212 MR. J. BALL ON THE FLORA OF NORTH PATAGONIA 



CRUCTFERJ3. 



Vesicaria andicola, Gill., = Y. montevidensis, ffichl. in Fl. 

 Bras. On the plateaux near Bahia Blanca and in North Pata- 

 gonia (No. 132, G. C). The name given by Gillies was changed 

 by Eichler because the plant is mainly an inhabitant of the low 

 country in the Argentine and Uruguay territories. But it also 

 extends to the eastern slopes of the Andes, and mere inappro- 

 priateness, apart from positive error, is not a sufficient ground 

 for changing an established name. 



Brassica Rapa, L., var. campestris, = B. campestris, L. Intro- 

 duced from Europe, and now widely spread from the warm low 

 regions of Entrerios to the barren banks of the Chubat in Mid- 

 Patagonia (No. 186, G. C). It sometimes produces tough and 

 stringy turnips, and is very troublesome to farmers. Prom the 

 Spanish name JVabo the Araucanian Indians have formed for the 

 plant a native name, Napur. 



Lepldium bonariense, X.,=L. pubescens, Desv. Very com- 

 mon throughout the province of Buenos Ayres (No. 143, Gr. C). 

 Grisebach (PI. Lorentz. p. 25) identifies the L. pubescens of. 

 Desvaux with the plant generally taken by authors as L. bona- 

 riense of Linnseus, but impliedly holds that the plant of Linnreus 

 is a different species. I do not know the grounds for this con- 

 clusion, and am disposed to believe that there is one somewhat 

 variable species with a wide range from Mexico to temperate 

 South America, which includes L. bonariense, L., L. pubescens, 

 Desv., L. bipinnatifidum, Desv., and L. Ghichicara, Desv. 



Lepldium ? Sierra de la Ventana, near Bahia Blanca (No. 64, 

 G. C). Specimen too immature. Doubtless a form of L. 

 bonariense, L. 



PoLYGALE-E. 

 POLTGALA SPINESCENS, Gill., var. ? ASPALATHOLDES, nobis. 



Grows about Bahia Blanca, where it is used for making brooms 

 (No. 134, G. C). As this is a well-marked variety, if not a 

 distinct species, I subjoin a brief description. 



Pruticulus ramosissimus, ramis erectis, novellis herbaceis 

 foliaceis, annotinis rigidis sublignosis aphyllis ; foliis parvis, 

 lineari-oblongis apice rotundatis, subglaberrimis ; floribus in 

 racemum laxum foliaceum dispositis, parvis lilacinis ; petalis 

 lateralibus ope tubi staminei cum carina cohferentibus. Capsulam 



