272 



In one of his earlier works Skottsberg designates the Valdivian 

 Forest as 4 ' the forest which is rich in species." Prominent 



among the tall trees are I\ othofagus Dombeyi, N. nitida, Laurelia 

 serrata, Drimys Winteri (the only member of the Magnoliaceae 

 found in Chile), Aextoxicon punctatum, Myrceugenia planipes 

 and the conifers Fitzroya patagonica, Libocedrus tetragona, 

 Saxegothea conspicua and Podocarpus nubigena. There are 

 many smaller trees and shrubs, amongst which may be mentioned 

 Guevina Avellana, Lomatia ferruymea, Ernhothrium coccineurn, 

 Weinman nia trichosperma, Sophora tetraptera, Aristotelia 

 Macqui, Pernettya ver/ialis, P. mucronata, (jlaultheria myrtil- 

 loides and Berberis Darivinii. Species of Chusquea (bamboos) 

 play a great role. Lianes are conspicuous and include Griselinia 

 racemosa, G. ruscifolia 9 Asteranthera orata, Mitraria coccinea, 

 Eccreniocarpus scaber, Mutisia spp., Hydrangea integerrvma, 

 Boquila trifoliolata, Ercilla spicata, Elytropus chilensis, and 

 Cynanchvm land folium . Parasites, except Fungi, are not 

 common, but epiphytes occur in astonishing numbers of forms, 

 the most common being Cryptogams, but species of Luzuriaga, 

 Rhodost-achys, Peperomia, Mitraria, Asteranthera, and Griselinia 

 are found. The ferns include many Ilymenophyllaceae, 



Blecltnum (Lomaria) magellanicum, a tree-fern with Cycad-like 

 form, and Lophosoria glauca. 



The Magellanic (subantarctic) region has rain-forest over a 

 very limited area, reaching only up to a few hundred metres. 

 Even below the tree limit all the laud is not forest-clad, for with 

 the dark-green wooded areas there alternate nearly treeless moors 

 where M arsippospermum grand iflorum is dominant. The wind 

 is here the most important cause of the distribution of plant 

 associations. In West Patagonia and Fuegia there is a maritime 

 forest limit outside which the oceanic heath is developed as a 

 cushion-heath. High trees do not occur in the Magellanic rain- 

 forest. N othofagus betuloides is not above 10-12 m. high, 

 Drimys has an average height of 10 m.,' Maytenus is smaller, 

 Embothrium at most 5-6 m., Tepualia seldom above 3-4 m. and 

 Pseudopanax laetevirens 3-4 m. The only conifer which reaches 

 Fuegia is Libocedrus tetragona. The absence of Chusquea spp. 

 and true lianes is noteworthy, and there are no phanerogamic 

 epiphytes. Dwarf shrubs are important in the moors and heaths 

 and include Empetrum rubrum, Gaultheria serpylli folia, and 

 Myrtcola nummularia. Cushion plants occur generally in the 

 rocky coast district and are definitely Telated to the severe 

 westerly gales which prevent the growth of trees. The cushion- 

 plants include Astelia pumilia, Bolax Bovei, Caltha dioneaefolia, 



Donatio faseicularis, Gaiwardia austral is and Ahrotanclla sub- 



warginata. Near the glaciers the vegetation has a subalpine 

 character and is a moss and lichen heath with Empetrum rubrum. 

 M arsippospermum often occurs gregariously. Where the ground 

 is flooded, meadows are found with Hierochloa and Gunnera 



viagellanica. Alpine species of AhrotaneUn, Cemstium, Epilo- 

 hium, Geum, Lagenophora, Oxalis and Sarifraga were observed. 



Over the lower passes and through the Trans-Andine valleys 

 the oceanic climate of the west coast passes inwards, and is 



