103 



other in pairs placed almost horizontally. Its name 

 in the Chilian signifies the herb for curing the pleu- 

 risy, in which complaint it is found very efficacious; 

 it is also considered as purgative, dissolvent, worm- 

 destroying, an excellent febrifuge, and a specific for 

 the sore throat, The iniusion of it is extremely 

 bitter, and in iis smell resembles the balsam of Peru. 



The viravh'a (gnaphalium viravira) is a species of 

 houseleek very aromatic; it is recommended in in- 

 termitting fevers ; the infusion is an excellent sudo- 

 rific, and the Chilians make use of it in catarrhal 

 complaints. The leaves are extremely villous, and 

 appear to be covered with cotton ; the flowers, which 

 do not exceed four, are composite and flosculated, 

 they are of a golden colour and placed at the top of 

 the branches, and the seed resembles much that of 

 the stoechas citrina, f 



* This plant is extremely bitter ; an infusion of it is aperient 

 and sudorific ; it strengthens the stomach, destroys worms, fre- 

 quently cures intermitting fevers, and is very serviceable in rheu- 

 matic complaints. — jFeuille, vol. ii. 



The cachenlahuen, or the canchalagua, which is called cahenla- 

 gua in Chili, is very similar in its appearance to the smaller Eu- 

 ropean centaury, although not so high. A decoction of it in warm 

 water, in the manner of tea, is considered as an excellent purifier 

 of the blood. This plant is highly celebrated in Chili, from whence 

 it is exported to other parts, as a febrifuge. I think it preferable 

 to the European centaury, and it is considered as very efficacious 

 in complaints of the throat. — Perneity''s Voyage^ vol. i. 



t Among the herbs that cover the mountains there are many 

 that are aromatic and medicinal ; of the latter, the most in esteem 

 with the country people is the cachinlagua, or little centaury, 

 which appears to me to be bitterer than that of France, and, of 

 course, more abundant in that salt which is considered as an ex- 

 cellent febrifuge. The viravira is a species of houseleek, an infu- 



