Page:A Voyage of Discovery and Research in the Southern and Antarctic Regions Vol 1.djvu/226

146 2–3 feet high, crowned with a tuft of spreading feathery fronds, each 3–5 feet long: this is one of the most graceful and ornamental productions of the group. The Aralia polaris, Homb. and Jacq. , and the Pleurophyllum criniferum ( xxiv. and xxv.), are two highly remarkable plants, very common near the sea; the former is allied to the ivy, but has clusters of green waxy flowers as large as a child's head; and its round and wrinkled leaves, of the deepest green, measure a foot and a half across. They form the favourite food of the hogs which run wild on these islands.

"It is upon the hills, however, that the more beautiful plants' abound; amongst which the most striking is a liliaceous one, allied to Anthericum (Chrysobactron Rossii, xliv. and xlv.), whose conspicuous racemes of golden flowers are often a span long, and many specimens have three or four such spikes. The Pleurophyllum speciosum ( xxii. and xxiii.), resembles a large Aster, bearing numerous purple flowers, the size of a large marigold. The Celmisia vernicosa ( xxxi. and xxxii.), has linear glossy leaves, spread out on the ground like the spokes of a wheel, and pure white flowers, with a purple eye, as large as those of the last-named plant. Finally, the Veronica Benthamii ( xxxix. and xl.), may be mentioned; it is of shrubby growth, with spikes of flowers of a deep ultramarine blue. Amongst those of humbler stature,