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American Fern Journal 92(2]:93-96 (2002) Additions Fern the Flora of Saba, to Netherlands Antilles David B. Lellinger Museum Department of Botany, National of Natural History Smithsonian Institution, DC Washington, 20560-0166 — Abstract. Recent fieldwork on Saba, Netherlands Antilles, has resulted in the discovery of nine known fern species unrecorded for the island. All are from other islands in the Antilles, as well from as other tropical areas. Saba a volcanic island about three kilometers in diameter that rises is m The summit to about 850 in a graceful cone called Mt. Scenery. the is highest point in the Kingdom of The Netherlands. Saba lies south of Sint Windward end Maarten/St. Martin the Island chain the northern of the in at Lesser Antilles. About 1,300 people reside on Saba, vv^hich is little visited by and rocky headlands tourists because of small size precipitous, that pre- its A vent beaches from forming. beautiful fringing recently declared a na- reef, SCUBA tional park, makes the island a choice destination for divers, but and Saba opportunities hiking, birding, botanising. also offers for Although the island has been occupied for more than 350 years, a roller hewed was road running the length of the island out of the rock coaster-like and extensive retaining walls to contain the road were built by hand less than a half centurv ago. Prior to the road, all travel on the island was on rath the A tween day's hike usually includes elevation them, locally called guts. have been changes 500 m. In recent years, additional trails con- of least at make Scenery more structed on the slopes and to the top of Mt. to of the is- now land The road connects the three principal villages accessible to hikers. end minute beach with dock and the southwestern of the island, a a jetty at (when exposed on the western side, and a very short air field on at all) it is take dock and Ferry boats run from the jetty. aircraft. Mt more moist than Sint Maarten/St. Martin and therefore time, the island is upon depend convection and other nearby low islands that entirely for their The water has resulted in a diverse native vegetation that additional rainfall. which above occur different elevations has been divided types, at into five wood- grassy scrub near sea level, dry the sea roughly concentric circles: as above on leeward moist forest these types, land above grassy scrub the side, summit oKr^T.o TTiniot fnrfiQt 3nd cloiid forest at the of Mt. Scenerv. T-QiTi fr^r-oct