412 C. SKOTTSBERG 



are included in all the groups, in I Ipouiaca, Caesalpinia, CJienopodiuni and Tetra- 

 gonia, in II Apiuiii and Sainolus, in III Lycium\ together they are 7, or 21% of 

 the angiosperms. 



If we want to trace an ancient Antarctic source, just as we did in Juan 

 Fernandez, the Antarcto-tertiary group would consist of Daiitlionia, Jwicus, 

 SopJiora, Apiuui and Sauiolus. 



To judge by the geographical position of Easter Island the dominance of a 

 Palaeotropical-Pacific element was expected. The island certainly is remote from 

 the large cluster of islands of South-eastern Polynesia, but much more distant 

 from South America. Consequently, the presence of a neotropical element is 

 surprising. Future researches will perhaps show that Siipa Jiorridula should be 

 added, which makes little difference as long as the endemic Axonopus is 

 claimed to be of neotropical parentage, and Scirpiis riparius and Polygo7uan 

 acuuiinatuin remain American. Their mode of occurrence and ecology oblige us to 

 regard them as truly indigenous, unless they have been intentionally introduced 

 in prehistoric time during one of the mythical cruises which, according to Hever- 

 DAHL, put Piaster Island in contact with Peru. A direct transport of seeds across 

 the ocean without man's assistance is difficult to imagine, and it is futile to 

 speculate in land connections. 



II. Pteridophyta (^?, 2^g). 



Polypodiaceae (in the old sense). 

 Aspleiiiuui L. 



adiautoidcs (L.) C. Chr. var. squamulosum C. Chr. et Skottsb. The species 

 trop. As.-Austral, X. Zeal, and Polyn.; also E. Afr. and adjacent islands; the 

 variety endemic. 



obljqiiiDn P^orst. Austral-circump.; the only plant reported from Sala y Gomez. 



Dai'allia Sm. About 40; wide-spread, mainly southern; As.-Polyn., S. Afr., 

 Aladag., a solitary species Ibero-Afr. and Macaron. 

 solida (Forst.) Sw. Indomal.-Polyn.-Austral. 



Doodia R. Pr. 12. "New Zealand and Juan Fernandez to Hawaii and Australia" 

 (COPELAM) 6g. 158), but "Juan P^ernandez" is a mistake for Easter I. 



paschalis C. Chr. et Skottsb. Close to /X blechjwidcs A. Cunn. (Austral.). 



Dryopteris A dans. 



Espinosai Hicken. l^elongs to a neotropical group. 

 goigylodcs (Schk.) (). K. Pantrop. 

 de)itata (Forsk.) C. Chr. Pantrop. 



ElapJioglossu))i Schott. 



Skottsbergii Krajina. Related to Ji. tahitensc Brack. 



Microlcpia Presl. 45-50; a pantrop. genus ranging north to Japan and south to 

 Madag. and X. Zeal. 



strigosa (Thunb.) Presl. Indomal.-Polyn. 



