310 List of the Plants of Chile. 



Centaurea Americana. Spr. A weed, common In fields and vine- 

 yards, called zizona. It may be employed to make bitter ptisans. 

 It is more active than the 0. solstitialis, Linn, of Europe which it 

 resembles. The C. Chilensis, Miers, one of the most beautiful of 

 this genus, is frequent on the hills and on the banks of the Cachapual, 

 near Cauquenes. It is called escahiosa, and yerhadelminero. The 

 beauty of its flower recommends it for prospect woods, (bosques de 

 adorno.) The bitterness of its leaves announces that it may be em- 

 ployed in medicine with happy effects. In fact, it is prescribed both 

 internally and externally in many diseases, and marvelous stories are 

 told of its powers. 



Cerastium vulgaium. Linn. It is found in fields and meadows. 

 There is also the C. Commersonianvm. Ser. (in D. C. prodr.) Com- 

 mon in the humid pastures of the hills, and a third species which 

 grows among stones, and in dry and sandy situations of the moun- 

 tains and plains. I think it is new. 



Cerasus. Juss. Vulgarly guindo, cereso, cherry. A cultivated 

 tree, the fruit of which is not prized in Chile. In fact, it is little 

 eaten, and is employed only in making sweetmeats. The cherries 

 of Europe have an exquisite and much esteemed taste. Should 

 such a difference be attributed to the climate? Proprietors should 

 seek good grafts, take care of their trees, and in that way solve the 

 question in favor of the country. The mildness of the climate and 

 the fertility of the soil, are not sufficient to secure that perfection 

 which is attained in Europe, where a knowledge of the principles of 

 horticulture is so widely diffused. 



Oestrum Parqui. Herit. A small shrub, common in meadows, 

 near inclosures, and the drains on the plain. The leaves of the 

 Parqui, their infusion and the decoction of the root, are employed in 

 almost all diseases. This plant and the Culen are universal reme- 

 dies in the country. 



Chabraa abbreviata, elongata, Prenanthoides, tenuior and vis- 

 cida. Bertero.* These plants grow in meadows, woods, and in stony 



* The tiibe of the PerdiciecB merits the attention of botanists. A good monograph 

 is indispensable on account of tlie great number of species lately discovered. Chile 

 produces many which appear new to me, and some of which might constitute new 

 genera. The five species of Chabrcea above named offer an example, as well as the 

 shrub vulgarly called guanil, which participates with the Proustia, Lag. and with 

 the Baccazja, Ruiz and Pavon : but differs from them essentially. There are two 

 species, one of them less frequent, with leaves downy, and whitish underneath. I 

 possess other plants of this tribe, but I think it useless to speak of them at present. 



