344 FLORA ANTARCTICA. \Fuegia, the 



2. Urtica Magettanica, Poir.; caule valido erecto hispido-setoso, foliis subcoriaceis rugosis oppositis 

 petiolatis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve acuminatis basi cordatis argute serrato-dentatis, utrinque setosis subter 

 leviter puberulis, stipulis lineari-oblongis acutis, floribus glomeratis, glomerulis setosis in spicas interruptas 

 petiolo breviores v. elongatas dispositis. U. Magellanica^ Poiret, Enci/cl. Suppl. vol. iv. p. 323. 



Hab. Strait of Magalhaens, Commerson ; Port Famine, Capt. King. 



Caulis 2-pedalis erectus, validus, setis plurimis patentibus obtectus. Petioli -|— 1 unc. longi. Folia 2i- 3i 

 uncialia, latitudme varia, basi plus minusve cordata rarius rotuudata. Racemi seu spicaj pcnduli, monoici v. dioici, 

 petiolo longiores rarius abbreviate Flores majusculi, fcerainei compressi, orbiculares, aeliEenio conformes. 



Not an uncommon species from Valparaiso to the Strait of Magalhaens, differing from the preceding in its 

 robust habit, different texture of the leaves, and setose stem and foliage, all, I fear, very unimportant characters 

 in this genus, but whose validity in the present species I have not sufficient materials for ascertaining. The 

 characters drawn from the length of the racemes is a variable one, those bearing male flowers especially being the 

 shortest, and sometimes, as described by Poiret, shorter than the petioles. The present appears very closely 

 allied indeed to a South African species, and it may even be considered doubtful whether both are not states 

 of U. dioica, with unusually large flowers. 



One of Anson's vessels, when detached from his squadron, put into a Bay near the western entrance of the 

 Strait of Magalhaens, and recruited her crew, who were paralyzed by scurvy, by means of Nettle tops, most probably 

 the produce of this or the former species. 



The Urtica lanrifolia, Poiret, stated to have been brought from the Strait of Magalhaens by Commerson, does 

 not appear to belong to this genus. I am wholly unacquainted with the U. gigantea, of the same author, also from 

 the Strait of Magalhaens. 



2. PILEA, Lindl. 



1. Pilea elliptica, Hook, fil.; suberecta, caule debili herbaceo parce ramoso, foliis longe et graciliter 

 petiolatis membranaceis ellipticis utrinque subobtusis grosse crenato-serratis trinerviis super subterque pilis 

 appressis minimis conspersis, floribus niasculis in umbellam capitatam longe pcdicellatam congestis, foemineis 

 ad basin pedunculi sessilibus glorneratis, achaenio orbiculari compresso apice oblique emarginato. 



Hab. Chonos Archipelago ; C. Darwin, Esq. 



Caules uni-bipedales, crassitie pennae corvinae, rufescentes, punctis albidis elongatis notati. Petioli longitudine 

 varii folio longiores v. breviores. Stipula membranacefe, late ovata?. Folia lsete viridia, membranacea, exacte 

 elliptica, imo basi obscure cordata, magnitudine varia, -j-2 unc. longa, grosse sed sequaliter crenato-serrata ; paren- 

 chyma corpusculis fusiformibus e epidermide translucida oculo nudo manifestis pilos appressos simulantibus farctum. 

 Pedunculi petiolo aequilongi v. longiores, apice umbellulam simplicem florum masculorum gerentes, basi glomerulo 

 florum fcemineorum aucti. Fl. Masc Periantliium 4-partitum, laciniis late ovatis acmninatis inflexis. Fl. Fcem. 

 Perianthium valde compressum, 3-partitum, lacinia postica cucullata lateralibus oblongis multoties longiore. 

 Aclianinm planum. 



A very distinct species, confined to the S.W. portions of Chili between Valdivia and the Chonos Archipelago, 

 a tract which may be considered as partaking of the Chilotean botany, the latter itself being a division of the Chilian 

 Flora, only separable by the amount of specific difference from the other extra-tropical regions of western South 

 America. 



The appearance of the so-called pubescence of this species and many other Urticea is curious, and caused by 

 the presence of numerous white fusiform raphides attenuated at both ends, which are scattered abundantly throughout 



