MACLOSKIE : RHAMNACE^E. 563 



Patagon., in valleys by Golfo de San Jorge ; in dry valleys along Rio 

 Chubut. " Sometimes nearly leafless or with small, coriaceous leaves ; 

 sometimes with large, membranaceous leaves." (Speg.) 



3. DISCARIA Hook. 



Branching, mostly glabrous shrubs, rarely leafless, the branches decus- 

 sating, often spinescent, transversely furrowed at the nodes. Leaves 

 opposite, minute, coriaceous, mostly persisting. Stipules small, joined by 

 lines. Flowers on axillary, nodding pedicels. Calyx-tube continued 

 above the disk, bearing the 4-5 petals (or petals none), and the stamens. 

 Ovary 3-celled, immersed in the disk. Drupe dry, 3-coccous, cocci at 

 length dehiscing, imbedded in the base of the calyx. 



Species 12, chiefly in extratropical and Andine S. Amer. ; also i each 

 in the Galapagos, Australia and N. Zealand ; some cultivated. 



KEY TO THE SPECIES. 



A. Leafless. Branches jointed, ending in a spine. articulata. 



Az. Nearly leafless. Branches virgate, spinose. longispina. 

 AT,. Leaves serrate, sparse. 



b. Flowers 4-merous. Leaves 12 mm. long ; spiny branches as of Ulex. discolor. 



b2. Flowers 5-merous. Leaves 20 mm. Spines coarse. serratifolium. 

 A^. Leaves entire. 



b. Spinose. .Leaves lance -linear to oblong, caducous. febrifuga. 



b2. Unarmed. Leaves subovate. 



c. Calyx 5-cleft. Low, procumbent. andina. 



c2. Flowers 4-merous. magellanica. 



3. Leaves subspatulate. Flowers 4-merous. integrifolia. 

 A$. Leaves crenulate-toothed, elliptic-oblong. 



b. Branches virgate, with long spines. cognata. 



b2. Branches erect, some spinescent. foliosa. 



i. D. ANDINA (Miers) Speg. (Notophczna a. ofMiers.) 



Low, procumbent, unarmed. Branchlets tortuose, nodose, very leafy. 

 Leaves opposite, from long, scaly, axillary buds, ovate, obtuse at both 

 ends, or basi-acute ; entire, thick, sparsely pilose all over, pinnately 

 nerved; the petiole short, channeled, puberous. Stiptiles broad, bifid, 

 ciliate,. partly connate. Flowers few, aggregate. Peduncle exceeding the 

 petiole, i -flowered, erect, pilose. Calyx 5-cleft, its lobes half as long 

 as the stamens. Ovary glabrous. 



(Chilian Andes) ; N. Patagon., by Lago Nahuel-huapi. 



