420 HORTUS MORTOLENSIS 
P. Pinaster, P. halepensis, and P. Pinea have been planted 
in the lower western part of the garden, and on the cape, as a 
wind-break. P. halepensis, which now densely covers the 
western slopes of the valley, has grown up after it had been 
protected by strict prohibition of cutting and pasturing, against 
depredation of men and goats. It is a good example of the 
recuperative power of a forest, when not interfered with. (See 
plate III.) 
P. radiata was grown from seeds received from M. Thuret, 
Antibes, in February, 1869. The tallest tree is now 15°80 m. 
high, with a circumference of the stem of 1:90 m. at the base, 
and a crown spreading 9:00 m. 
Prirus. 
Apple and pear trees do not succeed well at La Mortola. The 
soil is apparently too dry for them during summer, and they suffer 
a good deal from insect and fungoid diseases. A few hundred 
metres higher up on our mountains they grow vigorously in 
company with lemon trees. 
P. syriaca was collected for us by Mr. Hartmann, in Syria, 
whence we received it again through Mr. A. Aaronsohn, of Haifa. 
P. trilobata, a very interesting and rather rare tree in gardens, was 
procured from Messrs. Veitch & Sons, in November, 1868. It is 
now 9:20 m. high, 5:50 m. broad, and has a circumference of 
1:10 m. at the base. 
PITHECOCTENIUM. 
P. muricatum was given by Prof. Decaisne, Jardin des Plantes, 
Paris, to Mr. Daniel Hanbury, in April, 1872. Itis a large climber, 
almost deciduous in spring. The large white and yellow flowers 
are succeeded by a most interesting elliptic capsule, the covers of 
which are muricate, with little prickly warts outside (whence the 
name Pithecocteniwm = monkey’s brush). It contains a great 
number of densely packed seeds. 
PITTOSPORUM. 
A genus comprising a large number of pretty evergreen shrubs 
and trees, much planted along the Riviera. Several of them bear 
nice and often very sweet-scented flowers. The commonest 
species is P. wndulatwm. 
P. procerum was received from Villa Thuret, Antibes, in 1904. 
It has large leaves and forms a tree. P. rhombifoliwm, the “ dia- 
mond-leaved ” Pittosporwm, is a small tree with light green foliage - 
and yellow fruits. The seeds were received from Mr. R. T. Baker, 
of Sydney, in January, 1898. P. wmbellatum and P. patulum 
were received from Tresco Abbey, in 1909. 
PLATYCERIUM. — 
P. alcicorne has been grown for many years in the open, and 
also epiphytically on a Ficus tree. For a fine specimen we are 
indebted to the Botanic Garden at Groningen. | 
pI. 
