β. at the apices of the serratures, which are there terminated by pencils of white hairs. Flowers capitate upon long slender peduncles. Stigma plumose.
2. Acæna (Ancistrum) adscendens, Vahl, Enum. vol. i. p. 297. DeC. Prodr. vol. ii. p. 593. Ancistrum humile, Pers. Ench. vol. i. p. 30.
Hab. McQuarrie's Island. (Herb. Hook.)
This is perhaps the most common and widely diffused species of the genus, being found abundantly throughout Chili and Fuegia, as well as in the Falkland Islands and Kerguelen's Land. It may readily be distinguished by its large size, and by its smooth red-brown, often glaucous, decumbent stems. The leaflets are generally membranous, obovate or cuneate, ⅓–⅔ inch long, coarsely inciso-serrate, glabrous on the upper surface, pubescent or almost silky beneath. The scapes or peduncles, bearing the globose capitula, are quite glabrous. The whole plant varies much in the size and toothing of its leaflets, whence I am inclined to think it may be the large and ordinary form of A. Magellanica, Lam.; although Vahl describes the peduncles of that plant as "superne subvillosi." I further doubt how far the A. ovalifolia, Ruiz, and Pav. (Fl. Per. t. 103. f. c), will prove distinct; it again is allied to the A. Sanguisorbæ, Vahl. The present form was not found either in Tasmania, New Zealand, or in Lord Auckland's or Campbell's Islands. The fact of its reappearance in a higher southern latitude is an interesting one, and in accordance with the known laws affecting the distribution of plants.
VII. ONAGRARIÆ, Juss.
1. Epilobium linnæoides, Hook. fil.; herbaceum glaberrimum caule repente vage ramoso, ramis divavicatis adscendentibus, foliis petiolatis cordato-rotundatis flaccidis argute dentatis, pedunculis solitariis axillaribus rarius terminalibus folio longioribus fructiferis sæpe valde elongatis, floribus erectis, sepalis apice glanduloso-apiculatis, petalis (roseis) calyce longioribus cuneatis profunde bifidis, stigmate indiviso clavato, fructibus glaberrimis erectis pedunculo brevioribus. (Tab. VI.)
Hab. Lord Auckland's group and Campbell's Island; abundant. Also more recently found amongst the mountains of New Zealand by Mr. Colenso.
A very pretty species, allied to the E. nummularfolium, R. Cunn., of New Zealand, but readily distinguished by its much larger size and thin, flaccid (not fleshy) leaves, which are strongly eroso-dentate. In Mr. Colenso's specimens the stems are longer, and the leaves less rounded in form with longer petioles. Stems weak, terete, 3–6 inches long. Leaves in rather remote pairs, bright green and shining above, often discoloured and purplish beneath, ⅓–½ inch long, sometimes broader than long. Petioles 1–3 lines. Peduncles, even when flowering, very variable in length, from ½–3 inches long, generally erect. Sepals concave, especially towards the apex, which is produced into a thickened, short, club-shaped apiculus or gland. Petals about half as long again as the sepals, 1½ lin. long, of a pale rose-colour, bifid nearly half-way down. Filaments thickened at the connectivum. Style gradually swelling upwards into a club-shaped obtuse stigma. Capsule (which I have seen ripe only in the New Zealand specimens) narrow, erect, quite glabrous, about an inch long.
Plate VI. Fig. 1, flower spread open; fig. 2, petal; fig. 3, flower with the petals removed; fig. 4, front, and fig. 5, back view of a stamen:—all magnified.
2. Epilobium confertifolium, Hook. fil.; herbaceum, glabrum, caule repente radicante ramoso, ramis divaricatis decumbentibus teretibus cum lineis duabus oppositis incanis, foliis oppositis valde approximatis subimbricatis breviter petiolatis oblongo-obovatis obtusis subcarnosis glaberrimis remote
