840 C. SK0TTSI3ERG 



Seeds sown in 19 18 and again in 1923. Plants still alive in 1952, but they 

 have not tlowered. 



SopJiora masafiierana (Phil.) Skottsb., "Mayu-inonte". Endemic on Masafuera, 

 on the ledges of the clifif walls in the deep canyons, not common and often 

 beyond reach. Smaller than its Masatierran congener, with thin limbs, trunk- 

 prostrate — ascending. Bark dark brown, almost black. Seasonal development 

 probably as in the former. With ripe seeds in the middle of February, 



Cuniinia eriant/ia Benth. As C. fe^-nandezia, but much more scarce and not 

 seen by us below 500 m. A small tree, but in cases a little taller than the latter 

 and the short main stem to 35 cm in diameter. Seasonal development as in this. 



Azara fernandeziana C. Gay. Flacourtiaceae. Only on Masatierra, where it is 

 scattered through the montane forest belt; very rare below 350 m, highest altitude 

 noted 570 m. Not observed west of Cordon Salsipuedes. Only a solitary or a few 

 specimens found in each place. Maximum height 10 m (Johow), trunk to 25 cm in 

 diameter. Bark similar to that in Fagara inayii, wood light brown. Leaves firm 

 membranous, glabrous, to 6 or 7 cm long. Branches collected in the beginning of 

 August, 191 7, bore open, naked buds with involute, hirsute leaves (Fig. 9 m), while 

 others observed a fortnight later in 1908 were sprouting. In full growth and bloom 

 during December, 19 16; a flowering specimen with the golden yellow tassels 

 contrasting against the bright green, lustrous foliage is a very attractive sight. 

 Growth continues all through the summer, and fruit was found in April. A tree 

 observed on April 6 had come to rest, but a young specimen nearby was still 

 producing new leaves. 



I shall add some remarks on the maqui, Aristotelia Diaqid L'Her. Introduced 

 from Chile, it has come to play an unfortunate role on Masatierra, where it is 

 crowding out the native forest. In most of the valley bottoms the maqui forms 

 a more or less wide fringe, extending up the slopes. Morphologically it is a 

 shrub, vigorously sprouting from the stem base and resembling the common 

 European hazel in habit (Fig. 10), but the individual secondary stems are of arbor- 

 eous type, so that if we call it a many-stemmed, small tree, a few m tall, this 

 is not far from the truth. Under the canopy of the maqui no native tree will 

 germinate, whereas the maqui springs up almost anywhere, if the soil is not too 

 dry; consequently, it appears under the closed cover of the luma forest. Of course 

 it does not kill the other trees, but because they are prevented from reproducing, 

 the native forest is gradually transformed into a pure macal. Dispersal is provi- 

 ded for by the numerous thrushes; this was proved by examining the stomach 

 contents. It is used as firewood, but the population is small and the growth of 

 the maqui extremely rapid, and when logged, dozens of saplings from the base 

 immediately fill the gap (PI. 63: 2). Scattered specimens were found in the higher 

 mountains of Masatierra, while it was scarce on Masafuera where, however, several 

 robust plants were met with in the interior of one of the valleys, so that there 

 is no reason to believe that this island will be spared. In April the buds, which 

 have true budscales, were resting. 



