258 List of the Plants of Chile. 



signed to it are not constant. In fact, the height of Its trunk varies 

 much ; some are very high. I have met with it in humid places on 

 the plains, and in the woods on the mountains. Its peduncles are 

 sometimes simple and sometimes umbellate. The number of petals 

 also varies in the same cluster. The Canelo is the sacred tree of 

 the Indians, for their assembhes and religious ceremonies, in which 

 they invoke Pillau. They employ it for different superstitious uses, 

 and it is an ingredient in the greater part of their medicines. The 

 fresh wood is tough and dry, and it is hard, and proper for works 

 which are not exposed to v;^ater. Joists are made of it; it preserves 

 clothes from insects ; when burned, it exhales a smoke offensive to 

 the eyes, but of a pleasant smell. Its bark is employed as a medi- 

 cine : its decoction restores the color of indigo and fixes it ; mixed 

 with salt and urine it kills the insects which infest animals. It is ad- 

 ministered in scaly eruptions, and it is considered a detergent in ma- 

 lignant ulcers. The properties of the winter's bark being knoy^n, 

 we can have no doubt of those possessed by this tree. 



Duvaua dependens. D. C. A small shrub four or five yards high, 

 known under the name Hidngcm, common in woods at the foot of 

 hills. The infusion of the seed is stomachic. It is exhibited in 

 hysterical and urinary affections, and in the principal of the hydro-" 

 pic diseases when the type allows its use. From this tree exudes 

 a resin, which, spread on paper, is applied as a specific against pains 

 and tension of the muscles and tendons, as well as for diseases from 

 cold. The decoction of its bark yields a balsamic, vulnerary es- 

 sence, useful in the pains of gout and coldness of the feet. Its seed 

 is used in the. drink called chicha, which is agreeable but too strong. 

 The Schinus HuigahyMoWna, cited by all modern botanists, belongs 

 to the D. dependens, and should be referred to this species. The 

 MoUe as we have already said, is probably a species of Amyris or a 

 new species of Duvaua. ~ ~ 



Eccremocarpus Sepium. Bertero. I will add to what I have 

 already said, that this plant differs considerably from the E. longi- 

 fiorus. Humb. and Bonpl. I am convinced of this, by a compar- 

 ison made with the drawing given by those authors, (Plant, ^q. 1. 

 tab. 65.) 



Eclipta erecta., L. In the inclosures, around the lake of Aculeo. 

 It resembles the E. palustris. Forst. 



Elatine tripetala. Smith. In the roads and oozy places of the 

 plains and hills. The number of the petals and stamina is subject 

 to variation. 



