98 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [July 



valleys and usually passes by a transitional deciduous forest to the steppes of 

 Patagonia. 



Hauman-Merck 2 * has studied the northern part of this forest, and finding 

 it quite different from the southern portion would separate the two along the 

 parallel 46°S. into the Magellan and Valdivian forests, the latter extending 

 to 36°S. and being distinguished by the richness of its flora as well as by the 

 diversity of its species. At Valdivia, near the center of the area, the annual 

 precipitation is 266 cm., well distributed. Some idea of the climate may be 

 obtained from the fact that while peaches and grapes will not ripen, apples,, 

 plums, and potatoes grow readily, while there are also plenty of bamboos and 

 bromeliads. While the mountainous character gives considerable diversity, 

 the greater portion of the valleys and slopes is covered with a luxuriant ever- 

 green forest of subtropical aspect, extremely rich in species. The different 

 strata of the forest are w r ell marked. Trees of the first size, 20-30 m. in height, 

 overtopping dense stands of smaller size, represent comparatively few species, 

 Encryphia cordifolia and the largest of the evergreen beeches, Nothofagus 

 Dombeyi, being most widely distributed. Quite as remarkable for their 

 endemic character and for their local abundance are Aextoxicum punctatum, 

 Saxegothaea conspicua, Podocarpus nubigena, and Fitzroya patagonica, the last 

 being most important as a lumber tree. Many families are represented in the 

 trees of second size, but none more conspicuously than the Myrtaceae, which 

 contributes 30 species, including shrubby forms of Eugenia, Myrtus, and Myr- 

 ceugenia. The legumes are conspicuously absent and Drymis Winteri is 

 probably most abundant. The shrubs comprise many species, and like many 

 of the trees often possess attractive flowers. Special mention should be made 

 of the abundant bamboos, some developing the climbing habit and all belong- 

 ing to the genus Chusques. Other climbers are fairly abundant and many, 

 like Hydrangea scandens, are very beautiful when in flower. Epiphytes are 

 abundant, but mostly limited to ferns, mosses, and lichens. At least 10 species 

 of Hymenophyllum were noted. Other ferns are common among the epiphytes 

 and dominate the herbaceous vegetation of the soil, Blechnum, Dryopteris, and 

 Asplenium being prominent genera. Mosses penetrate the deepest forests, 

 two particularly large and beautiful ones being Polytrichum dendroide, 30 cm. 

 high, and Hypo pterygium Thouini, 10 cm. high. 



Of the many problems of this interesting area, the occurrence of a large 

 deciduous beech, Nothofagus obliqua, in the midst of an otherwise evergreen 

 forest, and the extension of the forest upon the eastern slopes of the Andes 

 appear particularly fascinating. The transition of this eastern extension to 

 the semidesert of Patagonia receives a portion of the author's attention, as does 

 the distribution of Librocedrus chilensis, and the character of the alpine flora. 



Geo. D. Fuller. 



2 s Hauman -Merck, L m La forSt-valdivienne et ses limites. Rec. Instit. Bot 

 Leo Errera 9:347-408. 1913. 



