Additions to the Fern Flora of Saba, Netherlands Antilles

1 Pages·2002·0.54 MB·English

by  David B Lellinger

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