THI£ PTERIDOPHYTA OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS ig 



Area of distribution: The species is the most cosmopolitan of all ferns, 

 ranging from 83 lat. N. to South Georgia in the South Atlantic. 



Dryopteris Adans. emend. C. Chr. 



20. D. inaequalifolia (Colla) C. Chr. K. Danske Vid. Selsk. Skr. VIII. 

 6: 73 (1920). — Syn. Polypodium inaequali folium Colla 1836: 49; P, Bertero- 

 anum Hook. Sp. Fil. 4: 269 (1862); Nephrodium villosum llemsl. 75; Johow 

 1893: 35, pro parte sed non f. 19, 1896: 65 pro parte; Polypodium punctatum, 

 Johow 1893: 36 f. 21, 1896: 166 (pro parte. 1 ); P. vestitum Johow 1893: 37 f. 22 

 [non Philippi); Dryopteris villosa cum var. Berteroana C. Chr. Arkiv f. Bot. 

 10: 13 (1910). 



Plate 3. 



One of the most common ferns, especially in all parts of the forest belt, 

 but also in the devastated areas, in suitable stations. In the elevated montane 

 forests and in well-watered gorges specimens with a short (up to 1 m high) 

 straight stem are not uncommon. Fertile specimens will probably be encoun- 

 tered at any season. 



Masatierra: In the woods of the valleys from Pto Frances to Juanango, 

 ranging from 250 m (or less) to at least 650 m (nos. 65, 161, 275, 339. 604, 

 1 151); equally common in the wooded part of the south side (no. 274). Also 

 in the old caves, no. II (rare) and no. VI (no. 1152), situated near the landing- 

 place in B. Cumberland. 



Masafuera: We are unable to tell whether all the specimens observed in 

 this island belong to f. glabrior (see below) as from man}' localities no speci- 

 mens were preserved. Q. de las Chozas, in the forest, 570 m; Q. del Mono, 

 475 m i Q- de las Casas, under rocks (no. 466); Q. del Blindado, in forest 440 m; 

 Q. de las Vacas (no. 448); Q. Inocentes, in Dicksonia-forest; Q. Angosta, 1 

 km from the entrance, at the waterfall; Q. Loberia; SE slope of Los Inocentes, 

 c. 950 m (highest altitude observed). 



The present species which is dealt with in details by CHRISTENSEN 

 (Monogr. Dryopteris Pt. II) was confounded by JoHOW with Hypolepis rugo- 

 sida which is proved from his figures and also from his herbarium. It belongs 

 to a group of closely allied species distributed through tropical America. The 

 south Andine D. spectabilis (Klf.) (Syn. Polypodium vestitum Phil.), to which 

 Johow referred a form of D. inaequalifolia, is more remotely related to our 

 species than are several of the other members of the group. 



The typical form is probably confined to Masatierra; the Masafueran form 

 has been named f. glabrior by CHRISTENSEN and SKOTTSBERG, 1. c. C. 

 Chr. 1920. 



Area of distribution: Endemic. 



