140 



DISTRIBUTION OF PLANTS. 



Aldea (bis No. 2 lower down, to the base of the Andes and the vicinity of the sea-coast); 

 strigose. Presenting now the Alpine habit of growth, and forming depressed, cake- 

 like beds throughout the Desert to the vicinity of the snow. 



Gen Hydroleac. ? (No. 3); a third species. The leaves pubescent, ribbed, obtuse, hav- 

 t ing an interpetiolar stipule; summit of the plant full of flower-bracts, but the flowers 



not seen. Tntermingled in the beds of spincscent plants in the upper portion of the 

 Desert, towards the snow. 



Calceolaria (No. 8); leaves broad, Plantago-like, and appressed to the soil. Growing on 

 the wet overhanging borders of a rill, below the accumulated snow. 



Plantago (No. 34). Cespitose, half an inch to an inch high ; long wool at the base of the 

 leaves; the spikes few-flowered. In moist places along the margin of the bank of snow. 



Polygonum (No. 33). Having the habit of P. aviculare ; the root woody ; the stem with 

 scarious (or membranaceous) sheaths. In the lower portion of the Alpine Desert. 



Quinchamalium (No. 2). The leaves broad-lanceolate, spatulate. Intermingled in the 

 beds of spinescent plants in the upper portion of the Desert, towards the snow. Fig- 

 ured by Mr. Agate. 



Ephedra (bis No. 1 Patagonia, and lower down in Chili to the base of the Andes and 

 the vicinity of the sea-coast). Presenting now the Alpine habit of growth, and forming 

 densely-congested cake-like beds throughout the Desert to the vicinity of the snow. 



Juncus (No. 39). Resembling J. triflorus, but dwarf, only one to two inches high. In 

 moist places, along the margin of the bank of snow. 



Gen. llestiac.? (No. 1); Schoenus-like, or compare Oreobolus. One to two inches high; 

 and having a terminal spike. Densely cespitose ; growing in moist places, along the 

 margin of the bank of snow. 



Isolepis (No. 9; compare No. 8 of the Middle Mountain-region). Finer than at Valpa- 

 raiso, and perhaps a distinct species. 



Phleum (No. 6). Resembling P. alpinum, but the spike short. In moist places along 

 the margin of the bank of snow. 



Stipa (No. 19); perhaps a third species; the florets being larger. The guanaco grass. 

 Growing in the neighborhood of the accumulated snow. 



Agrostis (No. 33). Dwarf; one to two inches high; the leaves very slender, filiform. 

 Cespitose; growing in moist places, along the margin of the bank of snow. 



(No. 34). Having the habit of the preceding; the sheaths broader. Growing 



along the margin of the bank of snow. 



Aira (No. 11) ; the glumes long, and Avena-like. Growing along the margin of the bank 

 of snow. 



-(No. 12). Having the habit of A. caryophyllea ; the florets small. Growing 



along the margin of the bank of snow. 



Trisetum (No. 6 ; compare Terra del Fuego). Like T. subspicatum. In moist places, 

 along the margin of the bank of snow. 



■ : — ? (No. 7) ; or compare Festuca. Panicle coarctate; the florets short, and awned. 



Growing along the margin of the bank of snow. 



Poa (No. 22); leaves short; the thick sheaths forming a hardened mass at the base of 

 the culm; panicle elongate, and coarctate. In the neighborhood of the bank of accu- 

 mulated snow. 



(No. 23); like P. annua. Lax-growing, and unobtrusive. Occurring in moist 



places, along the margin of the bank of snow. 



