FLO EA ANTAECTICA. \Fiiegia, tlie
2. U etica Magellanica, Poir.; caule valido erecto liispido-setoso, foliis subcoriaceis rugosis oppositis
petiolatis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisvc acuminatis basi cordatis argute serrato-dentatis^ utrinque setosis subter
leviter pubendis, stipuEs Eueari-oblougis acutis, floribus glomeratis, glomerulis setosis in spicas interruptas
petiolo breviores v. elongatas dispositis. U. Magellanica, Poiret, Encycl. Suppl. vol. iv. p. 823.
H a b . Strait of Magalhaens, Commerson; P o rt Famine, Capt. King.
Caulis 2-pedalis erectus, validus, setis plurimis patentibus obtectus. Petioli - i - l unc. longi. Folia 2 i - 3 |
uncialia, latitudine varía, basi plus miuusve cordata rarius rotundata. Racemi seu spicæ pcuduli, monoici v. dioici,
petiolo longiores rarius abbreviati. Flores majusculi, foeminei compressi, orbicxdares, aciiænio conformes.
Not an uncommon species from Valparaiso to the Strait of Magidhaens, differing from the preceding in its
robust habit, different texture of the leaves, and setose stem and foliage, all, I fear, very unimportant characters
in this genus, but whose validity in the present species I have not sufficient materials for ascertaining. The
characters cbawn from the length of the racemes is a variable one, those beai*ing male flowers especially being the
shortest, and sometimes, as described by Pobet, shorter than the petioles. The present appears very closely
allied indeed to a South African species, and it may even be considered doubtful whether both are not states
of U. dioica, with unusually large flowers.
One of iVnson’s vessels, when detached from bis squadron, put into a Bay near the western entrance of the
Strait of Magalliaens, and recruited her crew, who were paralyzed by scurvy, by means of Nettle tops, most probably
the produce of this or the former species.
The Urtica laurifolia, Pobet, stated to have been brought from the Strait of Magalhaens by Commerson, does
not appear to belong to this genus. I am wholly unacquainted with the U. gigantea, of the same author, also from
the Strait of MagaUiaens.
2. P IL EA , U n d l.
I . PiLEA elliptica, Plook. fil.; suberecta, caule debili herbáceo parce ramoso, folbs longe et graciliter
petiolatis membranaceis ellipticis utrmque subobtusis grosse crenato-serratis trinerviis super subterque pihs
appressis mbbinis conspersis, floribus mascuhs in umbeUam capitatam longe pediceUatam congestis, foemineis
ad basin peduncuh sessihbus glomeratis, achænio orbiculari compresso apice obhque emarginato.
H ab. Chonos Arelupelago ; C. Barwin, Esq.
Caules uni-bipedales, crassitie pennæ corvinæ, mfescentes, punctis albidis elongatis notati. Fetioli longitudine
varii folio longiores v. breviores. Stipula membranaceæ, late ovatæ. Folia læte viridia, membranacea, exacte
elliptica, imo basi obscm-e cordata, magnitudine varia, unc. longa, grosse sed æqualiter crenato-sei-rata ; parenchyma
corpusculis fusiformibus e epidermide translúcida oculo nudo manifestis pilos appressos simulantibus farctum.
Peduncidi petiolo æquilongi v. longiores, apice umbellulam simpbcem florum masculomm gerentes, basi glomemlo
flomm foemineomm aucti. Fl. Masc. Perianthium 4-partitum, lacinüs late ovatis acuminatis inflexis. Fl. F oem.
Perianthium valde compressum, 3-partitum, lacinia postica cuculiata laterabbus oblongis multoties longiore.
Achænium planum.
A very distmct species, confined to the S.W. portions of Chili between Valdivia and the Chonos Archipelago,
a tract which may be considered as partaking of the Chilotean botany, the latter itself being a division of the Chilian
Flora, only sepai'able by the amount of specific difference from the other extra-tropical regions of western South
America.
The appearance o fth e so-caUed pubescence of this species and many other Urticeæ is curious, and caused by
the presence of numerous white fusiform raphides attenuated at both ends, which are scattered abundantly throughout
Falklands, etc] F LO EA ANTARCTICA. 345
the parenchyma of the leaves and immediately beneath the surface of the stem ; from the tenuity of the epidermis,
and transparency of the leaves when dried, they form prominences on tlie cuticle of a white colour, closely simulating
the laterally attached hairs, of Cruciferæ.
XLVII. EA1PETRACEÆ, Nutt.
1. E J IF E T E UM , E.
I . E í ip e t ü u m ruhrim, Vahl, MS. et Willd. Sp. P i. vol. iv. p. 713, ex Banks et Sol. MS. inB lU . Banks,
cum icone. Gaud, in Ann. Sc. Na t. vol. v. p. 103, et in Freyc. Voy. Bot. p. 134. D U r v . in Mérn. Soc.
TAnn. P a r k , vol. iv. p. 608. “ Bruyère à fleurs d’un vert blanchâtre,” Pernetty, Voy. vol. ii. p. 64.
H ab . South Cliili, Fuegia, and the Falkland Islands, most abundant, Commerson, B a n k s and Solander,
and aU future voyagers.
I am unable to detect any characters to separate the Empetrum rubrum from E. nigrum, beyond what is
nftbrded by tbe colour of the berries. Though many of the northem specimens of E. nigrum are perfectly similar
to Fuegian specimens of E. rubrum iu every other respect, yet almost ab the Falkland indiriduals, and many
of those of Cape Horn, are more tomentose than any specimens of the Northern species that I have examined.
Under these circumstances, the plants from the opposite hemispheres may be regarded as representative species, or
varieties of the same ; but, since ab the specimeus from the southern hemisphere present one constant character,
distinguishing them from those of the northern, and since neither is known to occur in any part of the New A orld
between the paraUels of 45° N. and 33° S., I feel myself obliged to attach specific importance to the otherwise
very trifling diflerences in the colour of the fruit.
The Empetrum rubrum is a very abundant western extra-ti'opical South American plant, from the latitude of
Concepcion on the Pacific coast, and Mendoza on the Andes, to Cape Horn. In the latter country, as in the
Falkland Islands, this species altogether simulates E. nigrum in the locabties it affects, in its habit and mode of
growth, stature, in the forms its varieties assume, and iu the economy of nature, affording food to wild-geese, and,
in Fuegia, to a bbd allied to the gi-ouse. The stems and leafy branches are much used for fnel in the Falklands,
where the plant is cabed “ Biddle-dee ” , they are especially employed in kinclling fire, for even when sodden with
rain, they speedily ignite, and bmm with a bright and hot flame.
The affinities of this genus, or rather order, are yet undefined. 1 am inclined to adopt the opinion of .lussieu
in allying it to Ericeæ, from the habit, fobage, the bracteæ, cal\-x, and texture of the coroba and anthers and some
other characters.
XLVIII. CUPULIEERÆ, Bich.
I . FAGUS, L.
I . F a g u s Antarctica, Forst., ex Ba?iks et Sol. MS. in Mus. Banks, cum icone. Hook. Bot. Journ.
vol. ii. p. 15. t. V I. Caluccchinus Antai’ctica, Homh. et Jacq. in Voy. au Pole Sud, Bot. Bicot. 1 .14. Z.
et Bot. Monocot. Phan. t. 6 . e . C. Moiitagni, Homh. et Jacq. I. c. Bo t. Bicot. t. 8 . n . {Ta b . CX X III.)
H ad. South Chili and throughout Fuegia, very abundant, Commerson, Banks and Solander, and all
succeeding voyagers.
This species and the following, form together so predombiaut a feature in the Fuegian landscape, that, though
accurately dcscrihcd by several voyagers, especially Cook, K.ing, and Fitzroy, and iu the graphic narrative of my
4 II