A Contribution to the Flora and Vegetation of Isla De Los Estados (Staten Island), Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina

192 Pages·7.54 MB·English

by  T. R. Dudley, G. E. Crow(auth.)

ANTARCTIC
Volume 37 RESEARCH
SERIES
Terrestrial Biology II
Bruce Parker, Editor
A Contribution to
the Flora and Vegetation
of Isla de los Estados (Staten Island),
Tierra del Fuego, Argentina
T. R. Dudley
U.S. National Arboretum, Agricultural Research Service
U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20002
With contributions and photographs by
G. E. Crow
Albion R. Hodgdon Herbarium, Department of Botany and Plant Pathology
University of New Hampshire, Durham, New Hampshire 03824
(cid:127) AmericaGn eophysicUanl ion
Washington, D.C.
1983
ANTARCTIC
Volume 37 RESEARCH
SERIES
TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY II
BRUCEP ARKER,E ditor
A CONTRIBUTION TO THE FLORA AND VEGETATION OF ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS (STATEN ISLAND),
TIERRA DEL FUEGO, ARGENTINA
T. R. DUDLEY WITH G. E. CROW
Published under the aegis of the
Board of Associate Editors, Antarctic Research Series
Charles R. Bentley, Chairman
Samuel C. Colbeck, Robert H. Eather, David Elliot,
Dennis Hayes, Louis S. Kornicker,
Heinz Lettau, Bruce Parker
Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data
Dudley, T. R. (Theodore R.), 1936-
A contribution to the flora and vegetation of
Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), Tierra del
Fuego, Argentina.
(Antarctic research series ; v. 37) (Terrestrial
biology ;2)
Bibliography: p.
1. Botany--Argentina--Isla de los Estados.
2. Phytogeography--Argentina--Isla de los Estados.
3. Isla de los Estados (Argentina) I. Crow,
Garrett E. II. Title. III. Series. IV. Series:
Antarctic research series ; v. 37.
QK261.D76 1982 581.982'76 82-20686
ISBN 0-87590-185-9
ISSN 0066-4634
Copyright 1983 by the American Geophysical Union
2000 Florida Avenue, N. W.
Washington, D.C. 20009
Figures, tables, and short excerpts may be reprinted in
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cited; all other rights reserved.
Published by
AMERICAN GEOPHYSICAL UNION
With the aid of grant DPP-8019997 from the
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Printed in the United States of America
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BOARD OF ASSOCIATE EDITORS
ANTARCTIC RESEARCH SERIES
ANTARCTIC
American Geophysical Union RESEARCH
SERIES
Physical Sciences BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS VI
David L. Pawson, Editor
ANTARCTIC OCEANOLOGY BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS VII
Joseph L. Reid, Editor David L. Pawson, Editor
ANTARCTIC OCEANOLOGY II: THE AUSTRALIAN- BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS VIII
NEW ZEALAND SECTOR David L. Pawson and Louis S. Kornicker, Editors
Dennis E. Hayes, Editor BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS IX
Louis S. Kornicker, Editor
ANTARCTIC SNOW AND ICE STUDIES BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS X
Malcom Mellor, Editor Louis S. Kornicker, Editor
ANTARCTIC SNOW AND ICE STUDIES II BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS XI
A. P. Crary, Editor Louis S. Kornicker, Editor
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS XlI
ANTARCTIC SOILS AND SOIL FORMING PROCESSES
David L. Pawson, Editor
J. C. F. Tedrow, Editor
DRY VALLEY DRILLING PROJECT ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY
L. D. McGinnis, Editor George A. Llano, Editor
GEOLOGY AND PALEONTOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY II
Jarvis B. Hadley, Editor Bruce Parker, Editor
GEOLOGY OF THE CENTRAL TRANSANTARCTIC MOUNTAINS TERRESTRIAL BIOLOGY III
Mort D. Turner and John E. Splettstoesser,E ditors Bruce Parker, Editor
GEOMAGNETISM AND AERONOMY
A. H. Waynick, Editor ANTARCTIC ASCIDIACEA
METEOROLOGICASLT UDIESA T PLATEAU STATION, Patricia Kott
ANTARCTICA ANTARCTIC BIRD STUDIES
Joost A. Businger, Editor Oliver L. Austin, Jr., Editor
STUDIES IN ANTARCTIC METEOROLOGY ANTARCTIC PINNIPEDIA
Morton J. Rubin, Editor William Henry Burt, Editor
UPPER ATMOSPHERE RESEARCH IN ANTARCTICA ANTARCTIC CIRRIPEDIA
L. J. Lanzerotti and C. G. Park, Editors William A. Newman and Arnold Ross
BIRDS OF THE ANTARCTIC AND SuB-ANTARCTIC
Biological and Life Sciences George E. Watson
ENTOMOLOGY OF ANTARCTICA
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS J. Linsley Gressitt, Editor
Milton 0. Lee, Editor HUMAN ADAPTABILITY TO ANTARCTIC CONDITIONS
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS II E. K. Eric Gunderson, Editor
George A. Llano, Editor POLYCHAETA ERRANTIA OF ANTARCTICA
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS III Olga Hartman
George A. Llano and Waldo L. Schmitt, Editors POLYCHAETA MYZOSTOMIDAE AND SEDENTARIA OF
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS IV ANTARCTICA
GeorgeA . Llano and I. Eugene Wallen, Editors Olga Hartman
BIOLOGY OF THE ANTARCTIC SEAS V RECENT ANTARCTIC AND SUBANTARCTIC BRACHIOPODS
David L. Pawson, Editor Merrill W. Foster
Contents
Acknowledgments .......................... vi
Abstract ............................ vii
1. Introduction (T. R. Dudley and G. E. Crow) .......... 1
2. Vegetation (G. E. Crow, T. R. Dudley, and E. C. Dudley) .... 8
3. Climate (G. E. Crow) ..................... 26
4. Cooperating specialists (T. R. Dudley) ............ 27
5. Herbaria receiving duplicate specimens (T. R. Dudley) ..... 28
6. Coordinates and codes of geographic features and landmarks
(T. R. Dudley) ....................... 29
7. Abbreviationsa nd translations of English, Spanish, and
Latin words (T. R. Dudley) ................. 33
8. Systematica nd annotated synopsiso f vascular plants
(T. R. Dudley) ....................... 34
Pteridophyta ......................... 34
Spermatophyta-Gymnospermae .................. 45
Angiospermae-Dicotyledonae .................. 45
Angiospermae-Monocotyledoneae ................ 101
9. Addendumto systematic and annotated synopsis of vascular
plants (T. R. Dudley) ................... 113
10. Taxa reported from Isla de los Estados or Peninsula Mitre
but not reconfirmed in 1971 (T. R. Dudley) ........ 116
11. Selected taxa unrecorded for Isla de los Estados and
Bahias Buen Suceso and Valentln of Peninsula Mitre
(T. R. Dudley) ...................... 121
12. Systematic guide to taxa in synopsis (sections 8 and 9) . . . 133
13. Alphabetical index of taxa discussed in sections 10
and 11 .......................... 135
Comprehensive bibliography ................... 137
Cited references ...................... 137
Addendum(T . R. Dudley, G. E. Crow, and D. W. Walton) .... 146
Acknowledgments
?be success of the Research Vessel (R/V) Hero Federal Research, USDA; and H. T. Skinner and J.
cruise 71-5 to Isla de los Estados, Argentina, was L. Creech, retired directors of the U.S. National
in large measure due to the interest, resourceful- Arboretum, Washington D. C., and F. S. Santamour,
ness, ingenuity, and cooperative spirit expressed former acting director.
by Captain Franklin P. Liberty, Master of the R/V Without the fortitude and skill demonstrated by
Hero, and his crew: G. Strom, chief officer; J. B. Carr and by P. Demuth, this paper would never
Mennona, second officer' A. Hernandez, radio offi- have become a reality. Their expertise and dili-
cer; D. Rowen and B. Sollner, A.B. seamen; T. Pul- gence were invaluable and essential, and suffi-
cher, chief engineer; W. Mulcahy, assistant engi- cient appreciation cannot be expresseR. The con-
neer; R. Eaton, Jr., engineer; R. Rodgers, cook tinuing patience, consideration, and qualifica-
and chief steward; and W. Murphy, messman. It is tions of the AGU copy editor, C. Edwards, are
with sincere thanks that their skill and exper- humbly admired and gratefully recognized. For her
tise, genuine hospitality, courtesy, and good continued enthusiasm, support, and consideration,
nature, even under the most adverse conditions, as well as impeccable advice and assistance in the
are acknowledged. mechanics of manuscript preparation, Elizabeth
The untiring assistance of R. N. P. Goodall is Corning Dudley, a fellow scientist, deserves
also gratefully acknowledged. As one of two col- strong personal accolades.
lecting assistants, she excelled in her tasks and The excellent photographs and illustrations that
performed accurately and efficiently in the field, accompany the text are provided primarily through
under a variety of meteorologic conditions, as the courtesy of colleagues and co-collectors of
well as in the shipboard laboratory. Long hours the flora of Tierra del Fuego.
of tedious and often very strenuous field work did The joint U.S.-Argentine botanical expedition,
not detract from her perseverance and dedication R/V Hero cruise 71-5 to Isla de los Estados, was
to the objectives of the expedition. performed under the auspices of the Office of
Sincere thanks for their administrative assis- Polar Programs, National Science Foundation,
tance and support are also extended to G. Llano, Washington, D. C. T. R. Dudley served as scien-
retired director of the Office of Polar Programs, tist-in-charge of vascular plants. G. E. Crow and
National Science Foundation; A. A. Piringer, R.N.P. Goodall served as research assistants for
former assistant director, Chesapeake-Potomac vascular plants.
Area, Science and Education Administration,
vi
Ab s tract
The spermatophytaen d pteridophytef lora of Isla to science. These are Armeria maritima subsp.
de los Estados, Territorio Nacional de la Tierra andina var. goodalliana T. R. Dudley, var. nov.'
del Fuego, Ant(cid:127)rtida e Islas del Atl(cid:127)ntico Sur, and Caltha x goodalliana T. R. Dudley, hybrida
DepartamentoU shuaia, Argentina, is presented in nov. Furthermore,o ne new combinationa t the rank
a systematic format. Detailed descriptions and of formaa nd three newc ombinationsa t the species
analyses of the plant formations; associations rank are proposed. These are Grammitis magel-
and communities; ecological considerations; lanica f. nana (Brackenridge) de la Sota ex T. R.
environmental factors; the island's geography, Dudley, comb.n ov.' Lagenifera hariotii (Franchet)
topography, and climate; and a brief historical T.R. Dudley, comb.n ov.' L. nudicaulis (Commerson
outline of botanical exploration of the remote ex Lamarck)T . R. Dudley, comb.n ov.; and Gamo-
island accompantyh e taxonomica nd nomenclatural chaeta malvinensis (Koyama)T . R. Dudley, comb.
accounts of the herbarium specimen collections nov.
resulting from ResearchV essel (R/V) Hero cruise The collection numbersa re groupedg eographi-
71-5. cally' those from Bas. Buen Suceso and Valent(cid:127)n
The taxonomicc atalog, entitled the Systematic of Peninsula Mitre are first, followed by the pur-
and Annotated Synopsis of Vascular Plants, enumer- posefully copious materials from Isla de los Es-
ates all genera, species, and infraspecific taxa tados. These in turn are followed by the speci-
of angiospermsa nd ferns that are positively known men citations from Islas A(cid:127)o Nuevo, specifically
to be indigenous to Isla de los Estados, or that Isla Observatorio and Isla Alf(cid:127)rez Goffre. The
have been inadvertently introduced and natural- Magellanic Chilean specimensa re cited last. When
ized (e.g., Taraxacum officinale). This pertinent and necessary,n omenclatural,t axonomic,
systematic synopsis is based almost exclusively phytogeographical, and ecological observations and
on the extensive botanical collections and field conclusions are incorporated following the her-
observations made on Isla de los Estados during barium specimenc itations of each taxon.
October and Novembero f 1971 by the collecting Both the systematic synopsis (section 8) and
team of T. R. Dudley, R. N. P. Goodall, and G.E. the ecological evaluation of the vegetation of
Crow. These herbarium materials resulted from Isla de los Estados (section 2) are important to
participation in the joint U.S.-Argentine bo- critically interpret the biotic and floristic
tanical expedition, R/V Hero cruise 71-5 to Isla circumstances of the Fuegian archipelago as a
de los Estados, under the auspices of the Office whole, and other nearly subantarctic, truly
of Polar Programs, National Science Foundation, subantarctic, and antarctic islands. At the same
Washington, D.C. time that herbarium specimens were collected and
The herbarium specimens collected at the very processed, detailed observations were recorded
beginning of the expedition from Bahfas (Bas.) about morphological characters essential for
Buen Suceso and Valentfn at the extreme southern identification, distributional patterns, dispersal
tip of Penfnsula Mitre, Isla Grande, Territorio mechanisms, pollination agents, and ecological
Nacional de la Tierra del Fuego, are incorporated preferences and requirements for common and wide-
into the systematic synopsis for purposes of phy- spread taxa, as well as for those that are rare or
togeographical comparision and analysis. These infrequent. These data have been included in the
specimens and observations from Penfnsula Mitre text.
are of definite significance because Isla de los Analysis and interpretation of the geographical
Estados is only about 40 km to the east, being isolation of Isla de los Estados and the presence
separated by the turbulent Estrecho de Le Maire. of natural dispersal barriers are significant to
A smaller collection of herbarium specimens from the investigation of the factors affecting the
Provincia Magallanes, Chile, was accumulated be- distribution and dispersal of plants, particularly
fore embarking aboard the R/V Hero cruise from those of the austral regions. Isla de los Estados
Punta Arenas. These Chilean materials are also and Penfnsula Mitre are important land masses for
incorporated in the systematic synopsis, likewise biosystematic studies of circumantarctic species
for purposes of comparison, and because this col- that are also represented in the floras of the
lection, although small, reflects a portion of the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere
accomplishments of the expedition. (e.g., Armeria maritima). Taxonomic and ecolog-
Seventeen pteridophytes, 110 dicotyledons, and ical knowledge of the flora of Isla de los Estados
more than 30 monocotyledons are indigenous to or is essential to evaluate and elucidate the phyto-
naturalized on Isla de los Estados. Each genus, geographical disjunctions of amphiantarctic taxa,
species, and infraspecific taxon included in the as well as amphitropical species that occur in
systematic synopsis is provided with the complete cool, temperate regions and demonstrate bipolar
bibliographic citation of original publication. distributions.
Detailed geographical, distributional, and ecolog- Listing and discussion of a few vascular plants
ical information abstracted from field notes and that had been previously reported or collected on
observations is furnished for each collection Isla de los Estados, or from Penfnsula Mitre, but
number. One variety and one naturally occurring which were not documented by the 1971 collections
hybrid are described and documented as being new from these locations, are provided. Another sec-
vii
tion enumerates a number of selected taxa that 1971, commencing with the second circumnavi-
were anticipated to be components of the flora of gational voyage of Captain Cook, the floristic
Isla de los Estados and Penfnsula Mitre but were survey and herbarium collections resulting from
not discovered by the 1971 expedition. These the 1971 exploration constitute the largest and
lists are incorporated into this study of the most complete representation of the island's vas--
vegetation of Isla de los Estados as a stimulus cular plant and fern flora that has ever been
to future expeditions to attempt to document the amassed. All previous references, e.g., Mac-
presence of these elusive taxa. An inclusive and loskie's [1903, 1904, 1905a, b, 1906a, b, c, d,
comprehensiveb ibliography accompaniest his flo- e, 1914, 1915] Flora Patagonica and Skottsberg's
ristic treatment. The bibliography encompasses [lq13] A Botanical Survey of the Falkland Islands,
all literature relevant to the flora of Isla de to the plants of Isla de los Estados were purely
los Estados, including botanica lly and eco- incidental.
logically significant references for Patagonia Our current volume should be viewed as a docu-
and the land masses south of Estrecho de ment to complement the Flora of Tierra del Fuego,
Magallanes, i.e., Tierra del Fuego and all the in preparation by D. M. Moore (Reading, U.K.) and
islands pertaining to the subantarctic and R.N. P. Goodall (Ushuaia, Argentina), and being
antarctic phytogeographic regions. devoted primarily to Isla de los Estados, also
Although some herbarium specimen collections augments Correa's [1969a, b, c, 1971, 1978] Flora
had been made from Isla de los Estados before Patag6nica, a very important continuing endeavor.
viii
A Contribution to the Flora and Vegetation
Antarctic Research Series of Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Vol. 37
1. Introduction
The joint U.S.-Argentine botanical expedition, separates Isla de los Estados from the rest of
U.S. National Science Foundation, ResearchV essel Tierra del Fuego at the tip of Penfnsula Mitre
(R/V) Hero cruise 71-5 to Isla de los Estados (54.48S, 65.40W) of Isla Grande. More than 30
(Staten Island) and the nearby coastline of Penfn- ships are known to have been wrecked and lost by
sula Mitre of Isla Grande at the southeastern the treacherous shoals and tumultuous waters sur-
extremity of Tierra del Fuegow as undertaken to rounding the island and the tip of Peninsula
study, survey, and documentw ith herbarium speci- Mitre, and manym ore have surely gone downw ithout
mens the floristic elements of the biota of these record with the loss of countless lives. Captain
south temperate locations. A brief report of R/V George Anson, Commander-in-Chiefo f His Majesty's
Hero cruise 71-5 was provided by Imshaug [1972b]. ships on the British South Seas Expedition, re-
Prior to this expedition, the flora of Isla de marks in 1741, while passing by Isla de los Esta-
los Estados (54.45S, 64.15W), particularly that of dos, that the island is
the rarely visited southern coastline, had neither
been adequately studied and analyzed or docu- a proper nursery for desperation...to the
mented, nor compiled into a single, inclusive pub- east the nearest land mass is Africa...the
lication. The floristic synopsis and ecological crenulated silhouette was surely observed in
vegetation analysis presented here of the flora horror bv Pizzaro's squadron...it appears as
of Isla de los Estados, for the first time, pro- memory-shakingc lusters of splintered rocks
vide essential baseline information critical to before taking their final plunge into the
the interpretation of the biotic and floristic Atlantic...far surpasses the extremely barren
conditions of the other, also poorly studied, and desolate Tierra del Fuegoi n its wildness
remote subantarctic and antarctic islands, as and horror of its appearance...It seems to be
well as the other parts of the archipelago of entirely of inaccessible rocks without the
Territorio Nacional de la Tierra del Fuego. least mixture of earth or mould between them.
[Subsequent to submission of the manuscript for The rocks themselves terminate in a vast
publication by the AGU, Antarctic Research Series, number of ragged points that spire to pro-
T. R. Dudley prepared a summaryr eport of the R/V digious heights, and all of them covered with
Hero 71-5 expedition to Isla de los Estados, everlasting snow. The points themselves are
which has been published in Rhodora [cf. Dudley, surrounded by frightful precipices and often
1981]. Accordingly, concurrent with the collec- overhang in a most outstanding manner. The
tion and processing of herbarium specimens, hills that bear them are generally separated
technical information and observations about from each other by narrow clefts which appear
morphological characters used for identification, as if the country had been frequently rent
distributional range, dispersal mechanisms, polli- by earthquakes, for these chasms are nearly
nation agents, ecological preferences and require- perpendicular, and extend through the sub-
ments, phytogeographical implications, and cli- strate of the main rock almost to the bottom,
matic contingencies such as exposure that often so that nothing can be imagined more savage
play a role in site colonization capability were and gloomy than the whole aspect of this
accumulated for common and widespread species as coast [fide Bridges, 1963].
well as those that are rare and poorly understood
or that occur disjunctively and sporadically. Isla de los Estados was discovered in 1616 by
Isla de los Estados (Figures 1 and 2), also Wilhelm C. Schouten and Isaac Le Maire, his spon-
called Staten Island, Staaten Island, Staaten sor, as their ship entered the treacherous strait
Land, and States Island, lies on the margin of separating it from Isla Grande of Tierra del
the subantarctic region. It has been depicted by Fuego. This feat pioneered a second passage, now
numerous early seafarers in adverse ways, such as called Estrecho de Le Maire, to the Pacific.
'...one of the most inhospitable and spectacular Further, their discovery of this strait clearly
islands in the world, with steeple-like spires established that Tierra del Fuego was not the
rising 3000 feet straight from the foam lashed final southern continent, as had been presumed by
rocks...it stands like a guard to America's east- Magellan and others. Schouten, however, did not
ern approaches with a mountainous cross-section realize that the land mass lying to the south was
like a giant cross-cut saw blade. There is actually an island, and he named it 'Staaten-Land'
nothing to compare with it in the entire Fuegian in honor of the States General of the Netherlands.
Archipelago' [fide Walter, 1928; Somerville, 1934; It was not until 1643 that another Dutch naviga-
Bridges, 1963; Williams, 1967]. Manyv oyagers and tor, Captain Hendrick Bower, discovered that
chroniclers have described Bahia (Ba.) Buen Suceso Staaten-Land was not an outlying cape of Tierra
(Bay of GoodS uccess, 54.48S, 65.15W) and adjacent del Fuego, but was rather a distinct and separate
areas of Peninsula Mitre as the 'God Forsaken island, which then became Staaten Island, States
Headland'a nd have justifiably feared and respec- Island, or Staten Island. Schoutend escribed
ted the notorious foul weather and dangerous,u n- Staaten-Land as being rugged and treeless; how-
predictable tides and currents of Estrecho de Le ever, it is not now and never was treeless. Sea
Maire (Strait of Le Maire, 54.45S, 65.00W), which captains and sealers of the early and mid-
Copyright American Geophysical Union
A Contribution to the Flora and Vegetation
Antarctic Research Series of Isla de los Estados (Staten Island), Tierra del Fuego, Argentina Vol. 37
2 FLORA AND VEGETATION OF ISLA DE LOS ESTADOS
Fig. 1. Rugged mountains of Isla de los Estados; U-shaped Ba. Liberty in foreground,
Ba. Alexander in right background.
Fig. 2. Mountain pass between Mtes. Bove and Mte. Spegazzini at Ba. Flinders, Isla
de los Estados.
Copyright American Geophysical Union