438 SOUTH AMERICA— THE ANDES REGIONS. 



y. 



Flora or Chilt. 



The influence of soil and climate is reflected in the vegetation of Chili. In 

 most lands the flora increases in variety and splendour in the direction of the 

 equator; but not so in Chili, where, although the temperature diminishes nomin- 

 ally from north to south, the moisture increases in the same direction, its influence 

 more than compensating the waning heat. The beauty and variety of the forest 

 growths also increase as far as 39° or 40° south latitude; here the Chilian wood- 

 lands display all their magnificence with the endless diversity of their lianas and 

 parasitic plants. 



But farther south the flora is impoverished under the action of the lowering 

 temperature. Nevertheless, the arborescent vegetation, which is absent from the 

 northern regions of Chili, ranges in the south down to Cape Horn. Nearly all 

 the trees of the Chilian flora are evergreens, and this flora also contrasts with 

 that of the northern hemisphere in the absence of extensive forests of a single 

 species, such as the pine, fir or birch groves of Europe and Asia. 



Vegetation of every kind disappears on the arid terraces and plateaux of 

 Bolivian Chili, and on the saline Atacama plains, where the mules tethered about 

 the enclosures gnaw away the green-painted palings, mistaking them for their 

 mountain pastures. Here the aspect of the land " is absolutely that of the 

 scenery of the moon, of a world without water and without an atmosphere." * 



South of this dismal region the fiyst plants to make their appearance are the 

 cactuses, beyond which the monotonous scenery begins to be relieved by a few 

 thorny or resinous shrubs, whose scimt foliage offers but a slight surface of 

 evaporation to the air. Towards Copiapo, where the arborescent vegetation com- 

 mences, the inter- Andean plain still remains absolutely bare, the trees being 

 entirely confined to the slopes of the Andes and of the coast range. Here the fogs 

 and dews on one side, and on the other the rains and melting snows, supply 

 sufficient moisture to nourish the woody species, which are intermingled with the 

 cactuses and bromeliaceac. 



Farther south, the zone of scanty arborescent forms broadens out, and is followed 

 by the region of groves and thickets. Here a few. trees are seen even on the plain 

 itself, while south of the Bio Aconcagua, which marks the climatic divide between 

 North and South Chili, woodlands flourish spontaneously wherever they have not 

 been cleared for tillage. 



On the plains the most characteristic tree is the peumo {crijptocanja peiwius), 

 an evergreen whose foliage is impenetrable to the sun, and which jâelds little red 

 berries with a resinous taste. A species of palm, the only member of the family 

 in Chili, formerly abounded in this coast region for a space of about 220 miles 

 between 32° and 35° south latitude. But, although rich in saccharine, it has been 

 nearly exterminated by the planters, and will soon have to be sought in private 



* John Ball, op. cit., p. 130. 



