368 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS I BOTANY. 



4. SPIROSTACHYS VAGINATA Griseb. (O. Ktze. places this under 



Allenrolfea. ) 



Cortex brown. Cauline leaves reduced to the sheath, and covering the 

 whole internode, giving the appearance of a jointed branch ; leaves when 

 young obliquely truncate. Strobiles cylindric. Bracts 5-flowered, pel- 

 tate. Seed obovate. 



(In saline desert at Santiago di Estero, Argentina; N. Patagon.) (?). 



9. HETEROSTACHYS Ung.-Sternb. 



Much branching, fleshy, erect shrub, the branches subopposite, strict, and 

 jointed. Leaves opposite, but distinct, densely imbricated, suborbiculate, 

 obtuse. Strobiles with caducous scales, "certainly opposite" (spirally 

 arranged, we think, B. & H.), the lower pediceled, the upper sessile, 

 turgid. Bracts many-seriate, broader than long, free. Flowers concealed 

 in the axils of the scales ; perianth orbicular, compressed, broad-winged. 



Only species : 



E. RITTERIANA (Moq.) Ung.-Sternb. 



(Argentina ; Hispaniola) ; Patagon., Chubut, San Jose Peninsula. 



10. SALICORNIA Linn. 



Fleshy, glabrous, with opposite, terete branches, the leaves being reduced 

 to opposite scales, forming cup-like sheaths at the nodes. Flowers sunken, 

 3-5 together in the upper axils, forming terminal spikes. Stamens 2 

 (i), exserted. Stigmas 2. Utricle enclosed by the spongy fruiting calyx. 



Species 10, widely distributed in saline soil. Its ash is valuable as a 

 supply of soda, and is called " Jume " : giving by analysis 60 per cent, of 

 soda salts (carbonate, chloride, and silicate), 19 per cent, of potash salts 

 (phosphate and carbonate) ; also sulphate of lime, and magnesium car- 

 bonate. 



i . S. BERGII Ltz. & Nied. 



Erect shrub, with decussate branches, fas joints 12 mm. long, terete and 

 rigid, their sheaths very small, 2-lobed ; the shorter branches, 40 mm. long, 

 ending in thickish, cylindrical spikes; spikes 20 mm. long, narrowing 

 upwards, obtuse. Flowers in 3*5. Calyx-lobes 3. Seed brown, minute, 

 ovoid. 



N. Patagon., Rio Negro opposite Choele-choel. 



