GARDEN FLOWERS. 299 



Many of the above are not hardy, and there are some 

 thirty other still more tender species. 



Platanthera. [Orchidaceas.] A family of orchids, 

 mostly hardy, formerly known as Orchis. Soil, peat, gener- 

 ally moist. All these plants are of difficult culture. The 

 species are P. obtusafa, rotundifolia^ orbiciilata, Hookerii^ h'ac- 

 tjafa, hyperborea, dilatata^flava^ cristata, diiaris, bkp/iariglottis, 

 leucophcea^ lacera, psycodes, Ji?nbriata, and peramcena ; all na- 

 tives of North America. The flowers are very handsome. 



Platanus. Plane-tree. [Platanaceae.] Hardy deciduous 

 ornamental trees. Soil, deep loam. Propagated by seeds, 

 cuttings, and layers. 



P. occidentalis (WQ.s>\.^rvL) ; 70 feet; North America ; 1636. P. 

 aurea variegata (golden- variegated-leaved) ; 70 feet ; 1 846. P. 

 mUgnybh'a {entire-\ea.ved) ; 70 feet; 1845. P. /ieterop/iy//a{v3.- 

 rious-leaved) ; America ; 1842. P. orientalis (Eastern) ; 50 

 feet; Levant; 1548. /•. ^r^r/)^/m (maple-leaved) ; 70 feet ; Le- 

 vant. P.C2i?ieata (wedge-leaved); 20 feet; Levant; 1739. P- 

 Hispanica (Spanish) ; 70 feet ; Spain. P. laciriiata (cut-leaved); 

 70 feet ; 1845. P- inonstrosa (monstrous) ; 70 feet ; 1845. 



The European species are somewhat tender. 



Platycodon. [Campanulaceae.] Hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennials. Propagated by seeds and division in the spring, 

 and by cuttings in the summer. Soil, sandy loam. 



P. gra7idiflornin (large-flowered) ; hardy perennial ; i foot ; 

 flowers blue, in June ; Dahuria ; 1782. Variety ^Z*^^, from China, 

 has white flowers ; variety alba plena has semi-double flowers. 



These plants are half-hardy in the Northern States. 



Platystemox. [Papaveraceae.] Pretty annuals, of pros- 

 trate habit. They like a cool situation, and a peaty soil, 

 but will grow in any rich light earth. Sow about the middle 

 of May. 



P. Calif ornicum (Californian) ; hardy annual ; i foot ; flowers 

 sulphur-yellow, in June; California; 1823. 



