2,2 CARL CHRISTENSEN AND CARL SKOTTSBERG 



cies of KUNZE under Phegopteris. Having examined specimens determined by 

 METTENIUS himself we must confess that we do not understand how this keen 

 observer has arrived at such an unnatural conclusion. The only difference 

 between the two species accepted by METTENIUS (and under two different 

 genera!) is that H. Poeppigiana has the fertile lobe somewhat protruding and 

 finally recurved, covering the sori, while, in Ph. Poeppigii, the fertile and sterile 

 lobes are alike, the fertile ones recurved with age. A study of more compre- 

 hensive material will show whether this difference is sufficient for the maintaining 

 of two species; as a character of genera it is absolutely artificial. In this place 

 it is sufficient to state that all specimens from Juan Fernandez belong to Ph. 

 Poeppigii of METTENIUS. 



The present species was greatly misunderstood by Jo'HOW, which is proved 

 by his figures and remarks as well as by his specimens. His Polypodium punc- 

 tatum is for the greater part Dryopteris inaequalifolia, while Hypolepis was 

 figured as Nepkrodium villosum; but his remarks on the latter clearly refer 

 not to Hypolepis, by but to D. inaequalifolia. While this has an erect, some- 

 times subarborescent caudex, Hypolepis has a widely creeping, slender rhizome, 

 which character alone, not to speak of the numerous others, will at one serve 

 to distinguish the two plants. 



The specimens collected look rather different, diverging in size, cutting, 

 and texture. The largest ones, which could be named H. rugosula typica, have 

 a firm, broadly ovate lamina, 35 cm long by 25 wide, fully tripinnate-quadri- 

 pinnatifid, the tertiary pinnules being deeply pinnatifid. Others, corresponding 

 to Nepkrodium villosum of Johow, are of the same length and texture, but with 

 a narrower lamina (12 — 16 cm), the basal pinnae considerably reduced, bi- 

 pinnate-tripinnatifid, with obtuse secondary pinnules. This form corresponds 

 very well to Pol. Poeppigii of Kunze. There is a thinner shade-form of the 

 same. Finally we have the fine form growing in the caves (no. 587). This 

 has a thin, bright green lamina, lanceolate in outline (25 by 10 cm), barely 

 pinnatifid with lobed secondary pinnulae. A specimen from Masafuera is 

 smaller still (no. 439) the fully fertile leaves, of a rather firm texture, are only 

 12 by 4 cm, lanceolate, bipinnatifid. Such specimens approach very much H. 

 obtusata (Pr.) Kuhn (syn. Polypodium fulvescens Hook et Grev., t. spec. orig. 

 in Herb. Kevv), a high Andine species, referred to H. rugosula by Hooker, 

 Sp. Fil. 4: 272. 



Area of distribution: Taken in a wider sense, the species inhabits 

 Australia, Chile, Juan Fernandez and probably also Tristan d'Acunha. 



Adiantum L. 



36. A. chilense Klf. Enum. 207 (1824); C. Chr. Ind. 24; Arkiv for Bot. 

 10: 4 (1910).' — Syn. A. aethiopieum, Hemsl. 70; Johow 1893: 23 f. 5 a— c, 

 1896: 156 nou L. 



A very common plant, ranging from the sea coast to the highest ridges, 

 found both in the forest region and on the open, barren slopes near the sea. 

 With ripe sporangia in the autumn and winter. 



