Hab. Strait of Magalhaens, Commerson, Capt. King; Falkland Islands, very abundant, Gaudichaud, &c.
I have seen but an imperfect specimen of the L. Peruviana, Desv., to which the present is manifestly very closely related. E. Meyer (Herb. Hook.) observes, that though so much alike in the young state, when older they are very distinct species. The present is the most Antarctic of the genus, except the following, and is the South American representative of the L. crinita (Tab. XLVIII.) of Lord Auckland's group.
2. Luzula sp. ?
Hab. Hermite Island, Cape Horn, on the tops of the mountains, alt. 1,600 feet, J. D. H.
My specimens are only sufficient to prove this plant to be a Luzula; they are scarcely two inches high, with a slender stem, and nodding small panicle; the whole somewhat resembling the L. arcuata of Arctic Europe, whose Antarctic representative it probably is.
LV. ALISMACEÆ, Br.
1. TETRONCIUM, Willd.
Flores dioici. Fl. Mas. Perigonium obliquum, tetraphylluui, coloratum, foliolis concavis iuaaqualibus, late ovatis, superioribus altius insertis, supremo majore. Stamina 4, foliorum perigonii basi inserta ; filamenta brevissima; anfherm extrorsae, late didymae, basi fixae. Ovarii rudimentum nullum. Fl. Fo;m. Perigonium ut in masc, sed foliolis angustioribus. Stamina 0. Carpella 4, subulata, basi in ovarium incomplete 4-loculare coalita, supra medium libera ; styli subulati, divergentes, irao apice inconspicue stigmatiferi ; ovula quovis loculo solitaria, erecta, anatropa, foramine late aperto. Fructus indehiscens, 4-locularis, monospermus. Semen erectum, lineari-oblonguni, eompressum ; testa teuuissima ; albumen farinaceum ; embryo axilis, trigonus, longitudine albuminis, extremitatc radiculari attenuata. — Herba Fuegiana et Falklandica caspitosa, perennis. Caulis basi radicans, squamis nitidis tectus, divisus. Folia plana, disticha, equitantia, lineari-ensiforn/ia. Scapus terminalis, erectus. Flores spicati. Perigonium flavescens, rufo-fusco maeulatum. Stamina antheris magnis. Fructus deflexus, aborfu monospermus, i-cornutus. Tetroncium, Willd.
1. Tetroncium Magellanicum, Willd., in Berl. Mug. vol. ii. p. 17. Hook. Ic. Plant, t. 534. Kunth. En. Plant, vol. iii. p. 14:2. Triglochin reflexum, Vahl, ined. {fid. Willd.). T. Magellanicum, Vahl, in Herb. Mus. Paris. Cathanthes, Rich, in Mem. Mus. vol. i. p. 365.
Hab. Strait of Magalhaens, Commerson ; Port Famine, Capt. King. Good Success Bay, Banks and Solander, Forster ; Hermite Island, Cape Horn, •/. B. II.; Falkland Island, Mr. Wright, J. B. H.
The arrangement of all parts of the flower are quaternary in the specimens of this curious plant that I have examined ; in which respect it differs from the majority of, and in the albuminous seeds from all the order, Alismacea ; without, however, shewing any further affinity with the Naiadacea, in which order Dr. Lindley has placed it.
The habit of Tetroncium is precisely that of Narthecium, but in most other points its alliance to Triglochin is evident, particularly in the spicate inflorescence, concave segments of the perianth, which are obliquely placed, the upper being larger and inserted above the rest ; in the extrorse, nearly sessile anthers ; the solitary, basal, anatropal ovules ; and the erect seed, which, being albuminous, indicates an affinity with Junceee.
Plate CXXVIII. Fig. 1, male flower; fig. 2, segment of perianth and stamen; fig. 3, female flower; fig. 4, carpel cut open; fig. 5, ovule; fig. 6, the same, with the primine partly removed; fig. 7, ripe fruit; fig. 8, transverse section of the same; fig. 9, the same, longitudinally divided; fig. 10, seed; fig. 11, embryo:—all magnified.
