684 PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS I BOTANY. 



5. VERBENA BONARIENSIS Linn. 



Stem strict, tetragonal, scabrid to subvillous, naked upwards. Leaves 

 lanceolate, acutely subauriculate, adnate-amplexicaul, the upper part 

 incised-serrate, revolute, the veins and rugae hirsute. Panicle terminal, 

 fastigiate, consisting of long-stalked cymes, these consisting of dense cylin- 

 drical spikes. Bracts lanceolate-acuminate, at least equalling the calyx, 

 which is hispidulous on the angles. Flowers rose or violet. 



(Amer. tropics ; and grassy plains of Bonaria ; in damp ground ; also in 

 S. Africa) ; N. Patagon., in Valleys of Rio Colorado and Rio Negro. 



6. V. CARROO Speg. (Plate XXIII.) 



Virgate shrub, 1-2 meters high, blackish, gloomy, with thick, erect 

 branches, everywhere quadrifariously branching, the branchlets small abor- 

 tive, glomeruliform, tetragonally stellate, densely leafy-imbricate ; this year's 

 branches, simple, patent, erect, leafy, with branchlets. Leaves glabrous, 

 dimorphous, all minute ; this year's sessile, opposite, amplexicaul, tripar- 

 tite, the lobes divaricate, pungent, segments entire, margin revolute, cari- 

 nate at the nerve, being black-purplish or castaneous ; last year's breaking 

 up and bearing glomeruliform branchlets. Leaves of abortive branchlets 

 quadrifariously and densely imbricated, simple, ovate-linear, obtuse, shin- 

 ing ; their margin entire revolute. 



Spikes, terminal on this year's branches, black-castaneous, i or few, 

 sessile, cylindraceo-capitate, compact. Bracts opposite, leaf-like, trifid, i- 

 flowered. Flowers sessile, fragrant. Calyx campanulate, obliquely trun- 

 cate, 5-toothed, the 2 front teeth evolute. Corolla white or pink, pubes- 

 cent outside and in the throat; limb spreading, 5-lobed. Stamens 4, 

 inserted at upper third of tube. Style simple. Ovary glabrous or puber- 

 ulous. 



S. Patagon., by Rio Sta. Cruz and R. Gallegos. " Carroo of the Tehuel- 

 che natives ; of extraordinary habit. Referred by Philippi to V. tridens 

 Lag." (Speg.). By Peterson at Rio Sta. Cruz. "Mate negra," abundant 

 and used for fuel. (J. B. Hatcher.) 



7. V. CHAM^EDRIFOLIA JuSS. 



Stems filiform, dichotomously branching, creeping, hirt, the apex and 

 branches ascending. Leaves oblong or ovate, broadly basi-cuneate, con- 

 tracted to a short petiole, crenate or incised-serrate, strigose above, hirt 



