BOTANICAL NOMENCLATURE. 455 



Perforatus-a-um. Perforate, having holes as if pricked through. Lat. 



perforo, to pierce through. 

 Persea. Avocado. Ancient name of an Egyptian tree with fruit growing 



on the stem. 



Persicaria. Lady's thumb. From Lat. persicus, a peach tree. 

 Petroselinum. Parsley. An ancient Greek plant-name. From Tm-pa, 



a rock, + cfkivov^ parsley. 



Phaseolus. Kidney bean. The ancient classical name. 

 Philadelphus. Mock orange or Syringa. Ancient Greek name of a sweet 



flowering shrub ; applied by Linnaeus to this genus. 

 Phillipinensis-e. Belonging to the Philippine Islands. 

 Phlox. Greek name of a plant with flame-colored flowers. From <^/.d 



a flame. 

 Physostigma. Calabar bean. From Gr. Qvaa, a bladder, + OT/;//, a mark, 



stigma. 

 Phytolacca. Pokeweed. From Gr. QVTOV, plant, + Ital. lacca, lake color ; 



alluding to the coloring matter which the berries yield. 

 Picea. Spruce. The classical Latin name of the pitch-pine. 

 Picrasma. Quassia. From Gr. TriKpaajuoc, bitterness. 

 Picrotoxinum. From Gr. Trv/c/jog, bitter, + rot-mor, poison. 

 Pilocarpus. Jaborandi. From Gr. vrZAof, a hair, -f- na/)7r6r } fruit ; refer- 



ring to the shape of the fruit. 

 Pimenta. Allspice. From Spanish pimicnta, allspice. Derived from Latin 



pigmentum, spice. 

 Pimpinella. Pimpernel. Said to be formed from Lat. bipinnula, equiva- 



lent to bipennis, two-winged; referring to the bipinnate leaves. 

 Pinus. Pine. The ancient Latin name. Probably akin to pinna, a feather. 

 Piper. Pepper. The classical Latin name. 

 Piperitus-a-um. Peppery, pungent. Lat. piper, pepper. 

 Pipsissewa. Chimaphila. An American Indian name. 

 Piscipula. From Lat. piscis, fish. 

 Pistacia. Pistachio. The ancient classical name. 

 Planifolius-a-um. Having flat leaves. Lat. planns, flat, plane, + folium, 



leaf. 



Plantago. Plantain. The ancient Latin name. 

 Podophyllum. Mandrake. From Greek TTO/T, loot, + yi/'/r; referring 



to the foot-like leaves. 

 Podostemon. Riverweed. From Gr. novq, foot, + or/^wr, thread, stamen ; 



the two stamens being apparently raised on a stalk by the side of the 



ovary. 

 Polemonium. Greek valerian. An ancient Greek name of a plant. From 



war. 



Polygala. Milkwort. From Gr. nokvyakov, the ancient name, 

 much, + 7'a?rz, milk. 



