a manner as in the C. cruciata, Hoox. et Girt. Bot. Misc. 
v. 1. p. 152. t. 43, which was found by Dr. Gites near 
Maldonado, in the Banda Oriental. It is a mass of oppo- 
site, decussated and decurrent, large, lateral, compressed 
spines, of a dark green colour, but woody and exceedingly 
rigid. Our present species is of a much milder character, 
yet so rigid as to be used in its native country, Chili and 
Mendoza, instead of brooms, whence it has, with many other 
such plants, received the Spanish name of retinilla. Ina 
warm and dry situation it survives our English winters ; 
and the drawing here made by Mrs. Pore was sent by Mr. 
Curtis, in whose garden, we believe, it flourished, blossom- 
ing in June. 
Descr. A small, tufted bush, with innumerable spinous 
branches, the spines simple or divided, very generally tri- 
partite, terete, clothed with a soft green bark. Leaves are 
only borne by the younger shoots, and are small, opposite, 
ovate, serrated, glabrous on short petioles. Flowers from 
the axils of the spines in the upper part of the branches, 
fasciculated, drooping. Peduncles scarcely half an inch 
long. Calyx white, externally tinged with green and rose 
colour, ovato-cylindrical, the mouth a little spreading, cut 
into five recurved segments, lined within, at the base, with 
a fleshy disk, involute at the margin, where a separation 
takes place as the fruit ripens. Stamens five. Anthers 
sessile, roundish-reniform, opening, as it were, with two 
unequal lips. Germen globose; Style shorter than the 
calyx ; Stigma small, three-cleft. . 
