]\lr. J. Miers on the Winteraceae. 41 



midrib and petiole — so much so, that if the character of the in- 

 iiorescence were put aside, they might be considered varieties of 

 tile same species : the inflorescence, however, constitutes a good 

 specific diflterence, which is constant in each. Between D. Gra- 

 nateims and D. Brasiliensis there is not only a dissimilarity in 

 the appearance of the leaves, which in the foru)cr are more 

 narrowly cuneated at the base, and of a much darker hue, but 

 the inflorescence is distinguished in the former by its very long 

 peduncles, its more lengthened and fewer pedicels, its larger 

 flowers with a greater number of petals, and, finally, the inflo- 

 rescence is axillary as well as terminal, which gives it a prominent 

 character. D. Chilensis is subject to as many varieties in the 

 size of its leaves, and the greater or less abundance of its in- 

 florescence, as D. Brasiliensis ; but there is a perceptible diff'er- 

 ence in the size and number of the pellucid dots which corre- 

 spond with the raised glands upon their upper surface : in D. 

 Brasiliensis and all its varieties they are comparatively larger 

 and more distant ; the leaves are far more coriaceous and opake, 

 so that in most instances the raised glands cease to be pellucid, 

 and sometimes are wholly immersed : in D. Chilensis and in D. 

 Winteri the punctate dots are much smaller, and more densely 

 approximate. It is always easy to distinguish, at a glance, the 

 difference between the two last-mentioned species ; in the latter 

 the branches are angular, invariably of a dark red colour, that 

 gives it a peculiar character ; the petiole is very much stouter, 

 considerably shorter and broader, rugose, and darker coloured ; 

 the uervures of the leaves are fewer, and are soon lost by entire 

 immersion in its much thicker parenchyma; while in D. Chi- 

 lensis the petiole is longer, proportionately narrower, the ner- 

 vures are closer, at least double in number, more conspicuous, 

 and arcuately conjoined long before they reach the margin. I 

 have already mentioned that in D. Winteri the inflorescence con- 

 stantly consists of a few terminal simple peduncles, each bearing 

 a solitary flower ; but in D. Chilensis the peduncles are as nu- 

 merous, are longer, broadly compressed, and always bear on their 

 summit six or seven umbellated pedicels, each supporting a 

 flower, and these are surrounded at their base by a verticil of 

 deciduous bracteoles ; where there are seven pedicels, this invo- 

 lucre consists of six bracteoles ; and with six pedicels it has five 

 bracteoles. In D. Granatensis this umbel is formed of only three 

 to five pedicellated flowers, and the bracteoles are far more de- 

 ciduous. In D. Winteri the calyx is larger, and the petals shorter 

 and broader in proportion, seldom exceeding six in number; 

 while in D. Chilensis I have always found ten petals : the former 

 has usually four ovaries, the latter generally five. These differ- 

 ences, added to their general aspect, and their distinct geogia- 



