29- The Vegetation of the Juan Fernandez Islands. 



By 



C. SKOTTSBKRG. 



With Plates 58 — 116 and 2 Maps. 



Thiityfive years have passed since the modest research expedition known as 

 "The Swedish Pacific Expedition 1916 — 17" was brought to a close. While the 

 collections were taken care of for taxonomic study by myself and a considerable 

 number of collaborators, a description of the plant communities had to wait until 

 these studies had been finished. In 1942, the last of the series of papers dealing with 

 the Cryptogams, which are of paramount physiognomical significance in these 

 islands, was published. Long before that I had begun to arrange my field notes, 

 but for various reasons not to be dwelt upon here I was prevented from 

 returning to this matter until September, 1951. It cannot be denied that this 

 long delay has had an unfavourable influence on the quality of my paper; it 

 should have been written when impressions were still fresh and every detail in my 

 diary and field notes stood out with perfect clearness. 



This memoir completes the Botany volume, and I use this occasion to pay 

 a tribute of gratitude to my wife and companion, Mrs. Inga Skottsherg, who 

 devoted herself to our work with extraordinary energy and never failing interest. 

 After our return to the mainland from a visit to Easter Island, the third member 

 of our party, Mr. (now Dr.) K. BACKSTROM, paid a second visit to Masatierra in 

 August, 1 91 7. In order to get an idea of the winter stage of the trees and shrubs 

 I had asked him to collect suitable material and to preserve it in alcohol, and 

 this he did to my entire satisfaction. I am also indebted to him for the use of 

 his negatives for reproduction. 



During our permanence in the islands sketch maps of the distribution of the 

 principal plant communities were made, using the available but rather unsatis- 

 factory charts and maps with such corrections as we were able to furnish. In 

 1952, the Chilean Air Force undertook an aerial survey of Masatierra and Santa 

 Clara on my request and most generously put the result at my disposal, allowing 

 me to improve the older maps. I want to express my deepest gratitude for this 

 invaluable assistance. In this connection I also tender my very best thanks to 

 the Swedish Minister in Chile, Mr. FOLKE Wennerberg, and to Mr. Bertil 

 Frodin of Santiago, who carried out the negotiations with the Chilean author- 

 ities. The final compilation of the vegetation maps is due to the skill of the 

 Cartographic Institute, Stockholm. 



If not otherwise stated, the photographs were taken by the author, who also 

 is responsible for the drawings. 



Riksmuseum, Stockholm, September 1952. 



53 — 516796. The Nat. Hist, of Juan Fernandez and Easter Isl. Vol. II. 



