'THE PHANEROGAMS OF THE JUAN FERNANDEZ ISLANDS 207 



number 25, more or less. The corolla is 7 mm long with comparatively short 

 and broad ligule, abruptly contracted into the narrow tube. The broad, sessile, 

 auriculate bracts are not 1 caducous as in the next species but remain during 

 the time of flower. 



D. micrantha as is the largest of the genus, a middle-sized tree with a well 

 developed main trunk 2—3 dm thick. 



Area of distribution: Endemic in Masatierra. 



141. D. pruinata (Joh.) Skottsb. — D. micrantha var. pruinata, Johow, 

 Estud. 68. — Fig. 39 d — f. 



D. micranthae arete affinis sed multis notis dispar. Arbor pumila rarius 

 ultra bi- vel trimetralis, parce subdichotome ramosa. Folia sessilia amplexicaulia, 

 oblanceolata, obtusiuscula, integerrima, subcoriacea, subtus ut cortex pedicellique 

 pruinata. Panicula sat parva et cum ilia praecedentis comparata paucicapitata, 

 bracteis magnis auriculatis mox caducis. Capitula quam in D. micrantha con- 

 spicue majora, ad 14 mm lata et alta; involucrum campanulatum, 10 mm altum 

 et medio 7 mm latum dein leviter constrictum, pruinatum, squamis circ. 14, 

 carnosis apice puberulis. Flores circ. 75, lactei. Corolla 11 mm longa, ligula 

 6x3,5 mm; stamina lutea; stylus albidus ramis viridescentibus applanatis. 

 Achaenia obovata 2,5 mm longa, glabra, vage costata nee non transverse rugosa, 

 pappo 2—2,5 mm longo. Floret mense Januario. 



Masatierra: In the dry barren coastal region, scattered; seen by us only 

 on the south side of the island. — C. Salsipuedes (Johow); Pta San Carlos 

 (JOHOW); Pto Ingles, coast rocks (Johow); between the foot of Co Yunque and 

 Villagra, fine specimens in the ravines opening into the sea (fl. 7 /i l 7< no - 232); 

 B. Chupones, coast rocks. 



Santa Clara: Ravines of the coast cliff; Morro de los Alelies (fr. 26 /i 17)- 

 Also observed by JOHOW. 



It is evident that the » micrantha* from the sea coast is different from the 

 ordinary one, and at first JOHOW was inclined to regard it as a species. But 

 as he found that plants of both, cultivated in Santiago, were too like each 

 other, he gave up this idea and wanted to explain the special characters of 

 pruinata as resulting from external conditions. It must not be forgotten that 

 almost sessile leaves, more or less coated with wax, occur in young micrantha 

 in open stations, and it is true that by the characters of the leaf D. pruinata 

 is well adapted to the conditions prevailing on the sea coast, but there are 

 differences not readily explained in this manner. D. pruinata bore flowers in 

 December — January, even in places facing S., while not a single specimen of 

 micrantha, even in the most favorable northerly exposition, flowered before the 

 end of February. Further, the head is much larger, the flowers much more 

 numerous, the bracts caducous etc. The achenes are a trifle smaller in micrantha 

 and perhaps more regularly costate. 



According to Johow both forms were found growing together on Salsi- 

 puedes, and this, if correct, hardly speaks in favour of his opinion. 



Area of distribution: Endemic in Masatierra and Santa Clara. 



