52 MR, J. BALL ON THE FLORA 



very difficult to trace clear lines of demarcation between the 

 species, even as limited by him. Solanum Maglia in particular 

 appears to vary very much, and I perceive no constant diagnostic 

 character by which to recognize it with certainty. Even if the 

 plant found by me should be a true potato, I do not regard its 

 occurrence as evidence of S. tuberosum being indigenous in Peru. 

 The line of communication between the sea-coast and the high- 

 lands of Peru by the upper valley of the E-imac was doubtless in 

 frequent use under the rule of the Incas, and we know that the 

 potato was cultivated by the Peruvians long before the Spanish 

 conquest. It would, in my opinion, require much more evidence 

 than we now possess to make it probable that it occurs as a true 

 native anywhere north of Chili. 



SoLAiS'UM AiS'GUSTii'OLiFM, IRuiz Sf Pav. var. = Sl. pulverulentum, 

 Pers. Chicla ! 



Solanum Peisttlandt, Dun. Chiclal Upper valley of the 

 Eimac, 8000 to 10,000 feet. I doubt whether this should be 

 separated from S, cTienopodioide^ Lam. 



SoLAKUM EADICANS, Ruiz ^ Pav. Upper Eimac valley, from 

 9000 to 11,000 feet abov^ the seal 8, ruderale, CI. Gay, PL 

 Chil., seems to me not different from this species. 



SoLAKUM , n- sp. ? Upper valley of the Himac, about 



9000 feet ! 



A Solano rhamnoide. Dun. in DC. Prod. xiii. 160, differt pluri- 

 bus notis gravioribus : — 1. plauta tota glabra, nisi nervo medio et 

 nervis lateralibus primariis (prominentibus, nee vix conspicuis), 

 in pagina inferiori foliorum fusco-pulverulentis, cum fascicule 

 lanae tomentos^e ad insertionem nervorum lateralium ; 2. calycis 

 segmentis rotundatis, obtusissimis, nee triangularibus, aeutis; 

 3. stigmate clavato, nee obcordato. Planta insignis est ob pedi- 

 cellos etiam ante anthesim recurvos, pendulos. Segmeuta corollina 

 ochroleuca, trinervia. Bacca magnit. nucis avellanae, fusco-atra. 



Amidst the vast crowd of species, many of which I have not 

 seen, this may possibly have been described, and I think it better 

 not to coin a new name. 



Lycopersicum pebuviakum, Mill. Ascends from the coast 



alone: the Eimac valley to a height of 8000 feet ! 



