THE VEGETATION OK THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 877 



Ouebrada de las Casas is the only locality known so far (PI. lO, this vol. no. 



7; ^-^)- 



PcpcyoDiia feniaudeziana Mic]. ( )ii both islands, but also on the mainland of 

 Chile; not uncommon in the humid forests of Masatierra, ranging west to Valle 

 Ingles, on Masafuera also under overhanging rocks in the canyons (Pi. 113). 

 Terrestrial and epiphytic. A moderately succulent species with a long rhizome 

 and to 65 cm tall, branched vegetative-floral shoots. Seasonal development as 

 in the other species. For particulars, see Skottsb. 22. 



CallitricJic niargiiiata Torr. var. LccJileri Hegelm. F"ound once only, in a 

 stream in the settlement in Bahia Cumberland. Probably a recent addition to 

 the flora. 



Therophytes. 



Only 5 species of Therophytes ha\e been recorded from Juan P'ernandez, 

 a surprisingly small number in \ iew of the host of spring annuals known from 

 the mainland: Urtica Masafuerae Phil., Parietaria debilis Forst. \^x . fentayideziana 

 (Steud.) Skottsb.,' Tctragonia cxpaiisa Murr., Cardamine chenopodiifolia Pers., and 

 Plantago trujicata Cham, subsp. Sko/tsbergii Pilger. Cardamijie and Plantago are 

 confined to Masatierra [Plantago also on Santa Clara), Urtica endemic on Masa- 

 fuera, the remaining two found on both islands, Tetragonia also on Santa Clara. 

 Cardamine has been observed twice, in 1854 and 1872, Urtica only in 1854. 



The PTERIDOrilYTES. 



Ferns play a leading role in the forest and scrub, in the undergrowth and 

 as epiphytes; they form veritable forests in both islands and put their stamp on 

 the Subalpine heath of Masafuera. Of Fern Allies 2 species o'i Ly cop odium occur 

 in the high country in INIasafuera, but no Eqidseium has been recorded from Juan 

 Fernandez. Ophioglossum fernandezia)mni C. Chr. is confined to Masatierra. 



Tree-ferns. 



Dicksonia berteroana (Colla) Hook. Endemic on Masatierra, scattered or 

 forming small groves in the wooded valleys as far west as Valle Ingles and de- 

 scending to about 200 m above sea-level in well-watered gullies; much more frequent 

 above 400 m, ascending to the summit of El Yunque and locally abundant. For 

 particulars, see p. 17. Trunk not seldom to 4 or 5 m tall; largest specimen 

 measured 6 m high with a trunk 25 cm in diameter. Pis. 87, 93: i, 96: i. In 

 valleys easily accessible from the settlement in Bahia Cumberland hundreds of 

 specimens have been dug up by the inhabitants and sold to visitors, who try to 

 plant them in their gardens on the mainland, probably without success. 



Dicksonia externa Skottsb. Pandemic on Masafuera, where it replaces the 

 former. Scattered in the forest from about 450 m, forming extensive closed stands 

 on the fog-swept slopes around Los Inocentes and thin groves in the grass-land 



' P. debilis typicae arete affinis, sed dififert statura minore et debiliore nee non fructibus 

 minoribus, 1-1.15 mm longis et 0.7-0.75 mm latis; vide Skottsb. in Goteb. Vet. & Vitt. Samh. 

 Handl. 5:6. 13-14, tig. 5. The same form was described by C. Gay as /vT/>-^a /ww7/i/j« y^Chile). 



