302 ' List of the Plants of Chile. 



and people in the country eat the fruit, which is violet or sometimes 

 white. With its juice ices are made, and mixed with the grape it 

 'yields an agreeable though a rough wine. The Cornus Chilensis, 

 Molina, is the synonym of the tree of which we are speaking, and 

 Steudel is mistaken when he cites both names in his JYomenclator 

 botanicus. 



Armeniaca vulgaris. Lamark. A tree from Europe, where it 

 is cultivated. Many varieties more or less esteemed, are recognized. 

 The Damasco is one of them, and the Aibaricoque, the apricot, an- 

 other, which in Europe is delicous, where, from the process of graft- 

 ing, it acquires an exquisite flavor.* 



Armeria curvifolia. Bertero. A native plant of this country, 

 and very common in stony places, about the hills, and near rivers. 

 Although it very much resembles the A. fasciculata, it is distin- 

 guished from it by its leaves. The whole plant is very thick, and 

 its flowers, sometimes white, but more commonly rose color, obtain 

 for it a distinguished place in gardens. 



Artemisia Absinthium. Linn. Ajenjo, a plant whose medicinal 

 virtues are well known. It is cultivated in gardens, and is employed 

 as a tonic and vermifuge. 



Arundo. The cana de Castilla, Spanish cane — A. Donax. Linn : 

 it is commonly cultivated. The decoction of its root is considered 

 a pectoral, as is also its syrup. Both are employed in affections of 

 the chest. The coliu or coligue is a species of Arundo, described 

 by Molina. Sprengel in his Species Plantarum, does not mention it. 

 Not having seen the flower, I can say nothing on this point. It is 

 one of the most useful plants of this country. It serves for different 

 purposes, and particularly to make the matting (esteras,) with which 

 houses are covered before the roof is made.f The A. dioeca, 

 Sprengel, is quite conimon on the margins of rivulets. In some 

 places it is called cola de zorro, fox-tail — and in others cortadera.X 

 The decoction of its roots is prescribed in urinary affections. 



Asparagus officinalis. Linn. This plant, although brought from 

 Europe, may be considered as naturalized to this country, as it is fre- 

 quently found in uncultivated places. It is called esparrago, aspar- 



* It is a remarkable fact, that almost all the fruits of Chile, which have been in- 

 troduced, possess very little flavor. — t. 

 t All the houses in Chile have tile roofs. 

 I A chisel for cuttinp; hot iron. 



