Falklands, etc.] FLORA ANTARCTICA. 345 



the parenchyma of the leaves and immediately beneath the surface of the stem ; from the tenuity of the epidermis, 

 and transparency of the leaves when dried, they form prominences on the cuticle of a white colour, closely simulating 

 the laterally attached hairs of Orucifera. 



XLVII. EMPETRACE^E, Nutt. 



1. EMPETKUM, L. 



1. Embetktjm rvkrum, Vahl, JIS. et Willi. Sjj. PI. vol. iv. p. 713, ex Banks et Sol. MS. in Bill. Banks. 

 cum icone. Gaud, in Ann. Sc. Nat. vol. v. p. 10:3, et in Freyc. Voy. Bot. p. 134. IfUrv. in Mem. Soc. 

 Linn. Paris, vol. iv. p. 60S. " Bruyere ;\ fleurs d'un vert blauchatre," Pernetty, Voy. vol. ii. p. 64. 



Hab. Soutli Club, Fuegia, and the Falkland Islands, most abundant, Commerson, Banks and Solander, 

 and all future voyagers. 



I am unable to detect any characters to separate the Empetrum rut/rum from E. nigrum, beyond what is 

 afforded by the colour of the berries. Though many of the northern specimens of E. nigrum are perfectly similar 

 to Fuegian specimens of E. rubrurn in every other respect, yet almost all the Falkland individuals, and many 

 of those of Cape Horn, are more tomentose than any specimens of the Northern species that I have examined. 

 Under these circumstances, the plants from the opposite hemispheres may be regarded as representative species, or 

 varieties of the same ; but, since all the specimens from the southern hemisphere present one constant character, 

 distinguishing them from those of the northern, and since neither is known to occur in any part of the New World 

 between the parallels of -15° N. and 33° S., I feel myself obliged to attach specific importance to the otherwise 

 very trifling differences in the colour of the fruit. 



The Empetrum rubrurn. is a very abundant western extra-tropical South American plant, from the latitude of 

 Conception on the Pacific coast, and Mendoza on the Andes, to Cape Horn. In the latter country, as in the 

 Falkland Islands, this species altogether simulates E. nigrum in the localities it affects, in its habit and mode of 

 growth, stature, in the forms its varieties assume, and in the economy of nature, affording food to wild-geese, and, 

 in Fuegia, to a bird allied to the grouse. The stems and leafy branches are much used for fuel in the Falklands, 

 where the plant is called " Diddle-dee ", they are especially employed in kindling fire, for even when sodden with 

 rain, they speedily ignite, and burn with a bright and hot fiame. 



The affinities of this genus, or rather order, are yet undefined. I am inclined to adopt the opinion of Jussieu 

 in allying it to Ericete, from the habit, foliage, the bractere, calyx, and texture of the corolla and anthers and some 

 other characters. 



XL VIII. CUPULIFEELE, Rich. 



1. FAGUS, L. 



1. Fagus Antarctica, Forst., ex Banks et Sol. MS. in Mas. Banks, cum icone. Hook. Bot. Jburn. 

 vol. ii. p. 15. t, VI. Calucechiuus Antarctica, Ilomb. et Jacq. in, Voy. an Pole Slid, Bot. Bicot. t. 14. Z. 

 et Bot. Monocot. Phau. t. 6. e. C. Montagni, Eoml. et Jacq. I. c. Bot. Bicot. t. S. n. (Tab. CXXIII.) 



Hab. South Chili and throughout Fuegia, very abundant, Commerson, Banks and Solander, and all 

 succeeding voyagers. 



This species and the following, form together so predominant a feature in the Fuegian landscape, that, though 

 accurately described by several voyagers, especially Cook, King, and Fitzroy, and in the graphic narrative of my 



4 H 



