THE PTBRIDOPHYTA OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 2 1 



615 m and in O. Helechos, 660 m; O. Juanango, c. 200 m; Q. Villagra; Q. de 

 la Choza, in forest 250 m. 



IVfasafuera: Q. del Mono, in the woods, 4 — 500 m; O. del Blindado, 

 forest, 440 m; O. dc las Casas, in the canyon (no. 555); Q. Angosta, c. 1 km 

 from the entrance, at the waterfall; the Correspondencia Camp in the ravine, 

 1 160 in; edge of the western precipice, at Las Torres, 1370 m; summit of Co 

 Correspondencia, 1420 in. 



It may be doubted whether the aculeatum-foxm of Juan Fernandez really 

 is identical with P. vestitum. In most characters it certainly agrees with speci- 

 mens from Australia while, on the other hand, it differs much from the more 

 common form of New Zealand [P. venustum Hombr. et Jacq.). It is dark green 

 above, rather soft in texture, the basal scales black with pale borders, the scales 

 of the rhachis reddish, thin, tapering from the broad lacerate base into a long, 

 contorted, hairlike apex but always lacking the black scales of P. venustum 

 {= P. vestitum Christ Arkiv for Bot. 4: 5). The upper basal pinnules are often 

 much lengthened and fully pinnate. The reference in 1910 to P. orbiculatum 

 was due to the misinterpretation of the latter by ClIRIST. 



Area. of distribution: Taken in a wide sense, the species inhabits Sub- 

 antarctic America, Juan Fernandez, Australia and New Zealand. 



Arthropteris J. Sm. 



23. A. altescandens (Colla) J. Sm. Hist. Fil. 225; C. Chr. Ind. 62. — 

 Syn. Polypodium altcscandais Colla 1836: 48; Nephrolepis altescandens Baker, 

 Hemsl. 76; Johow 1893: 35 f. 20, 1896: 165. Polypodium procurrens Kze 

 Anal. 17. 



Only found in the lower parts of the forest region, trailing over stones 

 and fallen stems or climbing to a considerable height in the trees. (Fertile 

 Aug., Dec. — April.) 



Masatierra: Pto Frances (Joiiow); Pangal, common from one hundred m 

 upwards; Q. Damajuana, c. 250 m, very common on the trees (no. 60); V. 

 Anson, in the woods surrounding the Plazoleta del Yunque; C. Central, c. 

 400 m, numerous; V. Colonial, quebradas in the interior, not uncommon 250 — 

 350 m (no. 44); Q. Juanango. 



Masafuera, rare: Q. de las Casas (detected 1908), in the canyon; in 191 7 

 only seen on a tree fallen down from the steep wall (no. 507). 



This endemic fern is a pronounced Polynesian element in the flora. No 

 American species is known to which it might be compared, while, on the other 

 hand, some Polynesian forms, especially from Samoa, which have been referred 

 to the collective species A. oblitevata (R. Br.) J. Sm. are intimately related to 

 our species. Other very close relatives grow in Queensland (see DOMIN, Bibl. 

 Bot. Heft 85: 60-64 c. figs.). The African A. ramosa, generally but incorrectly 

 united with the eastern Polynesian forms, and the Australian A. tenella are 

 both more remotely related to it. The main difference between A. altescandens 

 and the Samoan form mentioned, which are both green when dried and appar 



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