580 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: BOTANY. 



nents. F. cymbifolia Hook., a Patagonian plant, is a misnomer. Its 

 proper name is IVilsonia humilis R. Br., of the Convolvulacece. Index 

 Kewensis, ii, 88 1. Eng. & Prantl, iv, 3^, 15.) 



2. NIEDERLEINIA Hier. 



Undershrub, with thick-skinned, ericoid leaves, and polygamo-monce- 

 cious flowers. Petals spatulate-cuneate, without an appendage, shorter 

 than the calyx-lobes. Stamens in 2 series of 3, or staminodes, anthers 

 introrse. Rudimentary ovary in the barren flowers. Only i seed-bearing 

 placenta. 



Only species. 



N. MICROPHYLLA Cav. (N. juniperoides Hier.) 



Low, branching shrub, the branches ascending, and with small, decus- 

 sate, subprismatic, exstipulate, connate, dorsally channeled leaves. 

 Flowers solitary, sessile in the dichotomies. Calyx 5-lobed. Petals 5, 

 hypogynous, lutescent. Stamens 6, hypogynous, i -celled or barren. 

 Ovary free, i -celled, placenta parietal. Style filiform, 3-cleft. Seeds 46, 

 ascending. 



Fig. of fruit and seed in Eng. & Prantl, iii, 6, p. 287, M, N. Over all 

 Patagon., by salt lakes north of Rio Colorado; and N. and E. Fuegia 

 (Dusen). Making large clumps by R. de Sta. Cruz. 



Family 70. VIOLACE^:. Violet Family. 



Usually herbs, with alternate or basal, stipulate, simple leaves, and 

 zygomorphous, 5-merous flowers. The lowest petal mostly spurred. 

 Stamens 5, hypogynous, with adnate, introrse anthers, conniving over the 

 ovary ; the 2 anterior anthers with appendages. Ovary i -celled, with 3 

 parietal placenta. Style simple, club-shaped. Seeds many, with large 

 endosperm. 



Species 300, widely distributed. 



VIOLA Linn. 



Sepals subequal, produced somewhat posteriorly. Anterior petal with 

 a long spur, for receiving the appendages of the 2 anterior anthers. Cap- 

 sule elastically dehiscing into 3 valves. 



