being manifestly the case in the northern hemisphere with this species and its congeners. May we suppose its dispersion to be yet incomplete ? and that, at some future period, it will spread further south and fully assume in those regions the position held by some of its congeners in the northern ?
2. Saxifraga bicuspidata, Hook, fil.; laxe csespitosa, glaberrima, caulibus decunibentibus gracilibus parce ramosis foliosis, foliis angaste lineari-spathulatis uninerviis apice bicuspidatis marginibus cartilagineis, pedunculo axillari nudo unifloro, calycis lobis apice emarginato-bifidis, staminibus 5, calyce semisupero. (Tab. XCVII.)
Hab. South part of Tierra del Fuego ; C. Darwin, Esq. Hermite Island, Cape Horn; on the mountains, 1,200 feet; J.D.H.
Laxe cæspitosa, siccitate rufo-fusca et flaccida, apicibus ramulorum foliisque junioribus viridibus, tota glaberrima. Caules pollieares, graciles. Folia ¼-⅓ unc. longa, anguste lineari-spathulata, medio tenuiter uninervi, apice bicuspidato, marginibus anguste cartilagineis. Pedunculi axillares, solitarii, nudi, folio subæquilongi, post anthesin elongati. Calyx basi conicus, profunde quinquelobus, lobis ad apices emarginato-bifidis, segmentis acutis. Petala? Stamina 5. Capsula semisupera, compressa, carpellis supra medium liberis deinde divaricatis, rirna ventrali sursum spectante dehiscentibus, stigmatibus simplicibus sessilibus. Semina pauca, testa brunnea subcoriacea; albumine carnoso; embryone tereti.
A very singular species, hitherto detected only on the mountains at the extreme south part of the American continent. It exhibits little resemblance to its congeners, except in having somewhat of the habit of S. oppositifolia, which is highly variable in the number of stamens. To the pentandrous S. ranunculifolia, Hook., of the Rocky Mountains, the present has but slight specific affinity.
Plate XCVII. Fig. 1, Branch and leaves; fig. 2, an old flower; fig. 3, stamen; fig. 4, ripe capside ; fig. 5, seed :— all magnified.
6. CHRYSOSPLENIUM, Tourn.
1. Chrysosplenium macranthum, Hook.; glaberrirnuni, caule proeumbente basi repente, foliis oppositis petiolatis ovato-cordatis obtusis grosse sinuato-crenatis in petiolum attenuatis, pedunculis tenninalibus bracteatis trifloris, floribus di-trigynis intermedio sessili, ovulis placentis parietalibus affixis. C. macranthum, Hook. in Lond. Journ. of Bot. vol. i. p. 458. t. 16. C. elevaturn, Banks et Sol. in Mns. Banks. cum icone.
Hab. Strait of Magalliaens; Eagle Bay, Port Famine, Capt. King. Good Success Bay, Banks and Solander.
A very handsome species and much the largest-flowered of the genus. The seeds are attached to parietal placenta?, having their origin upon anastomosing veins, which ultimately lead to the diverging styles.
2. Chrysosplenium Valdivicum, Hook.; glaberrimum, caule repente, foliis oppositis petiolatis oblongo-rotundatis obscure sinuatis basi subtruncatis. C. Valdivicum, Hook. in Lond. Journ. of Bot. vol. i. p. 459. t. 17.
Hab. Hermite Island, Cape Horn; in open places near the sea; J. D. H.
My specimens are extremely imperfect, though sufficient to identify the species with that from Valdivia, which does not appear to have been found in any intermediate locality. The present is distinguished from C. macranthum by its more rounded and scarcely sinuated leaves, somewhat truncate at the base. Some of Mr. Bridges' specimens have leaves fully 1½ inches long.
7. DONATIA, Forst.
4. Donatia fascicularis, Forst.; Char. Gen. t. 5. D. Magellanica, Lamk. Illust. vol. i. p. 217. t. 51.
