101 



centre with a bouquet of flowers similar to those of 

 the preceding. 



The Chilians obtain a violet colour from the ber- 

 ries of several shrubs; but the cullé^ or red tail, 

 which I have mentioned among the alimentary herbs, 

 produces that which is most esteemed ; it is reduced 

 into the form of paste like the woad, and the dyers 

 make use of it in the same manner. After the first 

 autumnal rains a small plant springs up in the fields, 

 called the herb of rosoli, which appears to be of a 

 new genus, and which I have denominated sassia. 

 It bears three or four quadripetal flowers of a purple 

 hue, which are used to colour and to communicate 

 an agreeable flavour to a kind of liqueur called the 

 purple, A single flov/er, although smaller than that 

 of thyme, will colour five or six pounds of liquor. 

 The cabinet-makers likewise make use of it to stain 

 their work. I am of opinion tha.t this plant mjght 

 be advantageously employed in the dying of wool 

 and linen, particularly the latter, since merely by 

 tinging it with the expressed juice of the fiow^er, it 

 acquires a beautiful colour that continues a long 

 time. Of the same genus is the sassia per.dicaria, 

 called by the inhabitants r'lmu, or the partridge- 

 flower, from its being the favourite food of that bird. 

 It bears but one flow^er, of a golden yellow, similar 

 in form to that of the panke tinctoria, which gives a 

 beautiful appearance to the meadows, w'here it is 

 found in great abundance in autumn. The Chilian 

 names of the months of April and of May are deri- 

 ved from that of this plant, April being called inien- 



