Tas. 6279, 
CORDIA prcanpra. 
” Native of Chile. 
Nat. Ord. Boracinea.—Tribe Corpiex. 
Genus Corpra, Plum. (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Pl. vol. ii. p. 838.) 
Corpta (sebestenoides)decandra, fruticosa, v. subarborea, pilis rigidulis aspera, ramulis 
teretibus, foliis sessilibus lineari-lanceolatis obtusis subacutisve marginibus 
revolutis supra scabridis et venis immersis rugosis subtus griseis, panicula ter- 
minali corymbosa laxa effusa foliosa, pedicellis gracilibus, calyce campanu- 
lato obtuse 3-5-lobo et 10-dentato pilis brunneis hispido, corolle tubo brevi 
infundibulari,‘limbo explanato albo breviter 10-lobo, antheris 10 vix exsertis, 
fructu ovoideo ligneo levissimo apiculato calyce fere incluso 4-valvatim fisso. 
C. decandra, Hook. et Arn. Bot. Beech. Voy. vol. i. p. 38. t. 10.; DC. Prod. vol. ix. 
Pp. 478; C. Gay, Flor. Chil. vol. ii. p. 455. 
A beautiful shrub, native of Central and Northern Chili, 
where it is well known for the excessive hardness of its wood, 
which is much used for charcoal, whence the local name of 
Carbon for the species is derived. The first information we 
possess of it is from specimens gathered in 1825 by Macrae, 
a collector in the employ of the Royal Horticultural Gardens, 
who visited Chili on his way to the N.W. coast of America ; 
since which period it has been met with by many botanists 
and voyagers. It is easy of cultivation and well worth a 
place in a warm greenhouse on account of the pure white of 
the blossoms that are copiously produced in spring. 
The following account of ‘the wood is given in the Ap- 
pendix to Mrs. Graham’s (afterwards Lady Calcott’s) ‘ Chili,’ 
‘Carbon grows in the districts of Guasco, Coquimbo, and 
Cuzcuz only. It is short and thick, and used for small articles 
of turnery, but it is incomparable for firewood. Two logs 
that might not each be more than a yard long and one-third 
thick, suffice to keep a stew boiling night and day, besides 
other kettles, enough for eight or ten people. Mr. Cruck- 
shanks, from whom there are specimens in the Hookerian 
Herbarium, states that the wood is extensively employed for 
