254 List of the Plants of Chile. 



JVLentha. L. The yerha biiena, the hergamota and the poleo very 

 common near drains, along the fences of olitories, and the last in 

 marshy fields in the plain, are plants brought from Europe. They 

 belong to the Jil. Piperita, L. Citrata, Ehrh. and Pulegium, L. and 

 serve for various domestic and pharmaceutic purposes. 



J\Ierisma. Pers. I have found only one species of this genus on 

 pieces of wood and branches of trees which have been buried and 

 are half rotten. This moss is blackish, its branches are caked, coria- 

 ceous, and fgured at the extremity. 



JVLerulius Morchellicephalus. Bertero. A small pretty moss which 

 I have only seen once in a heap of rotten branches in a garden. The 

 superior part of the Pileus shows some cuts analogous to those of the 

 Morchella, Pers. and on the inferior part the generic character was 

 very decided. 



Meum Fceniculum. Spr. Hinojo — Fenne.l. Very common on farms. 

 This plant is much used as a condiment and as a remedy. The 

 seeds are used to flavor spirits (aguardiente). Sown in good soil the 

 fennel yields very tender sprouts of good flavor which may be served 

 at table as is the custom in Italy. 



Micropus. L. Two species ; the first resembles the JM. siipinus, 

 L.; it grows in the pastures on the highlands and plains. The other is 

 found in barren situations and in the fields of Rancagua and Quinta. 

 The particular form of its flowers almost sticking to the earth, has ob- 

 tained for it the name of M. globiferus which I have given it. 



Miersia Chilensis. Lindl. A precious little plant which grows in 

 the woods, in stony and humid situations on the hills near Leona and 

 Punta de Cortes. Its flowers incline to a greenish yellow. Anoth- 

 er species is met with in the same situations which, although similar 

 in appearance to the first, differs from it in the following particulars. 

 Its leaves are narrower, its flowers less numerous and only of half the 

 size, the exterior bracts are linear, lanceolate, greenish with violet 

 rays, and the two inferior declinate. I have called it M. Myodes, 

 from its figure's being analogous to the Ophrys of this name. 



Mimulus luieiis. L. In drains and inundated places both on the 

 highlands and plains. A variety or species with large yellow flow- 

 ers with red spots is also met with and is that perhaps which Miers has 

 called M. puncfatus. Another species grows amongst rocks, near 

 torrents on the mountains, and is sometimes seen on the plains. It is 

 the M. Andicola, Kunth ; at least it cannot be classed with any other 

 which is known. These three plants are vulgarly called placa. The 



