I have found only one species of this genus, which I call imbricata on account of its imbricated leaves,
and which may be defined as follows:
A. imbricata, foliis octonis imbricatis ovato-lanceolatis mucronatis perennantibus.
Pinus Araucana. Molin. Sagg. sulla Storia Nat. del Chili, p. 182.
Truncus rectissimus, 150 pedes saepe altus, coma frondosissima conico-pyramidali terminatus: cujus cortex
est fungosus, valde rimosus, crassitie semipalmari. Rami verticillati, sex septemve in singuhs verticillis, et
ssepiiis octo in inferioribus, horizontales, extremitatibus inflexo-adscendentibus. Rarnuli erecti. Folia imbricata,
sessilia, subdecurrentia, versus basin incrassata, ovato-lanceolata, stricta, apice rigido-mucronata, verticillata,
sena, septena octonaque, concava, rigida, glaberrima, nitida, coriacea, perennantia, margine cartilaginea,
inferids subcarinata, notata lineis longitudinalibus utrinque punctatis. Amenta masculina in distinct^ arbore,
et in apice ramulorum, quatuor, quinque, sexve aggregata, pedunculata, ovato-cylindrica, dipsaciformia, erecta,
sublutea: squama; arete imbricatse, minores quam in flore feemineo.
Strobili cordiformes, solitarii, cernui, terminates, breviter pedunculati, capitis humani magnitudine: Squama
cuneiformes, glabrae, acumine longo subulato terminate, coriaceo-lignosae.
Semina cuneiformia, saepius gibba, gemina, tegumento coriaceo castaneae coloris. Pavon in l. c.
Habitat copiosissime in Sylvis Chili (Cordilleras de los Andes vulgo nominatis) et prope Araucum et in
montibus Caramavida, Naguelbuta, Tucassel, Santa Barbara, Nacimiento, et juxta Oppidum Conceptionis Chili.
Floret Septembri, Octobri, et Novembri. Appellatus vulgo Pino de Chile et Peguen. Pavon in l. c.
The wood of this tree is of a yellowish white, fibrous and lull of very beautifid veins, capable of being
polished and worked with facility. It is probably the best adapted for ship-building, as has been shewn by the
experiments made by Don Francisco Dendariarena in the year 1780, inconsequence of which orders were given
to supply the squadron commanded by Don Antonio Bacaro, then at anchor in the port of Talcaguano.
The resin abounding in all parts of the tree is white, its smell like that of frankincense, its taste not unpleasant.
It is applied in plaster as a powerful remedy for contusions and putrid ulcers; it cicatrizes recent wounds, it
strengthens fractures and relaxations, it mitigates headaches, and is used as a diurectic (in pills) to facilitate and
cleanse venereal ulcers. The Indians make use of the fruit of this tree as a very nourishing food; they eat it
raw, as well as boiled and roasted; with it they form pastry, and distill from it a spirituous liquor. There
are stated times to collect the fruit, which they preserve to make use of as required.
Messieurs Lamarck and de Jussieu saw in Paris the specimens, which I had given to M. Dombey; and although
Lamarck refers to them, without mentioning the description, which I also gave to M. Dombey, I fear that he
made no use of it, as Jussieu, the possessor of the specimens, in speaking of the female flowers, does not take
upon himself to decide, whether the scales, which crown the nut, are stigmas or not; and which M. Lamarck
says could only be determined in Chili. They proved without doubt, their talent and acuteness; but they had
not the opportunity that I had, of examining the tree itself.
I observed, amongst other things, that the interior of each scale had two ovaries, which Molina had also
remarked; but the French professors said that it had only one, and, consequently, that the nut which followed
iu each scale was solitary. M. de Jussieu was, likewise, mistaken in calling the testa or covering of the nuts
evalvular and without sutures. As far as relates to the anther, Jussieu certainly explained himself better than
Lamarck; he says that they were 10 or 12, and I have always found them in greater number. I omit other
mistakes, as they do not belong to the fructification, in which the characters above mentioned ought to be
reformed.
The preceding elaborate account is taken from a valuable paper of Don Joseph Pavon’s, inserted in the
first volume of the “ Memoirs of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Madrid.” In a letter which I have
lately received, M. Pavon mentions an important particular, not noticed in the above description, namely, that
the male tree is not half the size of the female, seldom exceeding 40 feet in height, with the leaves very much
like those of the Araucaria Brasilianay although of a different texture and colour. Iam indebted to M. Pavon
for native specimens of it, and for the drawing from which the greater part of the fine engraving accompanying
this account was taken. Figures A, D, E, and F, have been added from specimens collected iu the neighbourhood
of Mendoza in Chili, by Mr. Menzies in Vancouver’s Voyage, and now deposited in the Banksian
Herbarium.
The cone here figured is scarcely half grown, which M. Pavon was induced to take, from the great difficulty of
procuring an entire full grown cone; they being so liable to fill to pieces when ripe, and to be devoured by
birds and other animals. The only plants of this species, in the country, are those contained in the Royal garden
at Kew; they were raised from seeds brought home by Mr. Menzies. One of these trees planted in the open
ground is now 12 feet high, and seems perfectly hardy.
EXPLANATION OF TAB. 4.
A. Branch of the female tree.
B. Branch of the male tree terminated by a ripe catkin.
C. Portion of a branch terminated by a cone.
D, D. Male catkins.
E. Section of a young male catkin.
F, F, F. Young anthers.
G, G. Ripe anthers.
H. Foliaceous appendage of the nut
I. Ovaries.
J. Nut terminated by its leafy appendage.
K. Kernel.