Miscellanies. 189 



elegant and durable. This substance is not luminous in the dark, 

 and every tree is not alike converted into this material ; though it is 

 found in large quantities, and considerable blocks have already been 

 sent to England. Another species of beech which is deciduous is 

 rare on Staten Land, but very common at Cape Horn, where by the 

 changing colors of its leaves, it imparts the usual charm of autumnal 

 scenery. 



The Fuegian rush is another product of those almost antarctic re- 

 gions, possessing uncommon beauty for baskets, mats and hats. It 

 grows in wet grounds and bogs, and when cut and dry, like the rush 

 of our own country, resembles coarse hay. 



Capt. Webster has forwarded to the English Admiralty, specimens 

 of the plants and seeds found on Cape Horn, Staten Land and Del 

 Fuego. 



The herheris mycrophylla is described as " a pretty bush," bearing 

 plentifully a fruit between a grape and a goosebery, fit for tarts or 

 for the table. 



The balsam plant grows in Staten Land, from the leaves of which 

 exude a resinous juice, that concretes into a solid resin, having the 

 properties of copaiva. 



A good coloring matter is extracted from the scarlet berries of the 

 Hamadryas, similar to arnatto, particularly valuable for not being al- 

 tered by alkalies or acids. It thrives on bogs, moors, and waste 

 places. The sea weeds about Staten Land are very large and con- 

 tain iodine. 



Some flowers of peculiar beauty were found, such as the Chelone 

 ruelloides, and Jlndrosace spathulata, or fuegian auricula, but they 

 were of rare occurrence, and few seeds could be obtained. An ele- 

 gant myrtle leafed evergreen [Arbutus arculeata) bearing berries, is 

 a beautiful ornamental shrub, retaining its berries through the winter. 



Celerery grows spontaneously in great luxuriance and perfection. 



Shetland south east from Cape Horn and near the antarctic circle, 

 probably the most southern tract ever visited by civilized man, is de- 

 scribed as " naked, and destitute of a vestige" of vegetation, " a 

 shrub or two of a most diminutive moss, requiring a microscopic eye 

 to discover it, is very scarce, being found only in a few spots, and a 

 lichen identical with the one on the hills of Cape Horn, comprise the 

 botany of Shedand." Even the sea weeds are extremly meagre in 

 amount and variety. 



