AN ENCYCLOPADI 
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Phyllota—con RARER 
minose. A genus comprising six species of Australian. 
usually Heath-like, greenhouse shrubs. Flowers axillary 
or terminal; bracteoles often leaf-like, inserted under the 
calyx, and usually closely pressed to it; two upper 
calyx lobes broader, sometimes united into an upper lip; 
petals clawed; standard nearly orbicular, longer than 
the lower petals; wings oblong; keel much incurved. 
Pods ovate, somewhat turgid, two-valved. Leaves scat- 
tered, simple, linear, with revolute margins. For culture 
of P. phylicoides—the only species introduced — see 
Pultenza. 
P. aspera (rough). A synonym of P. phylicoides. 
P. comosa (tufted). A synonym of P. phylicoides. 
P. phylicoides (Phylica-like). f. yellow, almost sessile in the 
npper axils, forming terminal, leafy heads or spikes, or becoming 
lateral by the elongation of the terminal shoot; calyx jin. long, 
glabrous or villous, the lobes about as long as the tube ; standard 
nearly zin. lon „ the lower petals rather shorter. May. l. nume- 
rous, narrow-linear, zin. to jin. long, obtuse or with recurved 
points, the margins revolute, tuberculate, scabrous, sometimes 
sprinkled with erect hairs. k. 2ft. 1824. SYNS. P. aspera, 
P. comosa, P. squarrosa. 
P. squarrosa (squarrose). A synonym of P. phylicoides. 
PHYLLOTZ:NIUM. Included under Xanthosoma 
(which see), 
_ PHYLLOTRETA. A genus of leaf-eating beetles, 
in which are included several species, of small size, but 
of great importance, because of the amount of harm 
certain of them do to Turnips. Most of the species 
are partial to some one species or genus of plants, 
several of them preferring Crucifere. They were for- 
merly referred to the very large genus Haltica, or Altica, 
which has been divided, for convenience, into several 
genera on minor points of structure. The species in- 
cluded in the old genus Haltica ‘have the thighs of the 
hind pair of legs much thickened, enabling the beetles 
to leap considerable distances; and this habit has gained 
for them their popular name of Turnip Fleas. Like 
most beetles of the group Ohrysomelide, to which 
they belong, they have oval bodies, with well-developed, 
though not very long, legs and antennw. The colour is 
usually shining black, blue-black, or green-black, with 
the thorax, head, and limbs, in some, red or brown-red. 
In a few, the elytra bear yellowish stripes. For injuries 
done by them, and remedies, see Turnip Flea. . 
PHYLLOXERA. See Grape or Vine Louse. 
PHYLLUM. Greek for Leaf. Used in conjunction 
with numerals, e.g., Diphyllous, two-leaved; Triphyllous, 
three-leaved, &. 
PHYMATANTHUS. [Included under Pelargo- 
nium (which see). 
PHYMATODES. Included under Polypodium 
(which see), 
PHYMOSIA. A synonym of Spheralcea (which 
see), 
PHYSALIS (from physa, or physalis, a bladder; 
alluding to the inflated calyx), Ground or Winter 
Cherry. Syn. Pentaphiltrum. ORD. Solanacee. A genus 
comprising not more than thirty species of greenhouse 
or hardy, mostly annual or perennial herbs, clothed with 
simple or stellate hairs; the majority of the species are 
merican, being most frequent in Mexico and North 
America, but a few are broadly dispersed over the 
Warmer regions of the globe. Flowers violet, yellowish, 
or white, often purple at maturity, frequently small, 
Solitary in the axils, pedicellate; calyx campanulate or 
Pyramidal, five-fid, inflated during fructescence ; corolla 
broadly campanulate or almost rotate; limb five-angled 
or shortly five-lobed. Berry globose, included in the in- 
fated calyx. Leaves entire, sinuated, or rarely pinnatifid. 
Very few of the species are of any horticultural value. 
P. Alkekengi is ornamental, in autumn and winter, 
E 
115 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Physalis—continued. D i 
when its fruits are ripe, on account of the highly: 
coloured, inflated calyx. This becomes skeletonised in 
due course, if left on the plant. P. peruviana edulis is 
occasionally grown as a dessert fruit, some people liking 
its peculiar flavour. The species described below are 
all herbaceous perennials, and will thrive in any common 
garden soil, Propagation of the annual species may 
be effected by seeds, and of the perennials ia seeds 
by division. i e s a 
Fig. 137. FRUIT OF PHYSALIS ALKEKENGH, with part of 
accrescent Calyx removed. 
P. Alkekengi (Alkekengi).* Winter Cherry. white, with 
yellow anthers; mature calyx blood T OF not spot 
July. fr. scarlet, edible. l. deltoid-ovate, acuminate, repand, 
long-stalked, attenuated into the petioles, including which they 
are Sin. to din. long, and liin: to Zin. broad. Stem almost 
simple. Roots 3 h. lit. Caucasus, China (naturalised 
in North America), 1 Hardy. See Fig. 137. (S. F. G. 234.) 
P. peruviana (Peruvian), Cape Gooseberry. A. whitish, with 
violet anthers; mature calyx pale, Ua 
Greenhouse. Plant densely villous-pubescent. 
P, p. edulis (edible).* fr. yellow, edible. ?. almost entire. (B. M. 
1058 under name of P. edulis.) 
P. p. violacea (violet-fruited).* fl. yellow, with a dark purple spot 
at the base of each lobe. „fr. dark violet, large, globose. l cor- 
date, acute. A. 3ft. Mexico, 1885. This is probably an 3 
cultivated form, with larger fruits than the type. (R. 1882, 
p. 216, under name of P. violacea.) 
PHYSAPTERIS. Included under Cheilanthes 
(which see). : 
PHYSEMATIUM. 
(which see). 
PHYSIANTHUS (from physa, a bladder, and anthos, 
a flower; referring to the shape of the flowers). Syrns. 
Pentaphragma, Schubertia. ORD. Asclepiadew. A genna 
regarded, by the authors of the “ Genera Plantarum,” 28 
synonymous with Arauja. It comprises abont thirteen 
species of stove or greenhouse, climbing, canescent or 
hirsute shrubs or sub-shrabs, natives of tropical and 
sub-tropical America. Flowers dirty white or pink, large ; 
calyx five-parted, the segments leafy ; corolla hypo- 
crateriform or almost infundibular, with a spreading or 
sub-campanulate, five-fid limb; corona adnate to the 
base of the corolla; cymes two or few-flowered, on a 
solitary, axillary peduncle. Leaves opposite. The species 
thrive in a compost of sandy loam and fibry peat, with 
good drainage. Propagated, in summer, by cuttings of 
firm, stubby side-shoots, inserted under glass, ina gentle 
heat; or by seeds, sown on a hotbed, during spring. 
P. albens suceeeds in a greenhouse, and is well adapted 
for training up a pillar or rafter. 
alben itish).* White Bladder Flower. fl. white, with a 
1 of a ag oon with a eee Re ccm * 
cymes su b-dichotomous. July. J. opposite, ¢ 33 
i beset with fine, white, scattered hair e. 
1 climbing shrub. SYN. Arauja albens. 
Included under Woodsia 
