182 
THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 
Polyanthus—continued. 
flowers are distinguished by having a clear, even margin, 
or lacing, of gold, then a ground or body-colour, similarly 
: well defined, with a stripe passing through the centre 
eet of each division to the eye. The pip, as a single flower 
— is termed, should be large, flat, and round, with the 
exception of five or six small divisions on the margin. 
For general garden decoration, any quantity of seed- 
lings with beautiful flowers may be raised without the 
florists’ conventional rules being adhered to. Seeds 
should be sown in June, or so soon as they are ripe; they 
i quickly at this season, and form flowering 
plants by the following spring: if kept in store until 
spring, a season will be lost. In summer, a prepared 
border outside is best for the seed; in spring, shallow 
boxes and a free, sandy soil should be used under glass. 
When once established, Po'yanthuses grow in any ordi- 
nary garden soil; but they sucveed best where it is rich, 
and the position somewhat moist and partially shaded. 
It is important that seeds be saved only from the best 
flowers procurable, or be obtained from a separate re- 
liable source, as the varieties soon deteriorate, even as 
ornamental plants, if this is not attended to. 
Polyanthuses for exhibition are grown in pots and in 
cold frames, under treatment somewhat similar to that 
accorded Auriculas. The season for potting or repotting 
is August, and a good compost would consist of two 
parts loam to one of leaf mould and decayed manure. 
A top-dressing of good soil is recommended in February, 
_ particularly for plants that have not been repotted the 
previous autumn. In addition to propagating from seeds, 
_ Polyanthuses may be readily increased by divisions. Good 
varieties grown in pots may have their side-shoots removed 
hen the annual potting takes place in August; and any 
that are grown in the open ground, can be readily divided 
in the autumn, when they are planted out. 
Besides the Gold-laced varieties of Polyanthus already 
_ referred to, there are others designated respectively Fancy 
and ‘Hose-in-Hose. Fancy varieties are of various hues, 
the plants being very floriferous, and of vigorous habit; 
and some of the Hose-in-Hose flowers are curious and very 
uncommon, All succeed under similar treatment. 
POLYANTHUS. See Polianthes. 
a al NARCISSUS. See Narcissus 
POLYBÆA. A synonym of Cavendishia (which 
see under Proclesia). ; <r 
= POLYBOTRYA. Included under Acrostichum 
a (which see), 
POLYCALYMMA (from poly, many, and kalymna, a 
covering; in allusion to the numerous series of invo- 
lucral bracts). Orv. Composite. A monotypic genus, 
now included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Myrio- 
cephalus. The species is a glandular-puberulous, half- 
hardy, perennial herb, requiring similar treatment to 
Centaurea (which see). 
P. Stuartii (Stuart’s). f.-heads white, depressed-hemispherical, 
lin. or more in diameter ; florets many, }in. long ; outer involucral 
leaflets iin. long. l. alternate, sessile, elongated-linear, fiat, 
Zin. to 4in. long, jin. broad; uppermost ones scarious, white. 
Stems fistular, striated, lft. or more long. Australia. See 
Fig. 223. pe 
POLYCAMPIUM. Included under Polypodium 
(which see). 
POLYCARPÆA (from poly, many, and karpos,.a 
fruit; alluding to the numerous seeds). Syns. Hagæa, 
Lahaya, Mollia, Polycarpia. ORD. Caryophyllee. A 
genus comprising about two dozen species of greenhouse 
or hardy, annual or perennial, erect or rarely diffuse 
herbs, natives of tropical and extra-tropical regions, one 
being broadly dispersed over tropical America. Flowers 
often numerous, disposed’ in terminal, paniculate, effuse 
or contracted, sometimes capitate cymes; sepals five, 
white, rose, or purple, scarious; petals five, entire, bi- 
dentate, or rarely laterally denticulate. Leaves narrow- 
linear or rarely ovate, fasciculate, often pseudo-verticil- 
late. The species are of easy culture in light, sandy loam. 
The annuals may be increased by seeds, sown on a hotbed, 
or in the open border, in spring; and the perennials by 
cuttings. The species are not much known to cultivation; 
those mentioned below are hardy. 
P. aristata (awned). fl. white, in corymbose cymes. June and 
July. ¿ usually six in a whorl, linear-lanceolate ; young ones 
silky, mucronated by an awn; old ones nearly glabrous, and 
almost awnless. h. 3in. to 6in. Canary Islands, 1780. Perennial. 
. gnaphalioides (Gnaphalium-like). fi. white, crowded into 
terminal, sub-capitate cymes. June and July. /. oblong, hoary-- 
tomentose. Stems suffruticose, prostrate. North Africa, 1818. 
Perennial. 
P, latifolia (broad-leaved). fl. white; cymes terminal, corym- 
bosely capitate. June to August. Z. obovate, mucronated by an 
awn; e ones usually six in a whorl, those of the branches 
Stems suffruticose, diffuse. h. 3in. Teneriffe, 1810. 
P. Memphitica (Memphitic), f. white; petals quite entire; 
cymes terminal, few-flowered. July. l usually six in a whorl, 
oval-oblong, narrowed into the petiole. Stems diffuse, branched, 
villous, h. 6in. Egypt, 1828. Annual. 
POLYCARPA MAXIMOWICZII. Asynonymof — 
Idesia polycarpa (which see). — 
POLYCARPIA. A 
Polycarpea 
(which see). ee 
synonym of 
POLYCARPIC. Many-fruited; also, but less pro- 
perly, fruiting many times. oe 
POLYCHILOS. Included under Phalenopsis 
(which see). — 
POLYCYCNIS (from polys, many, and kyknos, a 
swan; referring to the lip and column, which, together, 
bear some resemblance to a swan). Orp. Orchidee. 
A genus comprising about five species of stove, epiphytal 
orchids, closely allied to Cyenoches and Mormodes, natives 
of tropical America. Flowers rather large, pedicellate, — 
in loose, floribund, often nodding racemes; sepals free, 
spreading, narrow; petals similar, or narrow and sub- 
stipitate at base; lip affixed to the base of the column, 
sometimes biauriculate ; column very long, slender, curved, 
resembling the neck of a swan. Leaves ample, plicate- 
venose, contracted into petioles. Rhizomes or scapes- 
erect, few-sheathed, simple. For culture, see Catasetum. 
P. barbata This — 
in this wan ay Grea bg pate * — name of plant described 
P. gratiosa (agreeable). fl. brownish- ; raceme deflexed, 
—— — — 1 * č This is a species 
—— wey . 3 yet it appears very distinct by the very — 
t claw of the lip and the pis 
itm “Andean tha T En T A 
