82 Liist of the Plants of Chile. 



Geastrum hygrometricum. Pers. It is found- in winter on walls 

 near drains. It resembles the G. rifescens, Pers., but I think it 

 differs from both. 



Geranium Pusillum. L. Very frequently in pastures, along roads 

 and in cultivated lands. It is called core-core, and is employed as a 

 remedy in various complaints, particularly in pains of the teeth, gums 

 and throat. It is also used in decoction as a wash for old ulcers. 

 The G. Rohertianum, L., is common in woods, and among the rocks 

 on the highlands. A third species is found in elevated pastures, at 

 the entrance of woods and thickets; this resembles the G. Uiberosvm, 

 L., from which however it differs in its napiform root. Its flowers 

 vary in size and in the intensity of their color ; its stalk is sometimes 

 recumbent and sometimes upright. 



Geum coccineum. Sibth. and Smith. Vulgarly, for del clave. 

 Modern authors, as Sprengel and De Candolle, give this plant as 

 originally from Asia Minor, and particularly from Mount Olympus, in 

 Bithynia, no doubt from the description and plate of it, published by 

 Sibthorp and Smith in the Flora Grceca. Nevertheless De Can- 

 dolle in his Prodromus says that he had received a specimen of this 

 species from Balbis, under the name of G. Chiloense. This obser- 

 vation leads me to think that it is cultivated in the island of Chiloe, 

 but I have learned with much satisfaction that the for del clavo is 

 very common in humid pastures at the foot of the mountains oppo- 

 site to Cachapual, at a short distance from Rio-claro. Consequent- 

 ly, we must say that Chile is also its native country, and compare 

 the Asiatic species with that of America, and decide upon their iden- 

 tity. Amateurs should in the mean time propagate this plant in their 

 gardens. The inhabitants use its roots in certain complaints ; it has 

 the odor of the pink, like those of the G. Urbanum, L. 



Gilia laciniata. Ruiz and Pavon. Common in sterile and stony 

 places, along rivers and torrents, and is not wanting on the highlands. 

 There is another plant of the family of the Polemoniacea;, frequent 

 in the humid pastures on the plain, and near torrents. In its leaves 

 it resembles the G. coronopifolia, Pers. ; but the generic characters 

 are altogether different. I think it will form a genus which I will de- 

 scribe hereafter. 



Gnaphalium J^iravira. Molina. Vulgarly J^iravira; common in 

 sterile and stony situations on the plain and highlands. I only find 

 it mendoned by Steudel, and I do not see that it is considered as a 

 synonym. This plant occupies a middle place between the G. lu- 



