160 
. 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Plectocomia—continued. 
the under side with excessively strong, compound spines, 
shaped something like a mole’s foot, with the claws 
directed downwards. The species, the best-known of 
which are described below, are very handsome plants, 
and are of easy culture. A compost of rich loam and 
peat, in about equal parts, is suitable. Propagated freely 
by suckers, 
P. assamica (Assamese). ji., spathes 2jin. to 3in. long; spadix 
large, the branches 24ft. Jong. l gracefully arched, broa and 
deeply bifid when young, ultimately pinnate ; upper surface deep 
n, the under side a beautifu — h. 80ft. 
m, 1841. An elegant plant. (B. M. 5105.) 
P. elongata (elongated). Jl., spadix axillary; uncle covered 
with imbricate, s onthing spathes l. with the i about 
20ft. long ; pinnules dis , arched downwards, linear-lanceolate, 
tapering to both ends, very acuminate, the longest 3ft. in length, 
2in. to broad, co! us, Stem, in the — almost as 
thick as the leg. India, 1869. A gigantic, climbing species. 
P. himalayana (Himalayan). fl., spathes almost stem-claspi 
conduplicate ; n Of hes antix about 2ft, long, —— 
with rusty tomentum. J. ample; pinnules alternate, linear- 
lanceolate, very acuminate, 1}ft. long, Uin. broad, the — 
hortly toothed ; nifi th les 
stout, hooked A eg imalans, 1878. . ppe a and grace- 
PLECTOGYNE. Included under Aspidistra. 
A synonym of Luxem- 
burgia (which see). 
(from plectron, a spur, and 
PLECTRANTHUS 
anthos, a flower; in allusion to the corolla-tube being gib- 
bous at base). Cockspur-flower. Syn. Germanea. ORD. 
Labiate, This genus comprises nearly seventy species 
of stove or greenhouse, perennial herbs, sub-shrubs, or 
rarely tall shrubs, natives of tropical and South Africa, 
tropical and sub-tropical Asia as far as Japan, the 
Malayan Archipelago, Australia, and the Pacific Islands. 
Flowers small or mediocre, often pedicellate; calyx of 
five equal or bilabiate teeth; corolla tube exserted, 
gibbous or oblique; limb bilabiate, the upper lobe three 
or four-fid, the lower one entire; whorls six to many- 
flowered, or cymes opposite and more or less evolute, 
racemose, thyrsoid, or loosely paniculate, rarely densely 
spicate. Nutlets ovoid or oblong, smooth or minutely 
dotted. Leaves variable, the floral ones reduced to 
small, deciduous bracts. The s 
pecies best known to 
cultivation are described below. They do well in any 
light, rich soil. Propagation may be effected by cut- 
tings. which root readily. 
Fig. 200. PLECTRANTHUS FRUTICOSUS, showi 
im m sho ng Habit sad Soe 
P. australis (Southern). f. pale purple, hort, uneq 
E aeomp agori thrice as — — ieee 
apart ; 
ones round-ovate, deciduous, erect, pubescen! 
h. 2ft. to sft. Australia, Greenhouse. (B. R. 1098). = 
| PLECTRITIS 
the calearate corolla). 
Plectranthus—continued. 
P. barbatus (bearded). A synonym of Coleus barbatus. 
P. coleoides (Coleus-like). fl. lilac; corolla four times as long as 
the calyx; panicle thyrsoid, 6in, long. l, petiolate, 
ovate, crenate, sub-cordate at base, rather thick, puberulous ; 
floral ones deciduous. A, lft, to 2ft. Neilgherries, 1865. Stove 
herbaceous perennial. (B. M. 5841.) SYN. Coleus Colvillet. 
P. comosus (tufted), A synonym of Coleus barbatus. 
P, foetidus (stinking). fÉ purple (7); calyx softly villous; corolla 
thrice as long as the calyx ; whorls many-flowered, approximate ; 
racemes dense, slightly branched. Summer. l. shortly petiolate, 
broadly ovate, crenate, truncate or cordate at base, thick, much 
wrinkled, very villous on both sides; floral ones broadly ovate- 
cordate, acuminate, deciduous. Stem obtusely tetragonal. h. dft. 
* omy Eastern Australia, 1877. Greenhouse sub-shrub. (B. M. 
P. Forskolei (Forskil’s. A synonym of Coleus barbatus. 
. fruticosus (shrubby). blue, elegant, disposet in a slightly- 
branched panicle; pedicels in. long ; corolla tube twice as long 
as the calyx. Summer. J. petiolate, broadly ovate, sub-cordate, 
doubly toothed, slightly glabrous ; floral ones bract-like. A. 3ft. 
to 4ft.. Cape Colony. Greenhouse shrub. See Fig. 200. (R. G 
1864, 431.) 
P. ternatus (ternate). Onime-root. fl. ponh, on short pedicels ; 
corolla dark-dotted, thrice as long as the calyx; whorls ternate, 
rather loose, many-flow ; racemes simple. l. long- 
stalked, ovate-rotundate, acute, deeply crenate, narrowed at base, | 
t beneath, 
— 
cano-tomen' or pu 
1821, Stove herbaceous perennial (B. M. 2460.) f 
(from plektron, a spur; in allusion to 
Including Betckea. ORD. Vale- 
rianeæ. A genus comprising only three species of erect, 
hardy, annual herbs, of which two are Californian, and 
the third Chilian. Flowers pink, in dense, capituliform 
cymes, axillary or terminal; corolla five-fid, spreading. 
Leaves entire or sinuate-toothed. Seeds of P. congesta 
only require to-be sown in the open ground in May, in 
a sheltered situation. It is doubtful, however, whether 
the genus is still represented in our gardens. 
P. congesta (crowded). fl. pink, in oval or oblong heads, often 
arranged in verticillate, approximate or distant glomerules ; 
corolia manifestly bilabiate, with a small spur much shorter 
than the tube. June. Z. very glabrous; radical ones obovate or 
spathulate, entire; cauline ones broadly ovate, sessile, slightly 
toothed; floral ones linear-oblong. A. 9in. to 18in. California, 
1826, (B. R. 1094, under name of Valerianella congesta.) : 
PLECTRONIA (from plektron, a cock’s spur; in 
allusion to the large spines which are to be found on 
some of the species). Syns. Canthium, Dondisia, Mitra- 
stigma, Phallaria, Psilostoma, Psydraz. ORD. Rubiacee. 
A large genus (about seventy species) of stove or green- 
house, unarmed or spiny, shrubs, sometimes climbing, 
with terete branchlets; they are natives of tropical Asia, 
Africa, and Australia, South Africa, and the Pacific 
Islands. _ Flowers white or greenish, small, fascicled or 
disposed in corymbose, pedunculate cymes; calyx with a 
short tube, and a very short, truncate or four or five- 
toothed limb; corolla tube short or slightly elongated, 
with four or five ovate-triangular lobes: Fruit small or 
mediocre. Leaves opposite, membranous or coriaceous, 
shortly petiolate, oblong, ovate, or lanceolate; stipules 
intrapetiolar. Few of the species have been introduced, 
and none are important horticulturally. 
PLECTRURUS. A synonym of Tipularia, 
PLEEA (named after Aug. Plée, 1787-1825, author 
of a work on the Flora of the Environs of Paris). ORD. 
Liliacee. A monotypic genus. The species is a hardy, 
perennial herb, with nodose, erect, Rush-like stems or 
rhizomes. It thrives in peat soil, and requires a moist 
situation; or it may be grown in pots, placed in pans of 
bape Propagation may be effected by seeds. = — 
. tenuifolia (slender-lea > 
—— s "Pet —— — it 
l, radical ones few, rather long, li —— 
. 
6in. to 9in. long ; cauline ones one or two, long. thin, mad 
radical States, — 
ones. Stem i 
1824. (B. M. 1956.) AIE pe Pont oe 
PLEIONE. Incinded under Celogyne ———— 
