s 
acs 
- 254 List of the Plants of Chile. 
D. C. prodr.) is the most extensively used fruit of ‘the country. It 
is called zandia—watermelon ; it is wholesome, very juicy and some- 
‘times very sweet, and is delightful in the country, where there is an 
incredible consumption of it. There are many varieties; one of 
them is late, and has the additional merit of being — with facility 
until the winter season. : 
Cucurbita Lagenaria. Ea (Sapaiiets vulgaris. Ser. Cc. c.) 
Vulgarly calabaza—calabash. . The fruit well ‘ripened is used asa 
adle. Some are very large, and-of different figures, upon which 
the name given them often depends. The Acayota and Zapallo— 
pumpkin, are the most frequent s} ecies. They are cultivated in oli- 
tories and in fields. The first is employed almost exclusively for 
making sweet-meats ; the second is an excellent aliment and may be 
preserved throughout the year. There are zapallos abounding $0 
much in saccharine matter, that it-would be difficult. to distinguish 
them by the taste from the batata dulce—sweet potatoe— Conval- 
vulus Batatas. L.) the root of which is brought from Lima and is 
known under the name of Camote. Attempts have been made to 
cultivate it in this country. The C. Siceraria and C. mammett@ 
Molina are referred to these two species, and I doubt if they ca 
_be separated from the C. maxima, Duch. Meloptpo; and Pepo, L. 
I have not found them wild in this country. | 
Cupressus.. A tree cultivated in some gardens. A ail decort- 
tion for a place of amusement; it would be more appropriate neat 
the funereal marble, on a peaceful and solitary mountain. ‘The name 
cypress is given to this tree, to a Thuia, which is also cultivated; and 
to a tree of this country which I have net yet seen. ‘The w 
the last is th tt which i is most used. 
Cu: as. Ker. Awild sds wit’ is nevertheless cal- 
led a cabello de angel. It is very injurious to meadows 
and ‘inept I have seen it cover. trees to the very top- The 
means of its destruction shouldbe sought for. There are IW 
ee: cies, if the sessile and pedicellate flowers area constant characte. 
ydonia vulgaris. Pers. A cultivated tree; there are two V& 
notice, ‘the membrillo and the lucwma. -The fruit in sweetmeat is 
good and, in fact, has no other use. The twigs of these’ trees are 
manufactured into baskets. This Zucuma must not be confounded 
with that of Coquimbo, a genus so called by Jussieu, and of = 
I will speak in the proper place. ‘The genus Lucuma , Molina, shoul 
be abolished, in as inuch as it is composed of heterogenous species 
which belong to other genera. 
