List of the Plants of Chile. — 257 
_ WNardus. L. ‘Two grasses approach this genus, but I believe’ they 
do not belong to it. One is found in the dry pastures on the moun- 
tains which are made very slippery by its remains; the other grows 
much higher in the woods on the highland near Cachapual. 
» Nasturtium officinale, var. Chilense, DC., berro—water-cress. 
Common in the brooks on the mountains, ands inthe plains. It is 
eaten as a salad, and is both wholesome and agreeable. - ‘There are 
persons who believe that the water-cress possesses eminent virtues 
for the cure of pulmonary phthisis.* | Wonderful stories are related of 
it. I have been told that a victim of this disease, who was given over 
by the most skillful physicians of the capital, retired to the country 
to die in tranquillity, and, when there, lived exclusively on this plant, 
in pursuance of advice which had been given him, and that in two 
months he was restored to perfect health. He died, however, as 
was thought, of another disease, and on examination of the body a 
large quantity of cresses was found in a sack which they had formed 
for themselves. With this tale in view, we may form some idea of 
the haste of credulity of the very many unhappy creatures, who 
are to ignorance and charlatanism. 
__ Nesea. Kunth. This genus has been hetend die eal 
in his Prodromus. The three species with which I have met in the 
sandy pastures and among the rocks, near Cachapual, do not belong 
to it and perhaps will form a part of the Cuphea, L., or of the other 
intermediate genus. However, I have not seen them described. 
Their flowers, nhhdvgs small, are pretty, and particularly in the spring. 
Nicotiana angustifolia. Ruiz and Pavon. Tabaco del Diablo. 
In inclosures near roads and torrents. This plant is of but little im- 
portance. The JV. minima, Molina, which some botanists have re- 
tained, does not differ from the first, and ought to be considered as 
a synonym. I have seen in some gardens the JV. fruticosa, L. Its 
leaves are large and do not possess the fragrance of the JV. Tabacum ; 
so that no use is made of them. The leaves of all the. species of 
tobacco are employed in certain diseases, sometimes sometimes externally, some- 
times in decoction, and are the vehicle of an immensity of drugs which 
ignorance alone can tolerate. 
- Ocimum basilicum, minimum and monachorum. L. Albahaca— 
Sweet basil. Plants very common in gardens. It is highly appre- 
* It is also used in hepatic affections. 
—* XXIHI.—No. 2 33 
