113 REPORT— 1869. 



On the Flora of the Strait of MageUan and West Coast of Patar/onia. 

 By Robert 0. Ccnningham, M.D., C.M.Z.S. 



The author of this paper haTino- been engaged during the years 1866-69 in 

 capacity of Naturalist to an expedition for surveying the Strait of Magellan and 

 neighbouring regions, had had many opportunities of studying the fauna and 

 flora of the district, and mentioned some of the principal facts regarding the 

 plants. 



Beginning at the eastern entrance of the Strait, and proceeding westwards to 

 Cape Pillar, and northwards through the long line of channels extending along 

 the west coast of Patagonia, between the western entrance of the Strait and the 

 Gulf of Penas, three regions may be recognized, the first and third of which are most 

 distinctly opposed to one another in their leading features; the second, or interme- 

 diate area, forming in some respects a connecting link between the other two. 

 Each of these areas possesses a certain number of species of plants and animals 

 peculiar to itself, as well as a certain number common to its neighbours. 



The first region is limited to the north-eastern part of the Strait of Magellan, 

 extending from the eastern entrance to Cape Negro on the Patagonian, and rather 

 further in a south-westerly direction on the Fuegian coasts. It consists of a vast 

 tract of low-lying undulating plains, with here and there a range of low saddle- 

 backed hills ; and boulder-clay is the principal geological formation. It is entirely 

 destitute of trees, and almost so of shrubs, covered with yellow grass, dry and 

 arid in its nature, abounding in small lakes and ponds of salt water, and only here 

 and there presenting a green oasis where a small stream finds its way into the 

 waters of the Strait. It may be considered as a continuation of that vast tract of 

 Pampas which extends throughout Patagonia and the Argentine Republic as far 

 north as the extreme of the Plate. Over these plains the Guanaco, Puma, and 

 Hhea, hunted by the far-famed Patagonians, roam. The atmosphere is dry and 

 clear, and the climate a delightful and exhilarating one. 



The third region is very different in all re.spect8, being foi-med of very rugged 

 mountainous country, densely covered with impenetrable evergreen woods, with 

 intervals of bare boggy land. It may be defined as reaching from Port Famine to 

 the western entrance to the Strait, and northwards through the channels to the 

 Gulf of Peiias. The climate is one of the most humid in the world, the atmo- 

 sphere being hardly ever free from mist, and heavy rain falling almost every day 

 throughout the year, fi'equently for many days and nights together. Magnificent 

 glaciers occur abundantly, and innumerable streams flow down the mountain sides 

 in most places, so polishing the rugged faces of the hills as to render their ascent 

 difficult, if not impossible, and feeding long chains of lakes and tarns which occupy 

 the narrow and winding valleys. Deer are occasionally to be met with in the 

 woods, and otter, seal, and poi-poises in the water of the channels ; but there is a 

 great paucity of animal life in this district. 



The second region intermediate in position between the other two, and also as 

 regards its character, extends fi-om the beginning of the wooded country at Cape 

 Negro as far as Port Famine. Its mountains are not so steep, and its forests not so 

 impenetrable as those of the third or western region ; and it presents considerable 

 tracts of land available for pasture. The prevailing tree in the woods is the de- 

 ciduous or antarctic beech, which imparts a well-marked aspect to the landscape. 

 Though there is a considerable rainfall, the climate cannot be considered as a wet 

 one, and there is much fine bright weather, though the sun has no great strength. It 

 is in this district that the Chilian colony of Punta Arenas (Sandy Point) is situated, 

 and there cattle thri^-e in the open air, and various green crops come to maturity. 

 Parraquets, Woodpeckers, and a variety of small birds, inhabit the woods; aiid 

 geese, snipe, and an Ibis frequent the open tracts of ground. 



The distribution of the various orders, genera, and species of plants throughout 

 these three regions was then considered somewhat in detail, and the existence of a 

 considerable number of species not previously recorded as inhabitants of them was 

 noted. Among the additions to the fiora of the first region, Adesmia huronioides, 

 Arabis Muclovann, Botnjchium lunaria, Crantzia lineatn, jkippiiris vulgaris, and 

 Oenothera were specified. Instances of plants apparently peculiar to the second 



