53^ PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: BOTANY. 



((X A. Peterson) on pampas near Coy Inlet, in fruit Nov. 23, 1896. 

 Magellan (Dusen). Called Alfilerillo in N. Patagon. "It is considered 

 useful for cattle in Paraguay, Patagonia, and neighboring regions, as it 

 springs up fresh after each fall of rain. Doubtless introduced from Europe, 

 it has spread nearly over all South America. In Peru it extends from the 

 coast to 3,700 meters high." (J. Ball.) A. Gray remarks on the hygro- 

 metric twisting of the "tail" of its carpels, as pushing them into the 

 ground. Its taproot being long, strong, yet not thick, may promote its 

 speedy reappearance on the return of rain. 



ERODIUM CICUTARIUM ARENICOLUM (Steud.) Speg. 



Root woody ; all parts spreading, white hispid. Scarcely a variety, 

 rather a mere form. 



S. Patagon., common everywhere. 



2. E. MALACHOIDES Willd. 



Stem herbaceous, branching, somewhat hairy. Leaves cordate, undi- 

 vided or 3-lobed, obtuse, dentate. Peduncles many-flowered. Petals as 

 long as the calyx. 



(Europe; Canary Is.); Patagon., near Carren-leofu. 



3. WENDTIA Meyen. 



Calyx with an involucre; sepals 5; petals 5. Stamens 10. Flowers 

 pediceled, solitary or crowded, yellow. Carpels mostly 3. Style very 

 short, with 3 stigmas. Capsule loculicidal, also the loculi springing 

 upwards from the top of the axis. Leaves silky, lobed, or partite. 



Species 3, Andine. (Fig. of W. reynoldsii in Eng. & Prantl, iii, 4, p. 

 12, D, E, F.) 



W. TRIGYNA PCEPPIGIANA (KlotZSch) O. Ktze. 



Erect. Leaves very numerous, 5-cleft. Flowers small. 

 N. Patagon., in rocks near Lago Nahuel-huapi. 



Family 54. OXALIDACE^;. Wood-sorrel Family. 



Mostly herbs, with acid sap and palmately 3-foliolate, or digitately, or 

 pinnately parted leaves, having long petioles. 



