List of the Plants of Chile. 257 



JSTardus. L. Two grasses approach this genus, but I believe they 

 do not belong to it. One is found in the dry pastures on the moun- 

 tains which are made very slippery by its remains ; the other grows 

 much higher in the woods on the highland near Cachapual. 



JVasiuriium officinale, var. Chilense, DC, berro — water-cress. 

 Common in the brooks on the mountains, and in the plains. It is 

 eaten as a salad, and is both wholesome and agreeable. There are 

 persons who believe that the water-cress possesses eminent virtues 

 for the cure of pulmonary phthisis.* Wonderful stories are related of 

 it. I have been told that a victim of this disease, who was given over 

 by the most skillful physicians of the capital, retired to the country 

 to die in tranquillity, and, when there, lived exclusively on this plant, 

 in pursuance of advice which had been given him, and that in two 

 months he was restored to perfect health. He died, however, as 

 was thought, of another disease, and on examination of the body a 

 large quantity of cresses was found in a sack which they had formed 

 for themselves. With this tale in view, we may form some idea of 

 the degree of credulity of the very many unhappy creatures, who 

 are sacrificed to ignorance and charlatanism. 



JYescea. Kunth. This genus has been reformed by De Candolle 

 in his Prodromus. The three species with which I have met in the 

 sandy pastures and among the rocks, near Cachapual, do not belong 

 to it and perhaps will form a part of the Cuphea, L., or of the other 

 intermediate genus. However, I have not seen them described. 

 Their flowers, although small, are pretty, and particularly in the spring. 



JYicotiana angustifolia. Ruiz and Pavon. Tabaco del Diablo. 

 In inclosures near roads and torrents. This plant is of but little im- 

 portance. The JV. minima, Molina, which some botanists have re- 

 tained, does not differ from the first, and ought to be considered as 

 a synonym. I have seen in some gardens the JV. fruticosa, L. Its 

 leaves are large and do not possess the fragrance of the JV. Tabacum ; 

 so that no use is made of them. The leaves of all the species of 

 tobacco are employed in certain diseases, sometimes externally, some- 

 times in decoction, and are the vehicle of an immensity of drugs which 

 ignorance alone can tolerate. 



Ocimum basilicum, minimum and monachorum. L. Albahaca — 

 Sweet basil. Plants very common in gardens. It is highly appre- 



* It is also used in hepatic affections. 



Vol. XXIIL— No. 2. 33 



