
          223

that swampy woodless area lining the shore of the river.
What was my surprise to find here, although much more
exposed, hundreds of these plants in flower!  Many of
them growing out of water several [1 or 2] inches in depth and none
of them frosted!  (Could this possibly be caused by some
disease [fungous]?)  Gray states that the spathes are nearly sessile
this is true of those that grow where there is no surface water,
of those plants growing in water, the spathes are of sufficient
length to carry the spadix well up out of the water -- one
that I measured had a stalk 4 in. in length.  Here I noticed
one plant, with its leaves quite advanced -- they were dotted
with purplish specks.  Scattered all about the place were
many of the conical leaf-point protectors.

Throughout the swamp were hundereds of the old fronds
of the Chain Fern, as I rubbed against these, myriads of
spores were disseminated.  I was agreeably surprised
to find near <s>th</s> a hollow tree many nuts which had been
gnawed open by a squirrel. At another place I found the
remains of a <s>wasp</s> hornets' nest.  It seems that these nests are
completely destroyed during the winter by the winds and the
        