SCIENTIFIC .\yiD POPULAR. 295 



«i. P. media L. Europe, adv. in U. S., Hoary Plantain, LamVs- 

 tongae, Lamb' s-lettuce, Fire-leaves, Fire-weed (England), 

 Healing-herb, etc.; Uer. Mittler Wegerich. Properties and 

 uses of ( b ) . 



e. P. oviita ForsW. (P. decumbens Forsk.). Northern Africa. 



The P. Ispa^hiila Roxb. cult, in India, is believed to be a 

 variety of this species. Seeds (of the variety), Spogel-seed, 

 Ispaghul, Aspaghul seed; mucilaginous, demulcent, 



f. P. Psilliuui L. Mediterranean basin. Fleawort, Flea-seed or 



Branching Plantain. Seeds, Flea-seed; Ger. Flohsamen; Fr. 

 Graines de puces; mucilaginous, demulcent. 



1612. PLATANUS, L. Plane-tree. Platanaceae. 



Ivatin from the ancient Greek name. Large trees with 



palmately lobed leaves and exfoliating bark. About 7 species, 

 north temperate zone; 3 in U. S. 



a. P. occidentalis L. Ontario to Florida, west to Texas and 

 Minnesota. The largest tree of eastern America. Buttonwood 

 tree. Button-ball, Sycamore* False Sycamore, American Plane- 

 tree, Water Beecht. The Californian Plane-tree is (b) P. 

 raceiiiosa Nutt. The Plane-iree of Europe and Asia is (c) P. 

 orientalis L., called also Chinar Tree. 



1613. PLATYSPERMUM, Hook, (not Hoffm. ) (!rucif«>rae. 



From Greek, "flat seed". Low annual herb. One species, 

 Pacific coast of U. S. 



1614. PL AT YSTEMON, Benth. 1834. Cream-cups. Papaveraceae. 



From Greek, "flat stamen". Syn. Boothia. Dougl. 1834. 

 Annual herb. One species, California . 



1615. PLECTRITES, D( . Plectrites. Yaleriaiiaceae. 



Syn. Valerianella, in part. Herbs. About 8 species, west- 

 ern U. S. 



1616. PLEEA, Michx. Pleea. - Liliaceae. 



Herb. A single species, southern U. S. 



1617. PLEUR1C6SP0RA, Gray. Moiu.tropaceae. 



A small scaly herb. One species, California. 



1618. PLEUROGYNIA, Eschol. (Pleurogyne.) Geiitianaceae. 



From Greek, "rib stigma". Syn. Swertia, in part. An- 

 nuals with rather large blue flowers. About 7 species, higher 

 north latitudes, 2 in U. S. 



1619. PLUCHEA, Cass. Marsh Fleabane. Coinpositae. 



Named for the Abb^ N. A. Pluche of Paris, 18th Century. 

 Syn. Baccharis, Erigeron, in part. Herbs, some shrubby, with 

 small flower-heads. About 30 species, widely distributed; 6 in 

 U. S. * -^ ' . 



a. P. eamphorata (L. ) DC. (E. camphoratumL.). Atlantic and 

 Gulf coast of U. S., also in West Indies. Spicy Fleabane, 

 Salt-marsh Fleabane, Plowman's- wort, Camphor plant, (b) 

 P. odorata Cass., West Indies, is called Riverside Tobacco. 



