Page:The Botany of the Antarctic Voyage.djvu/319

Falklands, etc.] rimis v. sparse pilosis. Caulis scapiformis, folia vix duplo superans, teres, ad apicem tripartitam umbellas 3 simplices foliaque 2 gerens ; foliis caulinis involucrmn sinralantibus trisectis, basi ciliatis. Umbell/s 2 laterales pedunculata?, intermedia sessili. Livolucelli foliola lineari-oblonga, subaeuta, ciliata. Pedicelli umbellse intermedia? elongati, ceeteri breviusculi. Flores parvi, pauci, steriles. Cali/cis limbus breviter et obtuse 5-dentatus. Petala ovata' incurva, integra. Fructus ovatus, obtusus, sub 2 lin. longus, umbellas intermedia; solummodo mihi notus. Merit carpia dorso concava, trijuga.

A very little known Patagonian plant, remarkable for the resemblance its almost leafless stem bears to a scape, which induced De Candolle to substitute the name of its first deseriber for that of H. acaulis. Assuming the view here taken to be correct, the branching of this plant is trichotomous, for the three peduncles, bearing each a simple umbel, arise from one point, the terminal or central branch flowers first, and therefore cannot be considered as the intermediate division of a compound umbel, in which the external rays always open before those nearer the axis : the structure of the inflorescence is similar to Astrantia (vid. Brown in Linn. Trans, vol. xi. p. 92). The Huanaca Cavanillesii was first discovered at Port Desire by Nee, who accompanied the Spanish voyager Malaspinas ; and again by Mr. Darwin in the same locality.

4. APIUM, L.

1. Apium graveolens, Linn. Sp. PI. n. 309. BC. Prodr. vol. iv. p. 101. Gaud, in Ann. Sc. Nat. vol. v. p. 105. et in Fregc. Toy, Pot. p. 135. If Untitle in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 613. A. australe, Pet. Thouars Ft. Ins. Trist. d'Acun. p. 43. Carmichael in Linn. Soc. Trans, vol. xii. p. 506. A. prostraturn, Labill. Nov. Roll. vol. i. p. 76. t. 103. Vent. Hort. Malm. t. 81. A. Antarcticuni, Banks et Sol. MSS. in Mus. Banks, cam icone. Petroselinum prostratum, BC. Prodr. vol. iv. p. 102.

Hab. South Chili, Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands ; abundant on the shores of the latter: also in Tristan d'Acunha. Apparently our common Celery, and even more abundant in the countries enumerated above, than in Europe. Except its often assuming a prostrate habit in the Antarctic regions, I perceive no external difference from the northern state of the plant ; its properties are, however, very unlike, for the wild Antarctic specimens are always mild and wholesome, insomuch that the officers and crews of the Expedition made constant use of it, both raw and boiled like spinach. This absence of all injurious or even disagreeable properties may perhaps be owing, in some degree, to the want of the direct rays of the sun, which is seldom bright and clear, and often invisible for many days in the height of summer in these far southern regions. If this be so, we have a natural cause producing the same results which the skdl of the gardener effects in our more favoured climate.

The Apium graveolens is also a native of Tasmania and the Cape of Good Hope..

5. CRANTZIA, Nutt.

1. Crantzia lineata, Nuttall, Gen. Plant. Am. vol. i. p. 177. BC. Prodr. vol. iv. p. 70. Torr.et Gray, Fl. Am. Bor. vol. ii. p. 600. C. attenuate. Hook, et Am. in Bot. Miscell. vol. iv. p. 346. Hydrocotyle lineata, Mich. Fl. vol. i. p. 162. Richard, Monogr. Il/dr. p. 77. f. 38. H. Chinensis, Spreng. in Poem, et Schultes Sj/st. Feg. vol. vi. p. 355. Elatinc, foliis oppositis, Gronov. Virgin, p. 62. (Tab. C.)

Hab. Falkland Islands ; abundant near the streams communicating between fresh-water lagoons and the sea, generally buried in gravel.

I have no hesitation in referring this plant to the tribe cseli/iea of Koch, where it ranks naturally between