PLANTS OF THE STRAIT OF MAOELLAK. 193 



deficiencies of my drawings and descriptions*. Tort G-rappler 

 is the only locality where I have yet seen tliis plant, thougli I 

 have diligently searched for it in all the localities visited since 

 then. I spent some hours hunting for it in the marshes of Port 

 Famiiic, but without success. I hope it may be the phmt you 

 wish for. 



The next locality which I had an opportunity of examining was 

 Puerto Bueno, where we spent a week, experiencing very bad wea- 

 ther, which greatly hindered work. There is mucli open ground 

 here; and Asielia, Gaimardia^ and Tetronchtm were in full flower 

 m tlie marshes. Though I have now found Caltha appcndiculata 

 and C. dioiie^folia in many localities, I have never got either spe- 

 cies in flo\^'er. On tlie pools of water Rostkovia was very plen- 

 tiful, growing in curious rectangular lines. I met with the pretty 

 little Oxalis inagellanica for the first time, and noticed Lo7natia 

 ferruginea for the last. Here it forms a miserable stunted shrub 

 not two feet high. Tlie climate and vegetation of the channels 

 are thoroughly Fuegian ; and I was therefore greatly interested 

 by obtaining in this cold damp region three species of Batrachia 

 (two Toads and a Frog). You may perhaps remember that Mr. 

 Darwin comments on the total absence of Reptiles and Amphibia 

 trom Fuegia ; so that the discovery of Lizards in the eastern part 

 of Fuegia and Amphibia in the southern part of the channels are 

 facts worth notice. We got several specimens of a handsome 

 beetle of the family Cardbidcs^ and by the dredge a species of Oa- 

 hathea (which I am informed by Mr. Spence Bate is probably 

 G, monodon^ and which occurs throughout the strait). AVe left 

 Puerto Bueno on the 14th, and after spenduig a night at Columbine 

 Cove went on to Fortune Bay, where we remained for some days. 

 Here we were visited by a number of Canoe Indians, including 

 a party we met last season, w^ho evidently recognized us as old 

 acquaintances. They inhabited three canoes and an old merchant- 



* r 



The caljx is 5-partite. The corolla contorted in aistiFation, formed of 

 five distinct white petals, tinged with yellow at the base. The stamens 5; 

 anthers 2-lobed, extrorse, yellow. Ovary superior, in some flowers green, in 

 others dull purple. Cells, three, many-seeded. Placentation central. Fruit a 

 capsule, opening by three valves. Seeds brownisli -black, shining, remaining 

 attached to the central seed-stalk after the valves of the capsules have fallen off. 



form 



s spathulate, toothed at the apex, closely aggregated, so as frequently to 

 % sort of rosette around the flower. The plant creeps along the niossy 

 ground, sometimes covering an extent of more than 2 feet in length, and emit- 

 ting rootlets ; the branches from 4 to 8 inches long. 



