Fes. 1910.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 73 
The native trees about Valparaiso are for the most part 
small and of slow growth, while the majority of them are 
evergreen. The “coligue,” a species of bamboo, forms an 
undergrowth in many places. Native woods contain the 
fragrant “ boldo” (Pewmus boldus), “ peamo” (Cryptocarya 
Peumus), “quillai” or soap-bark tree (Quillaja saponaria), 
“maqui” (Aristotelia maquz), the fruit of which resembles 
small cherries, and the handsome but poisonous “ litré” 
(Rhus caustica, Hook. et Arn.= Lithreea venenosa, Miers.). 
To touch this tree, or merely rest within its shade, produces 
in some people a severe form of dermatitis, the symptoms 
being a rash, accompanied by great irritation and swelling. 
The beautiful evergreen “patagua ” (Tricuspidaria depen- 
dens) grows a few miles inland in damp places. The 
% honey p alm” (Juba spectabilis, H. B. et K.) grows in 
several af the valleys near Valparaiso, especially fine ex- 
amples being seen in the neighbouring Salto Valley. The 
tree is greatly prized for its sweet sap, from which is pre- 
pared by evaporation the mel de palma or “palm honey’ 
which, with omelette, forms a favourite Chilian delicacy. 
Formerly the natives, with typical improvidence, were 
wont to cut down the trees to obtain the sap; and the 
palms, from being exceedingly abundant, became compara- 
tively scarce. Darwin in the year 1834 endeavoured to 
count the trees on one estate near Petorea, but failed, after 
having numbered several hundred thousand. In 1859 
Dr. Philippi wrote: “There are now few palm-groves 
remaining, as at Cocalen, at Ocoa in the valley of the 
Aconcaqua river, and the Cuesta de las Palmas between 
Petorea and Ilapel!” At Ocoa, some forty miles E.N.E. of 
Valparaiso, the palm-trees are now tapped, and the honey, 
evaporated and tinned, is sold throughout the Republic. 
With such trees and shrubs are the valleys clothed, while 
the higher plains are barer, being dotted over with an 
orange-flowered and sharp-thorned Mimosa. Other scrub 
includes “ chacai” (Discaria sp.) and “arrayan” (Hugenia 
apiculata), with an occasional clump of evergreen trees 
such as the graceful “maiten” (Maytenus boaria). The 
“ belloto” (Bellota Miersii, C. Gay), a very handsome ever- 
green tree with thick glossy leaves, grows particularly well 
in the Central Valley, where it affords excellent shelter for 
