D'Urv. The nearest allies of this plant are its Australian and New Zealand representative, the P. carnosa, Br. (vid. Flor. Antarct. Pt. 1. p. 65), and the P. Andicola, Gill. MSS.; the former of these differs in its shorter capsule, differently shaped seeds, crowded, more fleshy foliage; the latter in its curious root and broader leaves, which are, however, very unimportant characters.
The Port Gregory specimens, of which I have made variety β, are perhaps drawn up, for the leaves are six inches long, which is at least four times the length of those of the ordinary state of the species.
3. Plantago monanthos, D'Urv.; caulibus ramosis dense cæspitosis, foliis perpluriuiis basi arete vaginautibus erectis subsquarrosis stellatim patentibusve anguste lineari-elongatis obtusis obscure dentatis marginibus cartilagineis pedunculis multoties longioribus basi glaberrimis, spiculis 1-4-floris, capsula anguste clavata infra medium circumscissa parte inferiore calyce bis terve longiore. P. monanthos, D'Urv. in Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 606. Gaud. in Freyc. Voy. Bot. p. 133. Barneoud, Monogr. Plantag. p. 17. exclud. syn. P. caniosae, Br. (Tab. CXXI.)
Var. α, foliis erectis subsquarrosisve lineari-elongatis flaccidis.
Var. β, abbreviata; caulibus cæspitosis, foliis brevioribus substellatini patenti-recurvis.
Var. γ, muscoides; caulibus densissime cæspitosis, foliis brevibus arete imbricatis marginibus cartilagineis albis.
Hab. Var. α, Falkland Islands, D'Urville, J. D. H.; Hermite Island, Cape Horn, in moist places, J. D. H. Var. β, Hermite Island, amongst rocks; var. γ, the same locality, in clefts of exposed rocks, J. D. H.
A very different plant from the P. carnosa, Br., under which M. Barneoud has included it, especially in the habit, stems, foliage, comparative length of the peduncle, shape of the capsule and form of the seeds.
Plate CXXI. Fig. 1, flower and bracteæ; fig. 2, germen; fig. 3, ripe fruit; fig. 4, transverse section of ditto; fig. 5, upper half of ditto, with dissepiment and seeds; fig. 6 and 7, dissepiment and seeds; fig. 8 and 9, front and back view of seeds; fig. 10, longitudinal section of seed:— all magnified.
Plantago hirtella, H. B. K., Nov. Gen. et Sp. vol. x. p. 187. 1. 127. Barneoud, Monogr. Plantag. p. 18.
Hab. South Chili; Cape Tres Montes, C. Darwin, Esq.
Not at all an uncommon Chilian and Buenos Ayrean plant, exceedingly variable in the breadth and pubescence of the leaves, and also in the size of the flowers, which in these specimens are larger than in the figure quoted. It is also a Brazilian species, and occurs on the mountains of Peru and Columbia, and is very nearly allied to the Pl. Virginica, L. The character of the segments of the corolla being patent or conniving is scarcely tenable in this plant and its allies.
XLI. POLYGONEÆ, Juss.
1. POLYGONUM, L.
1. Polygonum maritimum, Linn. Sp. Pl. p. 519. Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2804. Meisner, Monogr. Polyg. p. 89.
Hab. South Chili; Cape Tres Montes, C. Darwin, Esq.; Strait of Magalhaens; Port Famine, Capt. King.
There appears no difference between these specimens and those of British growth. In the southern hemisphere the species occurs only at the Cape of Good Hope and in South Chili.
