nil PTERIDOPHYTA OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 37 



The specimens of this species, for the first time collected in Juan Fer- 

 nandez, agree perfectly well with the small form from I'm via described a 



Hiiiui Brack., which is nothing but a dwarf form of G. magellanica Desv. In 

 1910 (1. c.) were pointed out the differences between the South American form 

 and the typical G. Billardieri [Pol. australe R. Br.) from Australia, New Zea 

 land etc., and it is a matter of convenience whether the two forms ought to 

 be regarded as two separate species or as forms of a single (me. We prefei 

 the latter as the American plant is intimately related to the typical form, while, 

 on the other hand, it has no near relative in South America. In any case it 

 is an Antarctic element in the South American flora. 



Area of distribution: Australia, Tasmania, New Zealand, Lord Howe's 

 Island, Norfolk Island, Auckland and Campbell's Islands. South Chile; Valdivia 

 to Fuegia; Juan Fernandez (var. magellanicum). 



V. intermedium Colla 1836: 51 tab. 74. — Syn. P. transluccns Kunze, 

 Anal, pteridol. 16 (1837); Hemsl. 76 tab. 13; Johow 1893: 39 f. 23, 1896: 166 

 tab. 18; GoniopJilebium translucens Fee, Gay 6: 509. 



COLLA's name must be preferred to Kunze's, being one year older; it is 

 not invalidated by an earlier P. intermedium Willd. as erroneously stated in 

 Ind. Fil. 570. In Willd. Spec. 5: 262 P. intermedium Muhlb. is quoted as a 

 M.S. name only for Aspidium intermedium Willd. 



This species is endemic, although Gay etc. also quoted Chile as its native 

 country, for the specimens in Chilean herbaria belong to P. synammia (Fee). 

 As mentioned by Hemsley and JOHOW it is very variable. The collection 

 includes a series of varieties, of which three correspond to those figured by 

 HEMSLEY. The extreme forms are so different that they can be mistaken for 

 separate species, but they all have the essential characters in common, and a 

 similar degree of variation is known in several species, e. g. in P. virfgarc, 

 the forms of which correspond in a remarkable way to those of the present 

 species. 



All forms have the same thick rhizome, densely covered with imbricate, 

 peltate, ovate-lanceolate scales, which are dark reddish brown and thicker in 

 the centre, paler and thinner at the margins and apex. The stipe is rather 

 pale, glabrous, and distinctly articulated just above the base. Lamina deltoid, 

 the pinnae connected by a narrow wing to the pale rhachis, the basal ones a 

 little decurrent; surface glabrous, texture generally thin, margins hyaline or 

 cartilagineous, veins very visible in their lower course, where they are dark- 

 coloured, but becoming nearly invisible towards their tips. Costal areoles di- 

 stinct, outside each areole 2—4 free veins, that do not reach the margin; for 

 exceptions, see below. The areole includes a free veinlet, which bears a sorus 

 at its apex; sometimes it is furcate. The receptacles are distinctly linear but 

 short, the young sori oblong, a little immersed, the mature globose and 

 superficial. 



All forms show these characters: they differe in size, texture and degree 

 of division. 



Smallest leaves are 6 cm long and wide (stipe excluded), largest 24 cm 

 long and wide; sometimes the lamina is broader than long. Typically it is 



