228 To the River Plate and Back 



The genus Araucaria, which is related to the pines of the 

 northern hemisphere, but differs from them strikingly 

 in general appearance, is represented by several South 

 American species, one of which known as the " Monkey- 

 puzzle' 1 or 'Chili pine" (Araucaria imbricata) forms 

 great forests in the southern part of the Andean regions. 

 It apparently thrives well in the latitude of Buenos 

 Aires. Its stately relative, the Norfolk pine (Araucaria 

 excelsa), which in its native haunts often grows to the 

 height of two hundred feet, is also to be occasionally 

 seen in plantations in the vicinity of La Plata. Two 

 or three species of Casuarina are also extensively 

 planted. The 'Pride-of -India" (Melia azedarach) is 

 another tree which seems to enjoy popularity, and is 

 of ten seen along the highways and about rail way stations. 

 Every one who has visited Spain or Morocco has learned 

 to know the ' Bellasombra-tree " (Phytolacca dioica). 

 This great tree, related to the pokeberry of our way- 

 sides and waste places, is not uncommon about the 

 estancias in the vicinity of Buenos Aires. Its huge 

 fleshy roots, which grow on the surface of the soil, 

 covering an area almost as great as the branches, look 

 like great coiled and twisted serpents upon the ground, 

 but, although the tree attains goodly proportions, and 

 the broad leaves afford a grateful shade, I have con- 

 ceived a prejudice against it, on account of its tendency 

 like a great vegetable cancer to cover the soil with its 

 spongy and unsightly roots. I imagine that it was 

 introduced from Spain, and the specimens I saw about 

 La Plata appear to indicate that they must have been 

 planted long ago. All of the trees of this species which 

 I saw were mature. The largest specimen I observed 

 stood in the courtyard of a dilapidated farmhouse, 

 and I should say that it must be fully fifty years old, 



