and form roots which 
are club-shaped and drop off into the water, where they may 
float a long way before becoming attached to a suitable bottom. 
Several species of trees, notably the loblolly and manchineel, 
are fairly covered with epiphytes, the most prominent being 
two species of Tillandsia. One is ealled the ‘‘ wild pine’’ which 
looks a good deal like a pineapple plant growing on its branches. 
The leaves converge basally so as to form a sort of cup which 
usually holds a considerable quantity of water in which our 
entomologists found many species of insects. The other spe- 
cies of Tillandsia is called ‘‘old man’s beard’’ and has much 
smaller and more slender leaves than the wild pine. The yellow 
orchid (Oncinium lemoneanum) is often epiphytic in habit, and 
has small basal leaves and a tall flowering stalk with lemon 
yellow flowers. A pink orchid resembles this in the shape of the 
flower but appears always to grow on the ground. 
A small species of water-lily is found in a little pond on the 
‘‘middle ground.’’ It is probably Nymphia ampla. A pink 
flower resembling the phlox grows near the water on Barclay 
Point. It is known loeally as the ‘“‘periwinkle,’’ and botanically 
as Vinca. The wild yam is a trailing vine growing on the sand 
and with a large purplish pink blossom resembling the morning 
glory. 
At the time of our visit, which was near the end of the dry 
season, the native flowers were not conspicuous or particularly 
attractive. There are said, however, to be many beautiful 
species that bloom during the wet season. 
There are several plants which yield seeds that are used ex- 
tensively in making necklaces and other fancy articles manu- 
factured with considerable skill by girls and women and sold 
to tourists who come ashore from steamers. The most abund- 
ant and conspicuous of these are the ‘‘Job’s tears;’’ very light 
blue, and oval in shape. These grow on a vine which climbs on 
the trees and bears long pods which, ripening, turn inside out, 
exposing the inner surface which is a very bright crimson and 
a row of seeds or Job’s tears, which show in beautiful relief 
against the flame-red background. In the Hawaiian Islands, 
