SCIENTIFIC AND POPULAR. 281 



P/an< reputed alterative. The smaller (b) P. repens (L. ) 

 Salisb. (S. repens L., (x. repens K. Br.), Creeping or Lester 

 Rattlesnake Plantain, is called also White Plantain, Smaller 

 Net-leaf Plantain and Squirrel-ear. 



1689. PERAPHYliLLM, Xutt. Peraphyllum. Poniaceae. 

 Shrubs, allied to Amelanchier. One species, central U. S. 



1540. PERfcSsKIA, L., not Veil. 1825. Bleo, etc. Cactaceae. 

 Sjn. Pierescia, Peireskia. Leafy as well as thorny shrubs. 



About 15 species, tropical America. 



a. P. acubdta Mill. West Indies. Barbados or West Indian 

 Gooseberry, Gooseberry shrub. Fruit edible. In New Granada 

 the leaves of the Bleo, (b) P. Bleo DC, are used for salad. 



r 



1541. PEREZIA, Lag. Perezia. Compositae. 



Syn. Duraerelia, Less., not Lag.; Trixis, in part. Herbs or 

 sub-shrubs. About 50 species, warmer regions of America; 5 

 in U. S. 



a. P. adndta Gray (T. Pipitzahoac Schaf!ner.,D. Alamani DC. ). 

 Central Mexico. Rhizome laxative. From this and other spe- 

 cies is obtained pipitzahoic acid, called vegetable gold, which 

 has purgative properties. 



1542. PERICOME, Gray Pericome. Compositae. 



From Greek, "hair all around", referring to the akenes. A 

 strong-scented herb with yellow flowers. Arizona to New 

 Mexico. A second species is found in Mexico. 



1643. PERILLA, L. Perilla. Labiatae. 

 From vernacular, Hindustan. Syn. Ocimum, in part. An- 

 nual herbs with colored leaves. Two species, natives of Asia. 



a. P. frut^scens (L. ) Brit. (O. frutescens L. 1753, P. ocimoides 

 L. 1764). India, cult, in gardens and adv. in U. S. Perilla. 



•^v<gjl A variety with crisped leaves, P. frutescens Nankinensis (Lour. ) 

 Brit., is called Beefsteak plant. «.j_»*« 



1644. PERIPLOCA, L. Climbing Dogsbane. Asclepiadaceae. 



From Greek, "twining". Twining vines. About 12 species, 

 warmer regions of Old World, (a; P. Gra^ca L. Southern 

 Europe. Milk-vine, Silk-vine, Climbing Dog's-bane. Plant 

 used as a wolf poison. 



1646. PERITYLE, Benth. Perityle. Compositae. 



From Greek, "callous all around", of the akenes. Herbs 

 with rather small flower-heads, white or yellow. About 12 spe- 

 cies, Mexican border of U. S. 



1546. PERSEA, Gaertn, Avocado, etc. Lauraeeae. 



Greek name of some fruit-bearing tree. Syn. Laurus, Nota- 

 phoebe, in part. Trees or shrubs. About 50 species, New 

 W^orld; 3 in U. S. 



a. P. Borbonia (L. ) Spreng. (D. Borbonia L., P. Carolinensis 

 Nees (Kew), L. Carolinensis Michx., L. Caroliniana Poir. , N. 

 Borbonia Pax. ). Southeastern U. S. Ked Bay, White Bay, 

 Isabel la- wood, False Mahogany, Tiss-wood. (b) P. pub^s- 

 cens (Pursh) Sarg. of southeastern U. S. is called Swamp Bay. 



