86 
WILLIAM SEIFRIZ 
possibly fixed by moisture requirements. Rainfall in the higher altitudes 
of these tropical mountains is always ample for vegetation, yet there is a 
pronounced difference in the soil moisture of exposed ridges and shaded 
ravines. Chusquea is found in both these regions; on the sunny, hot, dry 
spurs where vegetation is relatively sparse, and in the dark, cool, wet 
gulches where tree ferns and other moisture-loving plants abound. Chus- 
quea is, however, most abundant under conditions intermediate between 
these two. 
Published descriptions of this climbing bamboo are few and brief, that 
of Grisebach, in his Flora of the British West Indies , being among the earliest. 
A more complete systematic account by J. D. Hooker appears in the Bo- 
tanical Magazine (Curtis) for 1885. The first definite reference to sexual 
periodicity in Chusquea appears in a short notice by Morris in the Gardener's 
Chronicle for 1886. He writes, "The flowering of this plant appears to 
take place, as in most Bambuseae, at long intervals." 
The data pertaining to the life habits of Chusquea ahietifolia published 
here were obtained from the following sources: first, from Wm. Harris, 
government botanist of Jamaica, to whom I am greatly indebted for many 
kindnesses during my stay on the island: second, from several published 
articles herein referred to, which were kindly brought to my attention by 
Assistant Director Arthur W. Hill, of the Royal Botanic Gardens at Kew: 
third, from the notes of Daniel Morris and J. H. Hart recorded in a copy of 
Grisebach in the library of Hope Gardens, Jamaica: fourth, from the natives 
living in the mountains, especially David Watt, whose long experience in 
collecting for Jamaican and visiting botanists has made him uncommonly 
familiar with the plants of the mountain forests: and lastly, from my own 
observations covering a period of six weeks and extending over a ten-mile 
stretch of the Blue Mountain Range. 
During June, 1919, nearly all mature plants of Chusquea ahietifolia in 
the Blue Mountains of Jamaica were dead. On the other hand, the ground 
in many places was covered with seedlings varying from an inch to 18 inches 
in length. Diligent search brought to light only a few patches of old, 
living plants. Still fewer specimens were found bearing fruit. 
The first question which naturally arose was, when did this climbing 
bamboo last flower? I was informed that there had just ended a most 
profuse flowering of all plants in the mountains wherever seen, and that 
the time of flowering extended over more than a year. The question which 
next presented itself was, how long a time had elapsed between this and 
the last previous flowering? Definite information on this point was ob- 
rtained from Mr. Harris, who writes, "Chusquea flowered generally in the 
Blue Mountain regions in 1885-6 and died down everywhere." This first 
recorded flowering period also extended over more than a year, as is evident 
from the note of Hart supplementing that of Morris. The latter states 
that Chusquea was first noticed in flower in the fall of 1884, and that in 
