CHILI. [Cordiace<e.
4. MYOSOTIS. Linn.
1. M . f u l v a ; caule erecto subsimplico foliisque remotis lato-llncaribus obtusiusculis
hispidis, racemis spiciformibus c o n ju p tis ebracteatis, calyce densissime piloso profunde
5 -partito, nucibus 2 (alteris abortientibus.)
Hah. Conceptiou.—(Near Valparaiso. Mr. Bi-idges.)~V\;mi about a foot high. Stem slightly branched
upn ards, arising from an annual, fusiform, scai-cely fibrous root. Racemes terminal, forked, without bracteas.
Pedicels very short, and, as well as the calyx, clothed n ith dense fulvous, erect hairs. Those of the
leaves are paler coloured, and ai-ise from a distinct white tubercle. Tho corolla is white (Bridges); tbe
acheuia two, (perhaps by abortion,) ovate, erect, n riiikled.
5. HELIOTROPIUM. Linn.
1. H . stenophyllwn; fruticosum densissime foliosiim, foliis fasciculatis angustissime
linearibus carnosis obtusis margine revolutis pube brevissima scabris, spicis conjiigatis
ebracteatis folia superiora vix superantibus.
H-ab. Coqiumbo.—This is perhaps most nearly allied to H. curassavicum, (which we possess from the
same country, through the kindness of Mr. Cruckshanks,) but that has plane, and somewhat spathulate,
glaucous leaves, aud is quite glabrous.
O r d . X LV . C O R D IA C E ® . Br.
I. CORDIA. Linn.
1. C. decandra; foliis lineari-lanceolatis attenuatis scabris sessilibus margine revolutis
subtus pubescenti-canis, floribus in corymbum foliosiini terminalibus, calycibus 10-den-
tatis nigro-pubescentibus, corolla 10-lobata, staminibus 10. (T ab . X.)
Frutex 8-IO-pedalis, ramosus, superne pube brevissima rigida asper. Folia alterna, coriacea, 2-3 uncias
longa, erecto-patentia, lanceolata, sensim attenuata, supra, tactu, scaberrlma, impresso-uervosa, margine
revoluto, subtus pubescenti-cana, nervis promiuentibus. Flores magni, pulcberrimi, albi, fragrantés, pauiciüati,
panícula dense corymbosa, foliosa, terminali. Calyx ovatus, subinllatus, extus dense nigro-intus albo-
pubescens, decem-striatus, apice subtmncatus, lO-dentatus, dentibus paiwis, angustis. Corolla ampia, infundi-
buliformi-campanulata, venosa, 10-fida, limbo patente: Stamina panlo intra tubmn inserta, inclusa. Fila-
menta basi pilosa : Antherts oblong® : Germen ovatum. Stylus longitudine floris, bifidus, stigmatibus bifidis.
Capsula magnitudine N ucís Avellana, calyce persistente tecta.
H-ab. Coquimbo.—It is remarkable, that notwithstanding we have received specimens of it from Chili
gathered by Mr. Cruckshanks and Mr. Macrae, and that so handsome aud 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, differing only in
the duplication of the parts of the flower. Mr. Cruckshanks infoi-ms us that the wood, which is very compact,
is extensively employed in tbe production of charcoal, (whence the vernacular uame. Carbon,) aud likewise
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 cleai-ed 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 eio'ht or
ten people.”—,4ccoan/ o f Trees and Shrubs in App. to Mrs. Graham's Chili. °
T ab. X. Cordia decandra. Fig. 1, Flower; fig. 2, Section of a corolla; f ig Z, P istil; fig .4 . Stamen;
fig . 3, Capsule (natural size) : all but fig . 5, more or I
( y , y / y , y