38 



CHILI. 



[ Cordiacece. 



4. MYOSOTIS. Linn. 



1. M. fulva ; caule erecto subsimplice foliisque remotis lato-linearibus obtusiusculis 

 hispidis, racemis spiciformibus conjugatis ebracteatis, calyce densissime piloso profunde 

 5-partito, nucibus 2 (alteris abortientibus.) 



Hab. Conception. — (Near Valparaiso. Mr. Bridges.) — Plant about a foot high. Stem slightly branched 

 upwards, arising from an annual, fusiform, scarcely fibrous root. Racemes terminal, forked, without bracteas. 

 Pedicels very short, and, as well as the calyx, clothed with dense fulvous, erect hairs. Those of the 

 leaves are paler coloured, and arise from a distinct white tubercle. The corolla is white (Bridges) ; the 

 achenia two, (perhaps by abortion,) ovate, erect, wrinkled. 



5. HELIOTROPIUM. Linn. 



1. H. stenophyllum ; fruticosum densissime foliosum, foliis fasciculatis angustissime 

 linearibus carnosis obtusis margine revolutis pube brevissima scabris, spicis conjugatis 

 ebracteatis folia superiora vix superantibus. 



Hab. Coquimbo. — This is perhaps most nearly allied to 11. curassavicum, (which we possess from the 

 same country, through the kindness of Mr. Cruckshanks,) but that has plane, and somewhat spathulate, 

 glaucous leaves, and is quite glabrous. 



Ord. XLV. CORDIACEZE. Br. 



1. COPDIA. Linn. 



1. C. decandra; foliis lineari-lanceolatis attenuatis scabris sessilibus margine revolutis 

 subtus pubescenti-canis, floribus in corymbum foliosum terminalibus, calycibus 10-den- 

 tatis nigro-pubescentibus, corolla 10-lobata, staminibus 10. (Tab. X.) 



Frutex 8-10-pedalis, ramosus, superne pube brevissima rigida asper. Folia alterna, coriacea, 2-3 uncias 

 longa, erecto-patentia, lanceolata, sensim attenuata, supra, tactu, scaberrima, impresso-nervosa, margine 

 revoluto, subtus pubescenti-cana, nervis promiuentibus. Flores magni, pulcherrimi, albi, fragrantes, paniculati, 

 panicula dense corymbosa, foliosa, termiuali. Calyx ovatus, subintlatus, extus dense nigro-intus albo- 

 pubescens, decem-striatus, apice subtruucatus, 10-dentatus, dentibus parvis, angustis. Corolla ampla, infundi- 

 buliformi-campanulata, venosa, 10-fida, limbo patente: Stamina paulo intra tubum inserta, inclusa. Fila- 

 menta basi pilosa : Anthera oblongxe : Germen ovatum. Stylus longitudine floris, bifidus, stigmatibus bifidis. 

 Capsula magnitudine Nucis Avellanw, calyce persistente tecta. 



Hab. Coquimbo. — It is i-emarkable, that notwithstanding we have received specimens of it from Chili, 

 gathered by Mr. Cruckshanks and Mr. Macrae, and that so handsome and remarkable a plant could not fail 

 to attract the attention of every Naturalist who has visited that country, yet we do not find it to be 

 described in any systematic work to which we have access. That it is a Cordia, there can be scarcely 

 a question ; since it agrees in every essential particular with the characters of that genus, diifering only in 

 the duplication of the parts of the flower. Mr. Cruckshanks informs us that the wood, which is very com- 

 pact, is extensively employed in the production of charcoal, (whence the vernacular name, Carbon,) and like- 

 wise for fuel in smelting copper (as the dead and withered stems of the Cactus are for refining metal) in the 

 mining districts of Coquimbo : so that in many places the country is almost cleared of these plants. "Carbon 

 grows in the district of Guasco, Coquimbo, and Cuzcuz. It is short and thick, and used for small articles of 

 turnery ; but it is incomparable for firewood. Two logs, that might not each be more than a yard long and 

 one-third thick, suffice to keep a stew boiling, night and day, besides other kettles, enough for eight or 

 ten people." — Account of Trees and Shrubs in App. to Mrs. Graham's Chili. 



Tab. X. Cordia decandra. Fig. 1, Flower; fig. 2, Section of a corolla; fig 3, Pistil; fig. 4, Stamen; 

 fig. 5, Capsule (natural size) : all but fig. 5, more or less magnified. 



