104 



and althotigh winged like the Veniis's comb of 

 Europe^ have some of their lesser leaves entire 

 and fleshy. This plant is reputed to be vulne- 

 rary, and its Chilian name, signifying the herb 

 of woundS;, is expressive of this quality. 



The soil is so fertile that the herbage grows 

 to such a height in many pastures as completely 

 to conceal the sheep, especially in the valleys 

 of the Andes, where the vegetation is always 

 the most vigorous. But amidst this luxuriant 

 growth there are two or three species of plants 

 injurious to cattle, which are much dreaded^ 

 especially a kind known in the country by the 

 name of ijcrda loca, or herb of madness, from 

 its rendering those animals who eat of it madj, 

 particularly horses. 



This plants which forms a new genus, I have 

 called lupj)omanica. Its stalks are of an an- 

 gular shape^ a foot and a half in height ; the 

 leaves are opposite, lanceolated, entire, and 

 fleshy, of a clear grey, about an inch in length, 

 and attached to the branches without a foot- 

 stalk ; the flower is formed like a rose, and 

 grows at the top of the branches ; it consists of 

 iive oval petals, of a yellow colour, supported 

 by a calyx divided into five parts; when ripe, 

 ih(' pvstil becomes changed into a capsula, 

 separr>,''e(j into four cells, V'hirh contain black 

 ^jdurv-shapcd s'cds. The juice of this plant is 

 vi^cuus, of ij, vellowish colour, and sweetish 



