Tas, 6442, 
LOASA prosrrata, 
Native of the Chilian Andes. 
Nat. Ord. Loasrx. 
Genus Loasa, Juss. ; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl, vol. i. p. 804). 
Loasa prostrata; herba prostrata, setosa, caulibus robustis flexuosis, foliis 
oppositis breviter crasse petiolatissummis sessilibus ovato-rotundatis profunde 
cordatis 3-lobis scaberidis utrinque sinubus rotundatis, lobis lobulatis et den- 
tatis, dentibus setosis, nervis prominentibus, floribus axillaribus et apices 
versus ramulorum divaricato-paniculatis, pedunculis robustis, calycis lobis 
ovato-oblongis lanceolatis acutis setoso-dentatis, petalis aureis cymbiformibus, 
squamis conicis albis infra medium rubris, ovario turbinato, seminibus 
ovoideis maximis, testa levi. 
L. prostrata, Don in Edinb. Phil. Journ. 1841, 274; Gay. Fl. Chilen. vol. ii. p. 454. 
The Genus Zoasa has its head-quarters in the southern 
Andes, no less than thirty-one species being described as 
natives of Chili alone, where they are well known for their 
stinging hairs, which are far more irritating than those of 
the nettle. The present species has more botanical than 
horticultural interest, and is a native of the Southern 
Cordillera, where it was first discovered by Dr. Gillies, half 
a century ago, and where it has been since collected by 
Bridges and Cuming. It seems to be a scarce plant, and not 
to have been found by Claude Gay, the eminent Chilian 
traveller and botanist, and author of tbe Flora Chilina, who, 
in the latter work, quotes Don’s description as his only 
authority for the plant. : 
Loasa prostrata seems to be perfectly hardy, having with- 
stood the protracted winter of 1878-9 without protection in 
the herbaceous ground at Kew, where it flowers in September. 
Dxscr. Clothed with stinging hairs. Séems branching 
from the base, stout, fleshy, prostrate, flexuous, green. Leaves 
opposite, two to two and a half inches long, lower on very 
stout short petioles, upper sessile, all broadly ovate, deeply 
cordate, 3-lobed to below the middle with rounded sinus, 
AuGUsT Ist, 1879. 
