150 



vex above^ very shining, and so hard that they 

 appear like wood. The flower is amentaceous or 

 conical, and perfect] v resembles that of the pine ; 

 the fruit is of the size of a maa's head ; it is 

 smooth, spherical, ligneous, suspended to a very 

 short pedicle, and divided witliinby two thin shells 

 irito several cells, which contain the kernels in 

 pairs; the kernels are about two inches in length 

 and as large as the little finger, of a conical 

 form, a transparent white, and covered with a 

 pellicle like that of the che&nut, which they re- 

 semble in taste, and, though rather harder, are* 

 eaten in the same manner. The gum exudes 

 through the bark, is yellowish, and its odour 

 very pleasant. f 



* Some of the Quarani tribes reduce them to a flour, and 

 in tliat state preserve tliein as food. (Conient. de Cabeze dd 

 Vaca). In Cliile and to the south they are preserved by boi!- 

 iiiu', and prepared in this liiaiiuer, says Falkner, tliey have 

 soniethin;^ of a nic.diness, and taste very like a boiled 

 ahiiond, but not so oily. E. E. 



t Tiii. is the dvfil-ry '>'' Chill of M. de la Marh. This tree 

 is not a pine, as M. Molina supposes ; it is a new genus, well 

 detined by its friictification, and clearly distinguishable from 

 ;.iiy of those tl;?<t are laiown. la fad, b;^sides it-> flowers 

 bi-ing difrci'j], they have this very singular discrimination, that 

 they urow upon catkins, with no other pericarpiuni than what 

 i, pr(,:;ur';d by tiio g^ueralive organs tiie forked appendages 

 th.it !( rminate the props of *he slan)ina forming the pcricar})iuin 

 of tilt- ir.aie cuiLin, and ihe two valves of each stigma that of 



