File:American forestry (1910-1923) (18119862426).jpg

Title: American forestry
Identifier: americanforestry231917amer (find matches)
Year: 1910-1923 (1910s)
Authors: American Forestry Association
Subjects: Forests and forestry
Publisher: Washington, D. C. : American Forestry Association
Contributing Library: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden
Digitizing Sponsor: The LuEsther T Mertz Library, the New York Botanical Garden

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Cojn-ti\s\ of the New Voik Botanical Garden. A STRUGGLE FOR SUPREMACY—WITH THE HONORS TO THE FIG In a liamnidik ..n Roberts Island in the Everglades west of Little River, Florida. A stranglingfig, i>ale-barked tree, grappling a cocoa-plum, horizontal tree-trunk in front, and a s\yamp-bay. erect trunk behind. Note strongly buttressed trunk of strangling-fig. A DUEL TO THE DEATH 01" a very womlerful trip intu Southern Florida, on a botanical exploration in 1916, Dr. John K. Small writes most intere.stingly in the Journal of the New York Botanical Garden. What he says regarding the immediate region surrounding Roberts' Island, where the unusual and striking photograph shown aliove was taken, is quoted : "We went by automobile through the pinewoods to the edge of the Everglades. There afoot we took to the water and mud, and waded for a distance of three miles in a westerly direction in water mostly knee-deep and mud at the same time half as deep or of ef;ual depth, until we reached the hammock The trip requires stren- uous wading, which must of necessity be made at a pace compared with which a funeral march would seem quite rapid; but the objective is worth the etTort. I'his island is several miles long, standing north and south in the Everglades, and about a quarter of a mile wide. It is densely forested throughout. Much of its surface is so low that it is submerged during the rainy season. The soil of the low parts is mud and humus. This sup- ports an almost impenetrable jungle made up mainly of pond-apple trees, cocoa-plum trees, antl red-bay trees, and ferns. There are ferns Ijy the scpiare rod and ferns by the acre. The Boston fern and the sword-fern con- stitute the largest and most beautiful beds. Several kinds of epiphytic ferns and a few s))ecies of air-plants often cover the limbs of the trees. The higher ground of the island is sandy. There the live-oak is the domi- nating tree of the forest, and each tree constitutes a hanging garden. (Jrchids, air-plants, and ferns com- jjletely clothe the limbs of the larger trees. However, ))lants do not have a monopoly of the trees. There are also epiphytic lizards and epiphytic snakes! There is everywhere present a beautiful green snake. It inhabits the hammocks and it is especially abundant in those ol the Everglades. It lies outstretched on the branches of shrubs and trees and glides along the Ijranches from one tree to another with surprising ease. ()ne has usually to be careful to look before laying hold of the limb of a tree for support, or he may grasp something of (;uite different consistency from that of wood! "The shrubs and herbs here represent more northern kinds than are met with in the hummocks of the nearb\- Everglade Keys. Among the more interesting discoveries on this island was a gigantic plant of the coni))tie, Zaiiila pnmila. which had not previously been found south of Fort Lauderdale. The specimen mentioned had a very large branched underground stem, and an unusually fine cluster of leaves, each one over four feet tall. So striking was the ;)lant that we dug it up. photographed it, and re- (jlanted it. "After a ))rofitable dav on this island, we retraced our steps through the Everglades and found om^ automobile uitiiout special incident, except that one member of the party got his legs tangled in the coils of a large water moc- casin, and in the excitement and confusion of trying to get away in a hurry he fell )M-one in the mixture of mud and water. Both snake and man were equally surprised at the sudden meeting and neither had time to harm the other." 491

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