AN ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF HORTICULTURE. 
a. 
he 
117 
Physostegia—continued. 
only three species of hardy, tall, erect, glabrous, or very 
slender and puberulous herbs, confined to North America. 
Flowers flesh-colour or purple, sessile; calyx tubular- 
campanulate, sub-equally five-toothed, becoming inflated 
at fructescence ; corolla tube long, exserted; upper lip 
erect, entire or emarginate, the lower one spreading and 
trifid; whorls two-flowered, secund, densely or inter- 
ruptedly spicate; spikes solitary, or often many, at the 
tips of the branches, sub-paniculate. For culture, see 
Dracocephalum. 
P. imbricata (imbricated). A synonym of P. virginiana speciosa. 
P. intermedia (intermediate), fl., corolla five to six lines long, 
much dilated upwards; spikes filiform, commonly rather re- 
motely flowered. Summer. . linear-lanceolate, repand-denticu- 
late. Stem slender, remotely leaved, lft. to 3ft. hig 
P, parviflora (small-flowered). A., corolla rather narrow, in. 
long; spikes short, lin. to Ain. long. Summer, l ceolate 
or ovate-lanceolate, denticulate. Stem rather slender, leafy, 
lft. to 2ft. high. 1825. 
P, virginiana (Virginian).* fl. flesh- coloured or purple, about 
lin. long, nearly sessile, approximate or distant; racemes ter- 
minal, simple, or paniculately branched. July to September. 
J. thickish, sessile, usually lanceolate, sometimes oblong-ovate 
or obovate, usually acute, irregularly and acutely serrated, nar- 
rowed at base, green on both surfaces, Stems erect, herbaceous. 
h. 15ft. to Aft. 1683. A variable species, SYNS. Dracocephalum 
variegatum, D. virginianum (B. M. 467). 
P. v. denticulata (slightly-toothed). f. in a more slender or 
loosely-fiowered spike. f. crenulate-denticulate or obscurely 
serrated. A more slender and commonly low form. Syn. Draco- 
cephalum denticulatum (B. M. 2 š 
P. v. obovata (obovate). l oblong or obovate, often obtuse. 
P. v. speciosa (showy).* FH. in dense, paniculate spikes. J. lan- 
ceolate, very acutely serrated. SYNS. P. imbricata (B. M. 3386), 
Dracocephalum speciosum, of Sweet (S. B. F. G. 93). 
PHYSOSTELMA (from physa, a bladder, and stelma, 
a girdle; alluding to the shape of the corona scales). 
Syn. Cystidianthus. ORD. Asclepiadew. A genus com- 
prising a couple of species of stove, climbing, glabrous 
shrubs, natives of the Malayan Archipelago, usually, but 
erroneously, referred to Hoya, Flowers rather large, in 
umbelliform cymes; calyx five-parted; corolla very 
broadly campanulate, sub-cyathiform ; corona scales five, 
fleshy, radiate-patent. Leaves opposite, coriaceous, sub- 
fleshy, shining, veined. P. Wallichii is the only species 
in cultivation. For culture, see Hoya. 
P. campanulatum (bell-shape-flowered). A synonym of 
P. Wallichii. 
P, Walli : ich’s).* fl. ellow ; corolla campanu- 
inte glabrous." May. E eee simone ee ee 
acuminate, glabrous ; when dry, reticulately veined. . SYNS. 
. Hoya campanulata (B. M. 4545, and B. R. 
PHYSOSTIGMA (from physa, a bladder, and 
stigma; the bearded style is terminated by a large, 
oblique hood covering the stigma). Ordeal Bean of Old 
Calabar. ORD. Leguminose. A monotypic genus. The 
species, P. venenosum, is a tall, climbing herb, shrubby 
at base, native of tropical Africa. Its seeds “are ex- 
tremely poisonous, and are employed by the natives of 
Old Calabar as an ordeal; persons suspected of witch- 
craft, or other crime, being compelled to eat them until 
they vomit or die—the former being regarded as a proof 
of innocence, and the latter of guilt” (Lindley and 
Moore). This Bean is also remarkable for possessing a 
property causing contraction of the pupil of the eye. 
P. ven lish, resembling those of 
ap Bean, axillary, eee Sune e, in a fascicled raceme ; 
Style bearded, terminated by a large, oblique hood, covering the 
e e Oaa iat e d gE ally EE 
foliolate, stipellate a leaflets ample. (B. M. PL 800 
PHYSURUS (from physa, a bladder, and oura, a 
tail; in allusion to the shape of the spur). SYNS. 
Erythrodes, Microchilus. ORD. Orchidew. A genus com- 
prising about a score species of stove, terrestrial, leafy 
orchids, with root fibres usually fasciculate, in a creeping 
thizome, inhabiting the warmer regions of Asia and 
Physurus—continued. ; E” 
America. Flowers small or mediocre, disposed in loose 
or dense, often elongated, almost sessile spikes; sepals 
and petals nearly equal, the lateral sepals placed beneath 
the lip, and the dorsal agglutinated to the petals; lip 
parallel with the column, concave, constricted below the 
apex, and extended downwards into a freely-swollen 
spur; column free or adnate to the bottom of the lip, 
straight and attenuated into an ultimately bifid rostellum, 
having the anther at the back, containing two sectile 
pollen-masses attached to an oblong or subulate gland. 
Leaves stalked, loosely-sheathed, often beautifully marked’ 
with veins. The species here described are those in- 
troduced to cultivation. For culture, see Ancctochilus 
(to which the present genus is closely allied). 
P. argenteus (silvery).* I. 2sin. long and Izin. hag light 
green, with marth tt 9 cae 3 Stein gin. in ce 
razil. An elegant, free-growing species, which does weil in 
a warm house without a bell glass; a shady situation, and a 
plentiful supply of water to the roots, are important elements 
in its culture. SYN. Anæctochilus argenteus, 
P. decorus (comely). very indifferently small; sepals white, 
with green NN up 5 with a 8 spur. 
č. cuneate-oblong, acute, dark n, with whitish, longitudinal 
Probably Sumatra, 1875. 
. maculatus (spotted), l. ee tens, Ok en, with two 
rows of rig es 7 Arallel th che midrib. 
R. 6in. Guayaquil, 1 (B. 55 
P. nobilis (noble).* Z. broadly ovate, dark n, marked with 
silvery Ans , 1865. A and veautifully marked 
species. Very similar to P. us, 
lip. Syn. Ancetochilus is. 3 
„ Ortgi Ortgies’). J. dark green, with a whitish ; 
n ts pet Cie . distributed over the en ; 
olumbia, 1873. Distinct, and very pretty. (F. & P. 1872, 243.) 
„ pictus (spotted).* J. Zin. long, lyin. broad, edged with dark 
r — and having a handsome, e riar t 
centre, from whic i 
Brazil, A distinct and most desirable, free-growing species. 
(Ref. B. 75.) SYNS. Ancctochitus argent pictus, A. pictus, 
Microchilus pictus. 5 
. querceticolus (Oak wood-dwelling). A. borne in loose spikes ; 
1 7 three · toothed J apex, l. 2in. 2 long, ovate, acute, light 
Cc 
e x 
s rnia pe S šin. to ain. or more. New Orleans, A dis- 
stripes. 
Tillandsia 
Included under 
PHYTARRHIZA. 
(which see). 4 
PHYTELEPHAS (from phyton, a plant, and elephas, 
ivory; referring to the seed, which, under the name of 
Ivory Nut, is largely imported and used by turners in 
forming small, ivory-like toys, buttons, Ko.). SYN. Ele- 
phantusia. ORD. Palmæ. A genus comprising 
or more species of low, unarmed palms, with a robust 
and erect or prostrate and rooting caudex; they are 
natives of Pern and New Grenada. Plant dicecions ; 
male flowers with petals 2in. to 3in. long; spadices borne 
on scaly peduncles, males ulous females erect ; 
spathes two, complete, elongated, thick, coriaceous or 
woody. Fruit consisting of a of four to i 
drupes, forming large clusters, the drupes covered ont- 
side with hard, woody protuberances. Leaves terminal, 
elongated, pinnatisect; segments numerous, the npe 
ones opposite, the lower ones alternate or fascicled, 
linear-lanceolate, acuminate; margins recurved at base. 
A compost of two parts rich loam, and one each of „peat 
and river sand, is most suitable. The plants enjoy a 
liberal supply of water, and perfect drainage is essential. 
* Nut Palm; Negro’s 
(ange {raid yom six to nine seeds—the Vege- 
P. macrocarpa fru 
. a dru} containing 1484 : 
— 4 oe of — „ 15ft. to 20 ft. long, — beauti 
fully arched, pinnate, rich dark green; * — 
or trunk creeping, rooting. k. about ft. New Grenada, 
(B. M. 4913, 4514 
microcarpa small-fruited). 5 . ) 
P about 1 inne, the inferior being alternate and the 
upper opposite, li „ the largest wide, three- 
nerved. hes, Ke. Plant si ess. 
PHYTELEPHUSIEZ. Included under Palme. 
