24 NATURAL HISTORY OF KERGUELEN ISLAND. 



resistance of the stems. Not piok as iSgured {Fl. Ant), but always pale 



greenish-yellow. Here and there is a patch of discolored leaves, white 



or yellow. 



IX.—RUBIACE^. 



1. Galium Antarcticum, ^ooZc. ^L — A small trailing plant, found 

 as undergrowth with Accena, Grasses, Ferns, etc., generally near the sea, 

 but extending well up the hill-sides. Flowers first observed December 

 3. "Flores sessiles, albi, trimeri'- (jP^ Ant. p. 303). I have found them 

 quite as often 4-petaled as 3-petaled, and with a distinct peduncle. 

 A single 5-i)etaled flower was found January 5. 



X.— COMPOSITE. 



1. Leptinella plumosa, Hoolc. fil. — First observed in flower Novem- 

 ber 30. This j)lant fringes the cliffs overlooking the sea, grows down 

 to high- water mark in the low-land, and marks the "roads" to Penguin 

 rookeries and the rocks frequented by Cormorants. It grows very 

 thickly, forming a flat matted carpet very welcome to the eye of the 

 wearied jiedestrian, less on account of the silvery luster of its leaves than 

 because it is a certain indication of firm ground. A decoction of the 

 leaves is used by the whalers as an emetic, and is said to be prompt 

 and effectual in its action. 



XI.— GRAMINE^. 



1. Triodia. Kerguelensis, RooTc, fil. — Flowers were first observed 

 December 2. Grows among cliffs, altitude 300 to 2,000 feet. Very 

 long, filiform roots. 



2. Festuga Cookii, Rook. fil. — Very common in hollows on hill-sides 

 near the sea. Flowers early in May. A fine large grass. [The plants 

 seem to be male only ; if fertile, they are in a much earlier state of 

 inflorescence than Dr. Hooker's specimens. — A. G.] 



3. Festuga eregta, JD^Urv. — A straight, tussocky grass, with pur- 

 ple panicles, observed in flower December G. Found in flat land, alti- 

 tude 200 feet, about a mile from the sea. 



4. AiRA ANTARGTIGA, Hoolc. — A graceful grass, with oat-like panicles. 

 Found in flower near the sea-shore December 21. Also observed among 

 cliffs at considerable altitudes. 



