List of the Plants of Chile, 267 



short or scarcely visible. The fruit is used to feed cattle, though it 

 is indigestible for them. The wood is incorruptible in water and is 

 employed for sills, door posts, and mills. The Ceratonia Chilensis, 

 Molina belongs to this species as well as the P. flexuosa, 



Prunus domestica. L. The ciruelo — the plum tree, is widely 

 spread over the country. Many varieties are enumerated ; the fruit 

 of some of them is made into sweetmeats. Dried plums (prunes) are 

 purgative and may be substituted for tamarinds particularly if used 

 with cream of tartar. Plum trees planted at a short distance from 

 each other, form an impenetrable inclosure, if care is taken to cut 

 them at about the height of a man. I have seen some beautiful in- 

 closures in this style in the neighborhood of San Fernando. 



Psorealea glandulosa. L. The culen is very common in woods 

 near rivers, and in the vallies. The bark and leaves of this little 

 tree are used as a medicine. It is said that the infusion is a specific 

 in abdominal pains, ' empachos,' (surfeits) indigestions, &ic. The 

 same virtue is attributed to the ashes. The dry leaves powdered, 

 and the green ones wilted, are applied to wounds in the form of a 

 cataplasm. Ulcers are washed with its decoction. It is made into 

 a ptisan with the heart of lettuce ; it has a pleasant taste and is said 

 to be salutary. From the bark of this tree a resin exudes which is 

 used by shoemakers to wax their thread. The P. lutea, Molina is 

 a monstrosity of this species. 



Pteris. L. Two species of this genus grow on mountains, in 

 woods and on rocks. The first resembles the P. Chilensis, Desv., 

 the other may be new. I will call it, P. triphylla. It is different 

 from the Adiantum triphyllum. Smith, which Kaulfuss places with 

 his Passeheeria. 



Puccinia. Pers. The name polvillo is given to the species of 

 this genus, as also to the .3Ecidium, and Uredo. They all grow upon 

 the living leaves of plants, the specific name of which they general- 

 ly take. I have found the P. Rosce, DC, P. graminis, Pers. P. 

 compositarum, P. Poligonorum, Schlecht. and P. Lycii, Bertero. 



Punica Granatum, L. Granada. A common shrub. Its leaves, 

 flowers, and particularly its fruit render it interesting. The bark of 

 the fruit is an excellent astringent adapted to various abdominal dis- 

 eases which are kept up by a want of tone in the absorbent vessels. 

 A saturated decoction is the base of a tincture black as ink. This 

 quality depends upon the gallic acid in which it abounds. 



