List of the Plants of Chile. 87 



has given it this vulgar name. Its infusion is administered in the 

 same complaints as the Spanish chamomile; but the principal use of 

 the plant is for making brooms, which are of an inferior quality. It 

 forms also a dye, which is now but little used. The Santolina tinc- 

 toria, Molina, adopted by Persoon and Steudel, is a synonym of this 

 species, as has been observed by Sprengel. 



Hypnum. L. Many species are met with on the barks of trees, 

 on rocks, in the woods, and on the margins of drains. These plants, 

 like others of the family of mosses which grow in this country, are 

 not of sufficient interest to merit enumeration; besides, this labor re- 

 quires much time, and the means of comparison, which are not al- 

 ways possessed by a travelling naturalist. 



Hypochceris. L. The name of tscorzonera Is given indifferently 

 to two plants, which, at first sight, appear to belong to two different 

 species, since one has a simple stalk, a single flower, and grows 

 among the rocks of the highlands, and the other is ramose, with 

 smaller flowers, and prefers sandy spots, near rivers, in the plain. 

 Notwithstanding this, the intermediate characteristics which I have 

 observed do not allow me to separate them : I will only say that 

 the first should be referred to the H. Sonchoides, Kunth. The root 

 of the escorzonera is much used in the country ; its decoction, con- 

 sidered as refreshing, is employed in a multitude of cases, as in ca- 

 tarrhal affections, &C. Those who are recently delivered commonly 

 make use of it. 



Jasminum officinale. L. Jasmine ; cultivated for the whiteness 

 and sweetness of its flowers. The diamelo, (J. Samhac, L.) is also 

 met with in many gardens ; the variety with double flowers is much 

 esteemed, but the cultivation is more difficult. 



Impaiiens Balsamina. L. Vulgarly, miramelindre ; common in 

 all gardens. This flower, purely ornamental and inodorous, varies, 

 much in its color. The double variety is little known. 



Iris Germanica, L. and pallida, Lamk. Liris. They are met 

 with in gardens. The foliage and form of their flowers are quite 

 singular : there is a variety with white flowers. The chatre capu- 

 chino, (/. Sisyrinchium, L.) is less frequent. These plants are not 

 much esteemed, on account of their short duration and the rapidity 

 with which their corollas wither. 



Isaria crassa, and mucida. Pers. . Two small mosses ; the first 

 grows in the dead chrysalides of insects, and the second on rotten 

 wood, in winter. 



