268 List of the Plants of Chile. 



Pyrethrum Parihenium. W. Frequent in vallies in sandy soil, 

 near torrents. It is so common that it appears indigenous. The 

 artemisa is a medicinal plant. Its virtues are analogous to the man- 

 zanilla and might be substituted for it. 



PyrMS communis and J\Ialus. L. Peral y JManzano. Fruit trees 

 which are so abundant in the country that the inhabitants cannot be- 

 lieve they have been introduced. It is usual to have apples and pears 

 of good quality, but in general, this fruit does not attain the same per- 

 fection as in Europe. The wood is used in carpentry. 



^uillaja Saponaria. Molina. In woods at the foot of hills, and 

 in mountain vallies. It trunk usually attains ten yards in height, and 

 about two in circumference. The wood soon perishes if exposed to 

 the air ; but lasts a long time in damp situations under ground. It 

 is used in mines and in mills. The bark of the quillay is excellent 

 for washing woollen textures. Its decoction makes a suds the same 

 as soap. It is administered in certain cases in the form of an ene- 

 ma.* Botanists differ as to the synonym of this species. De Can- 

 dolle forms two of it which he names, Q. Molina, and Q. Smegma- 

 dermis. Sprengel places the last with the Smegmaria emarginata 

 of Willdenow : and he confounds the Quillaja of Molina, with the 

 Smegmadermos, Ruiz and Pavon. Though I have not yet examin- 

 ed this tree in the different and remote parts of Chile, I think it 

 forms but one species which varies considerably in the form of its 

 leaves, and that the name given by Molina ought to be preferred. 



Quinchamalium Chilense. Molina. Common in pastures, on the 

 highland, and in stony situations near rivers. It is sometimes woody, 

 at others, herbaceous, though the species is always the same. This 

 plant is considered a most energetic vulnerary. The juice and de- 



* I am disposed (a think that this bark may be made very useful, not only in nftdi- 

 cine, but for domestic purposes. A small quantity of it broken into pieces, and in- 

 fused in a basin of cold water, will yield a strong suds when agitated. This will 

 remove grease spots from cloth, and the oily matter which collects upon the collar 

 of the coat from the hair, without injury to the garment. The same remark ap- 

 plies to silks and crapes. T have used it with advantage as a lotion in certain dis- 

 eases of the skin, and for ulcers; and it lias proved in my hands a very appropri- 

 ate stimulus to the scalp in cases where the hair was falling. In several instances 

 it arrested it at onee. The ladies of Chile, I am told, are in the habit of washing 

 the head with it, about once in ten days, and they say it preserves the scalp from 

 dandruff, and it certainly gives the hair a very clean, glossy appearance. 



It may be considered a vegetable soap with a super-quantum of alkali. Might It 

 not become a useful article in the hands of dyers and scourers .' VV. S. W. R. 



