254 List of the Plants of Chile. 



D. C. p'odr.) is the- most extensively used fi-uit of the country. It 

 is called zandia — ivatermelon ; it is wholesome, very juicy and some- 

 times very sweet, and is delightful in the country, vvhere there is an 

 incredible consumption of it. There are many varieties ; one of 

 them is late, and has the additional merit of being kept with facility 

 ur»til the winter season. 



Cucurbita Lagenaria. L. [Lngenaria vulgaris. Ser. C. c.) 

 Vulgarly calabaza — calabash. The fruit well ripened is used as a 

 ladle. Some are very large, and of different figures, upon which 

 the name given them often depends. The Jlcayota and Zapallo — 

 pumpkin, are the most frequent species. They are cultivated in oli- 

 tories and in fields. The first is employed almost exclusively for 

 making sweet-meats ; the second is an excellent aliment and may be 

 preserved throughout the year. There are zapallos abounding so 

 much in saccharine matter, that it would be difHcult to distinguish 

 them by the taste from the batata dulce — sweet potatoe — [Convol-- 

 vulus Batatas. L.) the root of which is brought from Lima and is 

 known under the name of Camote. Attempts have been made to 

 cultivate it in this country. The C. Siceraria and C. mammeata 

 Molina are referred to these two species, and I dOubt if they can 

 be separated from the C. maxima, Duch. Melopepo, and Pepo, L. 

 I have not found them wild in this country. 



Cupressus. A tree cultivated in some gardens. A sad decora- 

 tion for a place of amusement; it would be more appropriate near 

 the funereal marble, on a peaceful and solitary mountain. The name 

 cypress is given to this tree, to a Thuia, which is also cultivated, and 

 to a tree of this country which I have not yet seen. The wood of 

 the last is that w^hich is most used. 



Cuscvta Chilensis. Ker. A wild plant which is nevertheless cal- 

 led angeVs hair — cabello de angel. It is very injurious to meadows 

 and vineyards. I have seen it cover trees to the very top.. The 

 means of its destruction should be sought for. There are two 

 species, if the sessile and pedicellate flowers are a constant character. 



Cydonia vulgaris. Pevs. A cultivated tree; there are two va- 

 rieties, the memhrillo and the lucumci. The fruit in sweetmeat is 

 good and, in fact, has no other use. The twigs of these trees are 

 manufactured into baskets. Tliis lucuma must not be confounded 

 with that of Coquunbo, a genus so called by Jussieu, and of which 

 I will speak in the proper place. The genus Lucuma, Molina, should 

 be abolished, in as much as it is composed of heterogeneous species 

 which belong to other genera. 



