









L 













































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-FLORA OF PATAGONIA. 



47/5 





lung 



in his elaborate monograph of the genus Clematis ( Verhand* 

















en des Botanischen Vereins der Provinz Brandenburg, xxvi.), 

 Otto Kuntze has united, under the specific name 0. dioica, L., 

 all the species of the Vitalba section hitherto described from 

 North and South America. Not having studied the genus with 

 sufficient care, nor had access to the large mass of materials 

 which have been examined by the learned author, I do not at 

 present attempt to criticize his work, but with regard to several 

 torms with which I am acquainted I am uot at present prepared 

 to assent to his conclusions, nor to the principles which he seeks 

 to apply in systematic botany. To take a familiar instance, I do 

 not think that it conduces to our knowledge of the vegetable 

 kingdom, which is the proper object of systematic botany, to 

 unite under the same specific name plants which, inhabiting 

 nearly the same geographical area, maintain themselves so un- 

 mistakably distinct as to have been so recognized by all bota- 

 nists from the time of Linnams, as Clematis recta, L., and G. 

 Flammula, L. With regard, however, to the species of tempe- 

 rate South America, I am disposed to agree in the propriety of 

 uniting under one specific name G. bonariensis, DC, and G. 

 Hilarii, Spreng. Both are very variable plants, and the only im- 

 portant difference is that O. bonariensis is said to be polygamous, 



while G. Hil 



is 



dioecious. O. Kuntze, as I believe with 





reason, regards this difference as variable amongst the American 

 forma which he uuites under G. dioica, aud DeCandolle's remarks 

 (fee. cit.) leave the question doubtful. If we unite under one 

 name the forms of temperate South America, the proper designa- 

 te is G. bonariensis, DC. Under this, either as synonyms or 

 ^ varieties, should be ranged C. campestris, St.-Hil., G. mendocina, 



Jra u., and probably also some Brazilian forms. 



J t is remarkable that no species of Clematis has been found on 

 tho western side of South America south of Peru. 



























■ 



Bebbebide*}. 

 SO. Bebbebis hetebophylla, Juss. " Shrub 5-10 ft. high 



fl owers white, berries purple : the Indians eat them in quantity 

 and m»V „ a^i. from them# Common throughout Patagonia. 



This species extends northward from the Straits 

 there are specimens in the Kew Herbarium 



make a drink 



Ma 



rews. 



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