GEOGRAPHICAL BOTANY. 407 



prickles, but in which, during August and September, 

 the most luxuriant grass plains, with their bulbous plants, 

 are found. The following are some of the physiognomi- 

 cally important forms of plants represented in this drawing: 

 the Caves (Mimosa Cavenict), the dwarf-pine-like Lithi 

 (Rhus caustica), Cereus Peruvianus, Puretia coarctata, 

 Synantheraceous shrubs, bamboos, &c. 



Miers has proposed two genera of Iridaceae from Chili 

 Solenomelus (Cruckshankia ej. ol.) and Sympliostemon 

 (SisyrincJiium odoratissimum Cav.) (Transact. Linn. Soc. 

 xix, p. 95). Sir W. Hooker has determined the Alerse 

 tree of the south of Chili, which is used as timber for 

 building, to be Thuja tetragona (Lond. Journ. Bot., 1844, 

 p. 144). Berkeley has described an edible Fungus from 

 Terra del Fuego ; Cyttaria n. gen., near Bulgaria, also 

 containing a species from Chili (Transact. Linn. Soc., xix, 

 p. 37). 



VI. AUSTRALIA AND SOUTH-SEA ISLANDS. 



F. D. Bennett remarks that westerly winds, corre- 

 sponding to the monsoon, not infrequently extend east- 

 wards over the Pacific Ocean towards the Society Islands, 

 and especially in February and March are not infre- 

 quently taken advantage of, for making voyages in a 

 south-easterly direction ; consequently in regions which, 

 in other respects, are completely under the influence of 

 the south-east trade- wind (Whaling Voyage, i, p. 159). 

 The botanical communications, which form an appendix 

 to the account of his voyage, and which treat especially 

 of the cultivated plants of the South Sea Islands, con- 

 tain, in addition to numerous well-known facts, many 

 names of Polynesian plants. 



The illustrations of the Caroline and Marian Islands, 

 and the archipelago of Bonin, are among the most 

 excellent and richest views in Kittlitz's work ; but the 



