Ill 



has a stalk of a foot in height ; the leaves are 

 pointed and embrace the stem, which divides 

 itself at the top into a number of pedicles bear- 

 ing a beautiful red flower of the shape of a lily. 

 The root is bulbous,, ant] yields a very light white 

 and nutritious floiir, which is used for the sick. 



The liliaceous plants oIFer a great variety 

 throughout Cliiii^ and are known (o the Arauca- 

 nians by the generic name of gU. I have col- 

 lected myself more than twenty-three difl^crent 

 spixics of them, many of which were adorned 

 with superb flowers. 



In the province of St. Jago is found a species 

 of wild basil (ocymum salinum) diilering in its 

 appearance from the common or garden species 

 only in its stalk, which is round and jointed; but 

 in its smell and taste it resembles m.ore the alga, 

 or sea-weed, than Ihc ba-il. This plant con- 

 tiijues to increase in gro ': ^li from the iirst opening 

 of the sprin to tlic coinmcucemeiit of winter, 

 and is every morning covered v. iti; salineglobules 

 that are hard and shiiiii g, and give it the appear- 

 ance of being coated witli dew. The husband- 

 men collect and make use of this salt instead of 

 tlie common khd, wbicii it f:ir exceeds in taste. 

 Each 'plant producer daily iibout half an ounce, 

 a phenoineiion, the cau-e of v.hich I am notable 

 satis Tactorily to explain, as it grows in a very 

 fertile srJl e:-i?iibiting no appearance of salt, 

 and at nu^rc thcUi sixty miles distance from the 

 sea. 



