234 MB. J. BALL ON THE FLORA OF NORTH PATA GONIA 



MlJEHLENBECKIA CHILENSIS, Var. INJTTCUNDA, Meisn. in DC. 



Prodr. Valley of the Limay, North Patagonia (No. 86, G. C). 

 This is commonly called Salsaparilla, and is used medicinally. 



Santalace-s:. 



Abjona patagonica, Homlr. et J.,=A. tuberosa, Cav., var. 

 patagonica, A. DC. Bahia Blanca ; North Patagonia (No. 126, 

 G. C). This is called MacacTiina by the Spaniards, and Sakel by 

 the Araucanian Indians. In winter one or more tubers, about 

 an inch long and half as thick, are developed. These are eaten, 

 either raw or cooked. The tubers are detached from the parent 

 stem when the plant flowers in spring. M. Claraz states that, 

 further south in Patagonia, beyond the Chubat, this species is 

 replaced by a different one, which produces longer and thinner 

 tubers. I have not seen several of the species (or forms) de- 

 scribed by Mr. Miers in the Journal of the Linnean Society, 

 xvii. 



Iodina ehombifolta, Hook. Sf Am. Widely spread, but not 

 common, extending from the northern frontier of Patagonia to : 

 Entrerios and Uruguay, and to. the interior of the Argentine 

 territory (Nos. 142 and 190, G. C). This shrub occurs here and 

 there in small groves at wide intervals, usually on dry ground. 

 One of M. Claraz's specimens comes from the Salina Chica, 12 

 leagues west of Bahia Blanca, and another grove is at the foot 

 of the Sierra de la Ventana. The Araucanian name is TraVian. 

 At Bahia Blanca the Spaniards call it Sombretoro ; but in Entre- 

 rios that name is given to a species of Maytenus. 



UBTICACEiE. 



Urtica spathulata, Sm. Common about Bahia Blanca, in 

 ruderal stations, and especially around the hizcacheros (No. 44, 

 G. C). This seems to be nearly allied to the Andean IT. echinata, 

 Benth. 



Bromeliace.*. 



Tillandsia coabctata, W. ? Valley of the Eio Negro and 

 else-where in North Patagonia, on the branches of shrubs (No. 207, 

 G. C). The specimen is too imperfect to be determined with 

 certainty ; it undoubtedly belongs to the group Diaphorantftema. 

 A good many species of Tillandsia have been recorded from the 

 northern and central parts of the Argentine territory, but the 



