94 List of the Plants of Chile. 



thina, to which this species belongs, includes many which possess 

 the above qualities in a high degree. But I believe they exaggerate 

 those of the litre, at least judging from my own experience. The 

 Indians employ its fruit to prepare honey, sweetmeats, and a chicha, 

 (a species of drink,) which they assure us is quite pleasant. Admit- 

 ting, for the present, the name which Miers gives it, I am of opinion 

 that the litre is the JWauria simplicifolia, H. B. and Kunth, whose 

 native place even is not well known, according to the most recent 

 authors. The generic characters agree entirely and appear common 

 to the Cambessedea, Kunth, although this is originally from the East 

 Indies. I agree with Sprengel, who views the Cambessedea as sy- 

 nonymous with the Mauria. 



Lioasa, Adans. Many species are natives of Chile. Almost all 

 of them grow in the woods on the high lands among brambles and 

 stones, and some in the neighborhood of the plains. The L. Blacei, 

 Lindl., (L. acanthifolia, Bot. ; Reg.) is the most common. It is 

 called ortiga brava or cardito. The L. Triloba, Juss. oriiga, orti- 

 guHla. I have met with a well marked variety in the woods near 

 Cachapualj and I have called it JL. heterophylla, believing that it con- 

 stitutes a distinct species. The L. volubilis, Juss., known under the 

 name of monjita. Finally another called ortiga, but with white flow- 

 ers. It does not differ from the L. palmaia, Spreng., to which should 

 probably belong the Blumenbachia insignis, Schrad., a genus admit- 

 ted by De Candolle, (Prodr. part iii, p. 340.) The L. albida, Miers, 

 is perhaps the same species. 



Lobelia, L. The name tiipa is given indefinitely to three species 

 of this genus, whose stalk is fructicose. One of them is the L. Tnjpa, 

 L. ; the other appears to be the L. decurrens, Cav., and the third in 

 my opinion is new. These shrubs are elegant, and particularly their 

 flowers. They grow on the borders of woods and near torrents. I 

 have found the last in Valparaiso. The poisonous property of these 

 plants is the only reason against cultivating them in gardens where 

 they would appear well. It is said that formerly this plant was used 

 to give strength to wine. I believe the Indians only are capable of 

 such proceeding. 



Lolium temulenium, L. The whole world is acquainted with the 

 Vallico, (bearded darnel ?) unfortunately too common in fields where 

 wheat is grown. This baneful plant ought to call the attention of ag- 

 riculturalists, who must know that they cannot succeed in destroying 

 it entirely, until they give more attention to the selection of the seed 



