AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 83 
Persica—continued. 
now included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Prunus; 
they are natives of Europe and the warmer parts of Asia. 
Flowers almost sessile, solitary or twin, rising from the 
scaly buds earlier than the leaves. Leaves condupli- 
cate when young. P. vulgaris, and its variety below 
described, are well known and much esteemed fruits. 
For culture, &., see Nectarine and Peach respec- 
tively. 
P. Davidiana (Abbé David's). fl. light rose or white. Spring 
(as soon as, or earlier than, the Almond). jr. small, spherical ; 
skin downy, greyish-white, changing to yellow at maturity. 
l. glandular, regularly attenuated towards the base; margins very 
finely serrated. China. Only of use as an ornamental tree, but 
its flowering season being so early, the blossoms are frequently 
destroyed by frosts. See Fig. 92. 
P, vulgaris (common).* Peach. fl. pale or dark red, sessile. 
Spring. fr. clothed with a velvety t tum. . | late, 
labrous, serrated. h. 15ft. Probably Eastern Asia, 1562, Syn. 
runus Persica, Of this species, there are several very desirable 
and ornamental varieties, including some with double flowers, 
and others with variegated and purple leaves. 
P. v. levis (smooth). Nectarine. fl. red. Spring. fr, smooth, 
glabrous. h. 15ft, 1562, The Nectarine is distinguished from 
the Peach by its smooth, and rather firmer, more plump fruit. 
SYN. Prunus levis. 
PERSIMMON. See Diospyros virginiana. 
PERSISTENT. Not falling off, but even remaining 
on the fruit, or lasting throughout winter, as the leaves 
of evergreens. 
FPERSONATE. Included under Scrophularinee. 
PERSOONIA (named after C. H. Persoon, 1755-1837, 
a distinguished botanist, author of “Synopsis Plantarum ” 
and other botanical works). Syns. Linkia, Pentadactylon. 
ORD.. Proteacew. A genus comprising sixty species of 
- greenhouse, ornamental shrubs or small trees; one is a 
native of New Zealand, and the rest are all Australian. 
Flowers yellow or white, small or mediocre, solitary in 
the axils, or, owing to the abortion of the floral leaves, 
forming short racemes, rarely in slender, terminal, one- 
sided racemes; perianth regular, the segments recurved 
in the upper portion. Leaves entire, alternate, or rarely 
here and there almost whorled. A selection of the species 
best known to cultivation is given below. They require 
a compost of equal parts loam, peat, and sand. Cuttings 
of the ripened shoots will root readily in sand, under 
a bell glass. The undermentioned species are shrubs, 
except where otherwise stated. 
5 Drummondii Drummond's). A synonym of e eee 
» ferruginea rusty).* i in the „or often 
densely ea, 8 e Sear À in the upper axils; 
perianth densely ferruginous-pubescent. June. (. ovate, oblong- 
elliptical, or almost lanceolate, acute or obtuse, with a callous 
point, 2in. to din. long. Young branches and shoots slightly ferru- 
g or hoary-t t uri Skt. 1823. (S. E. B. ii. 83.) 
F. Fraseri (Fraser’s). A synonym of P. saccata. 
P. hirsuta ( jl. yellow, very shortly pedicellate, solitary 
within each floral leat, but crowded into short heads or clusters 
at or below the ends of the branches. June. l. crowded, narrow- 
ear, acute and rigid, but searcely pungent-pointed, channelled 
beneath, with revolute margins, mostly about sin. long. h. 2ft. to 
Sft. 1800. Plant pubescent or hirsute, spreading. (L. B C. 
P. lanceolata (lanceolate). fl. yellow; pedicels exceedingly 
Short, solitary 9 8 shine: l. lanceolate or oblong- 
lanceolate, mucronate-acute, much contracted into a short petiole, 
Mostly I1Zin. to 24in. long, flat. Young branches and shoots 
hoary-pubescent. A. 4ft. 1791. (A. B. R. 74; L. B. C. 25.) 
P. 1. levis (smooth). L. rather longer and thinner than in the 
b ' : jant glabrous. (A. B. R. 280 
P, longifolia (long-leaved).* A. yellow, solitary in the axils, but, 
owing to the abortion of Ron aves, forming often terminal or 
sub-terminal racemes. July. l linear or linear-lanceolate, Sin. 
to 8in. long, callous-pointed or obtuse, narrowed into a short 
Persoonia—continucu. 
petiole. h. 10ft. to 20ft. 1850. A tall shrub a $ 
8 s or small tree, SYN. 
P. macrostachya (large-spiked), A synonym of P. saccata, 
P. nutans (nodding). ellow ; icels axillary, soli 
rarely twin, spreadi ae poe woe at — Lad 
linear, acute, contracted at base, zin. to above lin. long, flat or 
with the margins slightly recurved. A. lft, 1824. 
. — r bashy shrub. (L. B. C. 922, under name of P. flegi- 
ia, ae 
P. pinifolia (Pine-leaved). A synonym of P, linearis, 
P. pruinosa (bedewed). A synonym of P. linearis, 
P. rigida (rigid).* fl. yellow, almost sessile and solitary in the 
axils, but sometimes several crowded at the base of axillary 
shoots ; perianth densely villous. June. J. varying from obovate 
to linear-spathulate, mucronate, much con at the base, 
but scarcely petiolate, zin. to l4in. long, the margins usually re- 
curved or replicate, softly or scabrous-pubescent when young, 
glabrous when old. h. 3ft. to Aft. 1824. (L. B. C. 1199, under 
name of P. spathulata.) 
P. saccata a Jl. yellow Beete mostly at or below the 
ends of the branches, and crowded into racemes ; upper segment 
of perianth saccate. July. J. linear-terete, sometimes almost 
filiform, 2in. to 4in. or more long. h. 2ft. to 6ft. 1837. SYNS. 
P. Fraseri, P. macrostachya. 
P. Toro (Toro). fl. 12 racemes lin. long, six to ten- 
flowered. Summer. Zin. to din. Jong, very narrow, linear - 
lanceolate, gradually narrowed into the petiole, acuminate or 
obtuse and apiculate, quite entire, polished on both surfaces. 
New Zealand. A small tree. 
PERSOONIA (of Michaux), A synonym of Mar- 
shallia (which see). 
PERTUSE. Having slits or holes. 
PERU BALSAM-TREE. See Myroxylon perui- 
ferum. ee 
PERU, MARVEL OF. See Mirabilis Jalapa. 
PERUVIAN-BARE-TREE. See Cinchona. 
PERUVIAN MASTIC-TREE. See Schinus 
Molle. 
PES. The Latin for the foot or stalk; e.g., in com- 
pounds, Brevipes, short-stalked ; Longipes, long-stalked, &c. 
PESCATOREA. Included under Zygopetalum 
(which see). 
PESOMERIA. Included under Phaius (which see). 
PETAL. The divisions of the corolla, when free— 
that is to say, not united by their edges to each other— 
are called Petals. 
PETALACTE (from petalon, a petal, and acte, a 
ray; referring to the rayed, petal-like scales on the re- ; 
ceptacle). Syn. Petalolepis. ORD. Composite. A mono- 8 
typic genus, the species being a greenhouse, evergreen, — 
hoary-tomentose or woolly sub-shrub. It requires cul- 
ture similar to Helichrysum (which see). „ 
or papillose; invo ; 
l alte ire pel? 
PETALIDIUM (from petalon, a ; in refer- 
ence to the petal-like bracteoles). Syn. Pseudobarleria. 
ORD. Acanthaceæ. A small genus (three species have 
been described) of unarmed shrubs, inhabiting the East 
Indies and tropical and Southern Africa. Flowers soli- 
tary, in the axils of the upper leaves, shortly pedicellate 
or sub-sessile. Leaves ovate, entire or dentate. The only 
species in cultivation is P. barlerioides, a pretty stove 
evergreen. For culture, see Justicia. : 
Jerioides (Barleria-like). f. white, pedunculate, axillary, 
3 June. l. ovate, slightly toothed. k. 4ft. India, 
1840. (B. M. 4063.) ; 
PETALOID. Similar to a petal in colour and tex- 
ture. ‘ 
PETALOLEPIS (of Lessing). A synonym of Petal- 
acte (which see). . 
PETALOSTEMON (from petalon, a petal, and 
stemon, a stamen; referring to the peculiar union of 
