Latua was first described in 1854 by Grisebach as a 
new species of Lyctoplesium—L. pubiflorum—trom a 
specimen collected by Lechler near Ancud in Chiloé. 
In 1858 the Chilean naturalist R.A. Philippi described 
the same plant as anew genus Latua, using the specific 
epithet cenenosa (1858, 1864). The correct combination 
Latua pubifora was first made by Baillon in 1888, not 
by Philippi as stated by Wettstein (1891) and Reiche 
(1910) (see Hunziker, 1960). The name Latua venenata 
Phil. appeared as an error in Hooker’s Botanical Maga- 
zine (1863) and has been perpetuated in synonymy by 
several authors. 
Latua pubifiora is tound sporadically in the coastal 
mountains of southern Chile between 40° and 43° lati- 
tude from the province of Valdivia to Chiloé (see Plate 
IV). This region has a very wet climate with over 2540 
mm. (100 in.) of rainfall annually. Jafwa occurs. pri- 
marily in the middle elevations of the cordillera between 
300 and 900 m. (900-2700 ft. ). 
The plant grows usually as a tall shrub along clearings 
and in secondary forests. Due to extensive deforestation 
for timber and grazing, much of its present range is now 
occupied by fields and pastures. Latua has adapted es- 
pecially well to these open conditions and is now becom- 
ing a weed along roadsides and in open places. It spreads 
sasily by adventitious branches from the underground 
parts, thereby thwarting efforts to eradicate it by cut- 
ting. In shaded woodland, Latwa may reach a height of 
ten meters, growing in association with Mueryphia, 
Lauretia and Chusquea. Although locally common, it 
is known from relatively few localities. 
In the northern provinces of Osorno and Valdivia, 
Latua begins to flower at the beginning of the rainy 
season in October, producing fruit in February and 
March. Further south, where there is less seasonal 
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