616 Hastings: Flora of central Chile 



times becommg a small tree. It blossoms in early spring when 

 the leaves are first appearing. During the middle of the day the 

 leaflets close together, diminishing the transpiring surface. Fre- 

 quently the espino covers large areas with the regularity of trees 

 m an orchard ; such areas are called espiiiales. At other times it 

 is found in company with other thorny shrubs, but always main- 

 taining its position as the dominant form. Throughout the region 

 introduced herbs have the ascendency over the native : Brassica 

 Rapa, Raphanus sylvestris, Capsella Biirsa-pastoris, Sisymbrmm 

 officinale, species of Erodiiim^ Foeiiiailiim viilgare^ Mcdicago 

 wacidata, M. dcnticidata, TrifoUum repcns, Hordeiun jiibatiim, H. 

 miirbiuui^ Fiunaria mcdia^ Centaicrea melitensis^ Cynara Caf- 

 duncidus, and others are very common along the roadsides, at 

 the edges of cultivated fields, on all waste land, and even on the 

 lower mountain-slopes. During the summer these introduced 

 plants make up the greater part of the vegetation. In the early 

 spring a larger number of native plants are found ; such as various 

 species of Oxalis {O, lobata^ 0. articidata and 0, micranthd), 

 Dioscorea hnudfusa^ Saghia apciala, Trie hop etahim stellatwn and 

 Leticocoryne ixioides. Besides the Acacia^ a few other shrubs or 



r 



small trees are found, as Prosopis jidiflora {P. Siliquasfruui), Cestrum 

 Parqui, and Talguenea costata. Several species of Cusciita and 

 Senecio are also common. 



This region is the only one brought under cultivation to any 

 extent. A large number of the country roads have been formed 

 into alamcdas by planting Lombardy poplars along the small irri- 

 gating ditches that run at each side. Below these poplars Riibiis 

 iibnifolhis frequently is planted and often grows to a height of over 

 fifteen feet, spreading out on each side to form an impenetrable 

 wall, replacing the mud walls that usually border the roads. 



Several small areas of this central plain have a very distinct 

 flora. There are a few small lakes, such as Aculeo and Batuco, 

 which are swampy along the shores. Also along the irrigating 

 ditches there are occasionally swampy places. Here are found 

 such plants as Ekocharis pahistris, Cypenisvegetus, Typha aiignsti- 

 folia, Potamogeton pectinatiis, P. Berteroaniis, Zamiichellia pahistris^ 

 Myriophylhan verticillaUim, Lemna minor, L. gibba, Azolla magdl- 

 anica, and Cotula coronopifolia. 



