130 
CONTRIBUTIONS TO BOTANY. 
tion between them, and Bonpland subsequently confirmed this 
by farther observations*. These botanists showed that in D. 
Winteri the flowers are always solitary upon several simple pe- 
duncles, which are aggregated at the termination of the branch- 
lets ; while D. Granatensis is strongly characterized by each of 
these peduncles invariably bearing upon its summit three to five 
long umbellated pedicels, severally supporting a flower. D. Chi- 
lensis partakes of this latter character, and is therefore equally 
distinct from the Magellanic species. The general resemblance 
in the shape and size of the leaves in D. Winteri and D. Gra- 
natensis is certainly great •, they have also the same dark green 
hue, with a more dealbated under surface, and a similar deep red 
midrib and petiole — so much so, that if the character of the in- 
florescence were put aside, they might be considered varieties of 
the same species : the inflorescence, however, constitutes a good 
specific difference, which is constant in each. Between D. Gra- 
natensis and D. Brasiliensis there is not only a dissimilarity in 
the appearance of the leaves, which in the former are more 
narrowly cuneated at the base, and of a much darker hue, but 
the inflorescence is distinguished in the former by its very long 
peduncles, its more lengthened and fewer pedicels, its larger 
flowers with a greater number of petals, and, finally, the inflo- 
rescence is axillary as well as terminal, which gives it a prominent 
character. D. Chilensis is subject to as many varieties in the 
size of its leaves, and the greater or less abundance of its in- 
florescence, as D. Brasiliensis ; but there is a perceptible differ- 
ence in the size and number of the pellucid dots which corre- 
spond with the raised glands upon their upper surface : in B. 
Brasiliensis and all its varieties they are comparatively larger 
and more distant ; the leaves are far more coriaceous and opake, 
so that in most instances the raised glands cease to be pellucid; 
and sometimes are wholly immersed : in D. Chilensis and in D. 
Winteri the punctate dots are much smaller, and more densely 
approximate. It is. always easy to distinguish, at a glance, the 
difihrence between the two last-mentioned species ; in the latter 
the branches are angular, invariably of a dark red colour, that 
gives it a peculiar character ; the petiole is very much stouter, 
considerably shorter and broader, rugose, and darker coloured ; 
the nervures of the leaves are fewer, and are soon lost by entire 
immersion in its much thicker parenchyma ; while in D. Chi- 
lensis the petiole is longer, proportionately narrower, the ner- 
vures are closer, at least double in number, more conspieuous, 
and arcuately conjoined long before they reach the margin. I 
have already mentioned that in D. Winteri the inflorescence con- 
stantly consists of a few terminal simple peduncles, eaeh bearing 
* PI. iEquin. i. 208. 
