2 2 CARL CHRISTENSEN AND CARL SKOTTSBERG 



ently exindusiate, lies in the base of the lamina. The Samoan plant has a 

 gradually narrowed base leaving only a very short stipe free of pinnae; A. 

 altescandens has the stipe 3 — 5 cm long and the lamina scarcely narrowed 

 downwards, although frequently a single shortened basal pinna is present. The 

 midribs of the pinnae are softly villous with articulate hairs in A. altescandens; 

 such hairs occur only sparingly in the Polynesian species. 

 Area of distribution: Endemic. 



Asplenium L. 



24. A. obliquum Forst. 80 (1786) var. chondrophyllum (Bert.) Mett. 

 Aspl. 137 no. 21. — Syn. A. chondrophyllum Bertero ex Colla 1836: 40 tab. 

 68; A. obtusatum Hemsl. 74; Johow 1893: 31 f. 14, 1896: 162; C. Chr. Ind. 124 

 pro parte. 



Along the sea shore, in crevices and under overhanging rocks. Probably 

 fertile the year round. 



Masatierra: B. Cumberland (Johow); Puerto Ingles, not uncommon (no. 

 313, also listed by Johow). 



Santa Clara: Johow. 



Masafuera: Not uncommon on the cliffs from Q. del Ovalo along the 

 coast to Pta Negra and probably also in other places (no. 511); also in the 

 interior of Q. de las Casas. 



The differences between the two species of Forster, A, obtusatum and 

 A. obliquum, were clearly explained by METTENIUS, and we do not doubt that 

 they are both good species, distinguished besides by the number and shape of 

 pinnae especially by the different scales on the lower side of the lamina. In A. obtu- 

 satum these scales are minute, dilacerate, in A. obliquum ovate, entire, acuminate. 

 The Juan Fernandez form agrees with A. obliquum in its scales, but the more 

 common, smaller form, figured by Colla, has much the aspect of A. obtusa- 

 tum; still forms have been collected that scarcely differ in size from A. obli- 

 quum, so that it seems quite natural to refer it to that species as a variety. 

 From both the Australian species the variety differs by the colour of the basal 

 scales, which are reddish brown and not dirty ferrugineous as in the others. 



Similar forms from Chile were described as A. sphenoides Kze and A. 

 consimile Gay; they have the dirty brown basal scales of typical obliquum, and 

 their rather numerous pinnae are shortly acuminate, the margins duplicato- 

 serrate with rather acute teeth, while var. chondrophyllum sometimes has nearly 

 entire, sometimes obtusely serrate, obtuse pinnae. 



Area of distribution: South Chile; Juan Fernandez; Australia, New Zea- 

 land. Typical chondrophylltnn only known from Juan Fernandez. 



25. A. macrosorum Bertero ex Colla 1836: 39 tab. 67 (bona); Kunze, 



Anal. 2i (1837); Hemsl. 74; Johow 1893: 32 f. 16, 1896: 162. 

 Plate 1, Fig. 2. 



