252 List of the Plants of Chile. 



ford great resources, since with the trunk (after having removed the 

 center, [pith?] which is not difficult,) may be formed tubes and con- 

 duits for water, and sewers, an economical method of replacing those 

 commonly used and whose duration is not so certain. 



Colletia. Commers. This genus includes some species very com- 

 mon in this country. The C. spinosa, Lamk. {cruzero^junco mari- 

 no,) is known, a shrub which grows on the high grounds near Leona 

 and in other places. The C Cruzerillo, Bertero, is found in the 

 rhountains of the same place. It is said that the wood of both these 

 shrubs is purgative. The trehu and the tralhuen are two other spe- 

 cies, which I shall call by the same common names. It is believed 

 that the first possesses vulnerary powers, and an infusion of its bark 

 is employed in cases of internal abscess resulting from blows. The 

 wood of the second is used for turners' work. Boiled in water, it 

 yields a red dye. It is also used for props in high-raised vineyards. 

 The C. Ephedra, Vent, known by the name o{ frutilla del campo, 

 abounds in arid situations and on elevations near rivers. It is thus 

 named from the color of its fruit, which at a distance resembles 

 strawberries ; it is sometimes white. The thorny species, and par- 

 ticularly the trihu, are employed for hedges ; the others are useful 

 only as fuel. The genus Retanilla, Brongniart, (Mem. sur la fa- 

 mille des Rhamnes,) is composed of two species of the Colletia of 

 authors. I think the tralhuen might form another, as its fructification 

 is very different. The Talguenea costata, Miers, belongs probably 

 to this species. 



CoUiguaja odorifera. Molina, Colliguay. A pretty shrub ; very 

 common on the heights, and in stony and arid situations of the moun- 

 tains. Sprengel is mistaken in placing it with the genus Croton; it 

 differs too much from it, not to be known, even at first sight. It has 

 even some relation to the Sapium, as has been already suspected by 

 M. Andr. de Jussieu, in his memoir on the Euphorbiaceae. Its gener- 

 ic characters are not well knov/n, and until the present period little 

 more has been done than to copy those given by Molina. Its wood 

 is of no use. When burned it yields an agreeable odor. Its milky 

 juice is acrid. It is sometimes used to destroy the nerve in carious 

 teeth. 



Colymbcea quadrifaria. Salisb. Pino or Pinon de Arauco. I 

 have seen it cultivated in some gardens, though not in abundance. 

 Every year the cones and ripe seeds of this tree are received from 

 the Biobio, and are quickly eaten, as they soon become rancid,- 

 Why is not its extensive cultivation attempted in favorable soil? It 



