16 



CHILI. 



[Leguminosce . 



minentibus, glabra, vel in 0. subtus pubescentia. Pctiolm vix semiunciam longus, supra planus. Macemi sub- 

 paniculati, axillares et terminates, nunc foliislongiores,nunc iis breviores. Pedunmli pedicellique magis minusve 

 pubescenti-hirsuti, bracteati ; bracteis parvis squamiformibus. Flores dioici. Masc. plerumque in racemis lon- 

 gioribus. Cal. 5-partitus, basi truncatus, laciniis erectis, oblongis, marginibus obscure ciliatis. Petala 5, oblongo- 

 ovata, dcmum patentia. Stam. 10, 5 petalis opposita, 5 petalis alterna, sub disco inserta. FUamenta brevia. 

 Antheree oblongte, birimosaj. Pistillum abortivum. Germen parvum, fere nullum, disco carnoso pateriformi 

 coadunatum. Stylus brevis. Stigma 3-fidum, laciniis linearibus erectis. Fam. Cal. et Cor. ut in mare. 

 Stamina abortiva vix calycis longitudine. Pistillum: Germen subglobosum, uniovulatum, disco carnoso 

 insertum. Stylus germine brevius. Stigma 3-fidum, laciuiis capitatis, patentibus. Pericarpium ; Drupa 

 sicca, fulva, nitida, magnitudine seminis Pisi sativi, stylo perbrevi terminata. Epicarpium tenue, fragile. 

 Endocarpium parcum, carnosum. Nux compressa, sphserica. Semen solitarium, inversum. Embryo arcuatus. 

 Podospermum e fuudo loculi ortum. 



Hab. Conception. — There are so many points in common between this plant and tbe Mauria simplici- 

 folia of Humb. and Kunth, Nov. Gen. v. 7. t. 605, that it is difficult not to believe them to be generically the 

 same : but in Mauria the flowers are hermaphrodite ; the stigma is solitary, thick, and angled, and the seed 

 is pendulous : whereas, except in habit, our plant differs only from the simple-leaved species of Rhus in the 

 greater number of its stamens ; whence we have been led to refer it to that genus. This, Dr. Gillies, to whom 

 we are also indebted for specimens, as well as to Mr. Cruckshanks and Mr. Bridges, considers to be the true 

 " Laurus caustica" of Molina, the Llithi or Litri of the natives, on which our friend observes, " The state- 

 ment made by Molina, relative to the poisonous nature of this tree, seems to be well founded ; as I am 

 informed, by several intelligent people, that individuals resting or sleeping under it at certain times of the 

 year, are afterwards attacked with eruptions all over the body." We take this opportunity of stating, that 

 we are enabled to correct, by means of Mr. Cruckshanks' remarks, a mistake in Feuillee, which has led 

 most succeeding botanists into a serious error. Feuillee, in his description, attributes the same properties 

 to this plant as Molina has since done, and says he has not seen the ilower or fruit : yet the figure to which 

 the name " Llithi" is affixed, represents a fruit larger than a chestnut; and Lamarck and Sprengel have, 

 in consequence, described the Laurus caustica with such a fruit. But the whole has arisen from the names 

 in the plate having been engraved under the wrong figures ; the plant on the right without fruit is the Llithi ; 

 while that in fruit on the left is the Lucuma obovata. 



Tab. VII. Fig. 1, Male flower; Jig. 2, Female flower; fig. 3, Flower from which the calyx and corolla 

 are removed ; fig. 4, Fruit ; fig. 5, Section of do. : — magnified. 



Ord. XXI. LEGUMINOS/E. Juss. 



1. SPARTIUM. DC. 

 1. S.junceum. Linn. — De Cand. Prodr. v, 2. p. 145. 

 Hab. Conception. Doubtless introduced from Europe. 



2. TRIFOLIUM. Tourn. 



1. T. grandiflorum ; caule repente, foliolis obcordatis striatis denticulatis petiolisque 

 pilosis, stipulis ovalibus apice longe aristatis, pedunculis vix pilosis adscendentibus 

 petiolo triplo longioribus, calyce campanulato piloso, laciniis ineequalibus lanceolatis 

 tubum superantibus, corollis calyce 5-6-plo longioribus scariosis persistentibus. 



Hab. Conception. — To this species the T. obcordatum of Desvaux, from Buenos-Ayres, is, perhaps, 

 closely allied : but our plant belongs to a different section, the " Lupinaster," as does the next species. The 

 involucrum is small and many-leaved. 



2. T. chilense ; caule diffuso glabro, foliolis anguste oblongo-obovatis argute denticu- 



