2. Urtica Magellanica, Poir.; caule valido erecto hispido-setoso, foliis subcoriaceis rugosis oppositis petiolatis ovatis ovato-lanceolatisve acuminatis basi cordatis argute serrato-dentatis, utrinque setosis subter leviter puberulis, stipulis lineari-oblongis acutis, floribus glomeratis, glomerulis setosis in spicas interruptas petiolo breviores v. elongatas dispositis. U. Magellanica Poiret, Encycl. Suppl. vol. iv. p. 323.
Hab. Strait of Magalhaens, Commerson; Port Famine, Capt. King.
Caulis 2-pedalis erectus, validus, setis plurimis patentibus obtectus. Petioli ¾—1 unc. longi. Folia 2½—3½ uncialia, latitudine varia, basi plus minusve cordata rarius rotuudata. Racemi seu spicæ penduli, monoici v. dioici, petiolo longiores rarius abbreviati. Flores majusculi, fœminei compressi, orbiculares, achæuio conformes.
Not an uncommon species from Valparaiso to the Strait of Magalhaens, differing from the preceding in its robust habit, different texture of the leaves, and setose stem and foliage, all, I fear, very unimportant characters in this genus, but whose validity in the present species I have not sufficient materials for ascertaining. The characters drawn from the length of the racemes is a variable one, those bearing male flowers especially being the shortest, and sometimes, as described by Poiret, shorter than the petioles. The present appears very closely allied indeed to a South African species, and it may even be considered doubtful whether both are not states of U. dioica, with unusually large flowers.
One of Anson's vessels, when detached from his squadron, put into a Bay near the western entrance of the Strait of Magalhaens, and recruited her crew, who were paralyzed by scurvy, by means of Nettle tops, most probably the produce of this or the former species.
The Urtica lanrifolia, Poiret, stated to have been brought from the Strait of Magalhaens by Commerson, does not appear to belong to this genus. I am wholly unacquainted with the U. gigantea, of the same author, also from the Strait of Magalhaens.
2. PILEA, Lindl.
1. Pilea elliptica, Hook, fil.; suberecta, caule debili herbaceo parce ramoso, foliis longe et graciliter petiolatis membranaceis ellipticis utrinque subobtusis grosse crenato-serratis trinerviis super subterque pilis appressis minimis conspersis, floribus masculis in umbellam capitatam longe pcdicellatam congestis, fœmineis ad basin pedunculi sessilibus glomeratis, achænio orbiculari compresso apice oblique emarginato.
Hab. Chonos Archipelago; C. Darwin, Esq.
Caules uni-bipedales, crassitie pennæ corvinæ, rufescentes, punctis albidis elongatis notati. Petioli longitudine varii folio longiores v. breviores. Stipulæ membranaceæ, late ovatæ. Folia læte viridia, membranacea, exacte elliptica, imo basi obscure cordata, magnitudine varia, ½-2 unc. longa, grosse sed æqualiter crenato-serrata; parenchyma corpusculis fusiformibus e epidermide translucida oculo nudo manifestis pilos appressos simulantibus farctum. Pedunculi petiolo æquilongi v. longiores, apice umbellulam simplicem florum masculorum gerentes, basi glomerulo florum fœmineorum aucti. Fl. Masc Perianthium 4-partitum, laciniis late ovatis acuminatis inflexis. Fl. Fœm. Perianthium valde compressum, 3-partitum, lacinia postica cucullata lateralibus oblongis multoties longiore. Achænium planum.
A very distinct species, confined to the S. W. portions of Chili between Valdivia and the Chonos Archipelago, a tract which may be considered as partaking of the Chilotean botany, the latter itself being a division of the Chilian Flora, only separable by the amount of specific difference from the other extra-tropical regions of western South America.
The appearance of the so-called pubescence of this species and many other Urticeæ is curious, and caused by the presence of numerous white fusiform raphides attenuated at both ends, which are scattered abundantly throughout
