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i AN ENCYCLOPÆDIA 
OF HORTICULTURE. 159 
Platycrater—continued. 
terete branches. It requires culture similar to Phila- 
delphus (which see). 
P. arguta (sharp). ji. greenish-white, scattered, much larger than 
those of Hydrangea, disposed on long pedicels, in terminal, few- 
flowered corymbs ; calyx limb dilated, petaloid, three or four- 
lobed; petals four, valvate. Z. opposite, shortly petiolate, de- 
ciduous, lanceolate, long-attenuated, acuminate, deeply toothed, 
veined. Japan, 1866. (R. G. 516; S. Z. F. J. 27.) 
PLATYLEPIS (from platys, broad, and lepis, a 
scale; alluding to the shape of the sepals). Syns. Di- 
plogastra, Notiophrys. ORD. Orchidee. A genus com- 
prising three (or five?) species of stove, terrestrial 
orchids, natives of tropical and Southern sub-tropical 
Africa and the Mascarene Islands. 
dense, sessile, glandular-pubescent spikes; sepals sub- 
equal, narrow; petals narrow, sub-coherent with the dorsal 
sepal; lip sessile at the base of the column, erect, con- 
cave-channelled, Leaves ovate or ovate-lanceolate, mem- 
branous, contracted into the petioles. Stems ascending, 
leafy. Rhizome creeping. The species are not known in 
cultivation. 
PLATYLOBIUM (from platys, broad, and lobos, a 
pod; in reference to the broad legumes). Flat Pea. 
ORD. Leguminose. A small genus (three species) of 
Australian, greenhouse shrubs, with slender branches. 
Flowers yellow, solitary, in opposite axils; two upper 
calyx lobes very large, free or shortly united; lower 
ones small and narrow; petals clawed; standard orbicular 
or reniform; wings oblong-obovate, much shorter; bracts 
brown and scarious. Pods sessile or stipitate, very flat. 
Leaves opposite, simple, entire, or with pungent angles. 
For culture, see Hovea. 
P. Pare nay 99 we gegin, fi audado —— long as 
prow beig e as thelr. cA mg I from "broadly 
t. 
P. f. parviflorum (small-flowered) A form with smaller 
flowers, shorter pedicels, and narrower leaves, than the inp 
h. 4ft. 1792. SYNS. P. ovatum, P. parviflorum (B. M. 1520; 
L. B. C. 1241; P. M. B. xi: 219). 
P. Murrayanum (Murray’s). A synonym of P. triangulare. 
P, obt um (obtuse-angled). A. standard shortly exceed- 
ing the very hairy calyx, which is about din. long ; pedicels short, 
and completely concealed by the imbricate bracts at their base. 
May. J. from broadly triangular to ovate-cordate, hastate, or 
cordate-lanceolate, mostly Zin. to lin. long, with a cloner spe 
the lateral es either acute and pungent or rounded and 
. h. 1ft. 1832, (B. M. 3258.) SYN. P. triangulare (B. M. 
P. ovatum (ovate). A synonym of P. formosum parviflorum. 
(small-flowered), A synonym of P. formosum 
A handsome shrub. (B. M, 469; P. 
parviflorum. 
P. triangulare (triangular).* fi., standard reniform, deeply emar- 
inate, about twice as long fa the calyx, which is jaer an derr 
kay and nearly din. long. May. 1. broadly — or 
cordate- te, the es terminating in short, ent points, 
or the lower leaves rarely broadly cordate, with — angles 
rounded, mainly ĝin. to lin. long. h. lft. 1832. A i 
or procumbent shrub. Syn. P. Murrayanum (B. M. 
P. triangulare (triangular), of Sims. ° A synonym of P. obtus- 
angulum. 
PLATYLOMA. Included under Pellæa (which see). 
PLATYLOPHUS (from platys, broad, and lophos, 
a crest; the capsule is so much compressed at the apex 
as to appear winged). Syn. Trimerisma. ORD. Sazi- 
frageæ. A monotypic genus. The species is an elegant, 
greenhouse, glabrous, evergreen tree, thriving best in 
a compost of loam and peat. Propagated, during April 
or May, by cuttings of ripe shoots, inserted in sand, 
under a glass. oe 
P. trifoliata (three-leay i T. ite, di 
in axillary, hansen pers se de rama a — — 
late, ternate: leaflets sessile, lanceolate, i 
i ticulated with many veins. h. 40ft: to 
serrated, coriaceous, re J 4 
50ft. Cape of Good Hope, 1820. Syn, Weinmannia trifoliata. 
PLATYMETRA. A synonym of Tupistra (which 
see). 
Flowers narrow, in | 
PLATYPETALUM (from platys, broad, and 
petalum, a petal). ORD. Crucifere. A small genus of 
hardy, herbaceous perennials, with purplish flowers, now 
included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Braya. The 
species have no horticultural value. 
PLATYPTERIS. Included under 
(which see). 
PLATYS. A term which, used in Greek compounds, 
signifies broad; e.g., Platyphyllus, broad-leaved. 
PLATYSTEMON (from platys, broad, and stemon, 
a stamen; alluding to the expanded filaments). ORD. 
Papaveracee. A monotypic genus. The species is a 
pretty, hardy annual, requiring culture similar to that 
recommended for Papaver. 
P. californicus (Californian). Californian * A. yellow ; 
sepals three ; petals six ; peduncles elongated. July and August. 
l. narrow, entire ; lower ones alternate ; floral ones often nearly 
opposite or ternately whorled. h.1ft. California, 1853. (B. ii. 65: 
B. M. 3579; B. R. 1679; S. B. F. G. ser. ii. 394.) The variety 
(B.. M. 3750, under name of 
Verbesina 
leiocarpus has smooth carpels. 
P. leiocarpum.) ; 
PLATYSTIGMA (from platys, broad, and stigma ; 
alluding to the broad stigmas). ORD. Papaveracee. 
A genus comprising three species of slender, half-hardy, 
annual herbs, natives of North-west America. Flowers 
yellow, often small, on elongated peduncles; sepals three; 
petals six; stamens many; filaments slightly dilated at 
apex. Leaves narrow, entire, approximate and alternate 
at the base of the stem, or almost opposite the flowers. 
For culture of the only species calling for description, 
see Papaver. i 
* ce : 
eres oein pests Ball ala tthe siden as the Oana 
inner ones narrower, white, w at the claw; scapes several 
from the same root, Yin, = May.. l. radical, linear, acute, 
glaucous, 2in. to 3in. long. 1833. (B. M. 3575; B. R. 1954.) 
PLATYSTYLIS (of Sweet). Now included under 
Lathyrus (which see). 
PLATYSTYLIS (of Blume). 
Liparis (which see). 
PLATYTHECA (from platys, broad, and theke, a 
cell; alluding to the broad anther lobes). ORD. Tre- 
mandree. A monotypic genus, the species being an 
erect, Heath-like, greenhouse shrub or under- shrub. 
For culture, see Tetratheca, 
ium-like). fl. borne on slender pedicels ; 
„eenean eT Te 
base. June. J. usually t eight in a whorl, narrow-linear, 
acute and pungent, or obtuse with recurved about : 
Now included under 
points, šin. 
long, with the margins often revolute. h. lft. South-west 
Ausi , 1845. (P. M. B. xiii. 171, under name of Tetratheca 
verticillata.) 
PLATYZAMIA. A synonym of Diosin (which see). 
PLATYZOMA (from platys, broad, and zoma, & 
band; in allusion to the broad ring of the sporangia). 
Orp. Filices. A monotypic genus. The species— 
P. microphyllum—is an Australian stove fern, closely 
allied to Gleichenia. It has not yet been introduced. 
PLEASURE GROUNDS. See Garden. _ 
PLECOSORUS. Included under Cheilanthes. 
PLECTOCEPHALUS. Included under Centaurea. 
PLECTOCOMIA (from plektos, plaited, and kome, 
leaves; probably from the leaves being used in plaiting). 
ORD. Palme. A genus comprising about half-a-dozen 
species of stove, climbing palms, allied to Calamus, 
armed with recurved prickles; they are natives of the 
mountains of India and the Malayan Archipelago. 
Fiower-spikes axillary, divided into numerous, very long, 
tail-like branches, clothed with two opposite rows of 
| overlapping spathes, each of which incloses a short $ 
spike of flowers. Fruit covered with overlapping scales, 
which are rough and fringed at the edges, giving the 
fruit a prickly appearance, one-seeded. Leaves large, _ 
pinnate, furnished with long, whip-like tails, beset on — 
