THE VEGEIATION OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 871 



group has not been well studied in Chile, and I doubt that .S". robinsonian2<m 

 belonged to the flora of the islands before the arrival of man — an analogous 

 case is 'faraxaciDH J'crnafK/e.ziaiiinu Dahlst. which, witiiout doubt, has been in- 

 troduced recent!)'. 



Herbaceous Chamaephytes. 



Byo))iHS fi-y)iandezia)ius (Phil.) Skottsb. Common in the wooded parts of Masa- 

 tierra, in open glades and among brusinvood from about 250 m to the high rid- 

 ges and down to about 200 m on the V'illagra side, often seen in abundance 

 on the steep slopes, deeply rooted in rock fissures and hanging down over the 

 cliffs. Less common on Masafuera but frequent on the canyon walls and luxur- 

 iating in wet moss carpets; ascends to about 1350 m. A slender cespitose grass 

 with culms to 12 m long or more, geniculate, branching. Flowers Nov. — Feb. 



Carex bcrterojiiaiia Steud. Endemic; fairly common on Masatierra from Puerto 

 Frances to Ouebrada juanango and in the forested country on the south side of 

 the island, generally in open spaces in the woods, but also on rock ledges and 

 in the mountain scrub, between 200 and 600 m above sea-level. Apparently much 

 more local on Masafuera, on the canyon walls and in the forest, not observed 

 above 450 m. A large, densely cespitose species with culms to i m tall. With 

 flowering spikes from September to January; ripe fruits collected in P'ebruary. 



Seeds sown 26.7 1918 germinated in the middle of August; flowers and fruit in 

 April 1920. Of easy cultivation. 



Paronychia chiteiisis DC. Caryophyllaceae. Barren slopes on the north side 

 of Masatierra, rare and perhaps a recent arrival. A small, bushy perennial with 

 decumbent branches, silvery white from the large, lustrous and thinly pap}Taceous 

 stipules. With fruit in December. 



Ranunculus caprarum Skottsb. Endemic on Masafuera and only observed 

 on top of the high western barranca at 1200 — 1300 m altitude, very rare. A stout 

 rhizomatous, rosulate herb (p. 124, fig. 8) with scape to 75 cm high; the few 

 individuals found bore almost ripe achenes and leafy basal innovations. All had 

 been damaged by goats. 



Cardamine flaccida Cham, et Schlecht. In wet soil and along the streams 

 in the forested region of Masatierra, but not observed above 300 m. A tender 

 and fragile, more or less decumbent herb, rooting from the lower nodes. With 

 flowers and pods Dec. — April. 



Cardamine Kruesselii Johow. Endemic on Masafuera. In some of the valleys, 

 rare. A small, 10 — 15 cm tall, rosulate herb with a tuberous vertical rhizome. 



Apiuni ferna7idezianuin Johow, "Panul". Endemic in the dry western part 

 of Masatierra near the sea, local and very scarce. A characteristic species (Skottsb. 

 J, pi. 5:6), low, rosulate with up to i m long stolons rooting at the nodes and 

 giving rise to new plants. With flowers Aug. — Jan.; ripe fruit collected in January. 



Sown in March 1920, flowered and fruited in September; easily propagated by 

 cuttings. 



