144 ALERSE OF CHILI. 
Tas. III. Hyopancue coccinea. Fig. 1, Calyx, with 
bracteas ; f. 2, Flower, with its 2 bracteas, front view ; x 3; 
Corolla, side view ; f. 4, The same laid open, showing the 
stamens (all nat. pn ; f. 5, Anther, magnified; f. 6, Pistil, 
nat. size; f. 7, Transverse section of ovary, magnified. 
Description, with a Figure, of a New Species of Tuusa, the 
ALERSE of Chili, by W. J. H. 
(Tas. IV.) 
Travellers who visit the various towns on the Pacific 
side of South America, speak of the quantity of timber 
imported from the south of Chili, especially in the form of 
shingles, under the name of Alerse or Alerze, a tree I believe 
hitherto unknown to botanists. The fullest account of it 
that has come in my way is that of Captain King in the 
“ Voyage of the Adventure and the Beagle,” vol. i. p. 282, 
where he says: “ The Alerse found near Chilóe, is of better 
quality than that which comes from Concepcion; it is 
brought in ‘tablones’ or planks, 7 or 8 feet long, 2 inches 
thick, and 9 or 10 inches wide ; and as it splits readily, it is 
also seen in boards of half that size, the latter pans. the 
principal articles of barter. 
“The Alerse grows in great quantities near Calbuco, but 
at such a distance from the beach that it cannot be conveyed 
thither for embarkation, except in the above form. The 
tree is felled and squared, and then hewn with the axe into 
as many logs of 7 or 8 feet long as it will afford, and these, 
with the assistance of iron wedges, are split into planks and 
boards ; in which state, without being farther trimmed, they 
are tied together in bundles and carried on men’s backs, or 
dragged over the ground to the beach. 
*'T'he extraordinary straightness of grain in this tree, enables 
the natives to split it, so as to make it appear as if it had — 
been dressed with an adze, or even with a plane; but, as I 
have said, the axe is the only instrument used. So great is : 
