TO THE FLOWER GAKDEN. 235 



and increases by division. P. laccinifolium and P. Brunonis 

 are beautiful rock plants : they increase by their self-rooting 

 trailing branches. 



POLYPODIUM. Polypody. [Polypodiacese.j Ferns. 

 The hardy Polypodies are good ferns for rockwork, P. vulgare 

 and its varieties, of which P. Camhricum is one of the hand- 

 somest of hardy ferns, being evergreen. There are a great 

 many exotic Polypodies requiring a stove temperature. They 

 are rather coarse, but still noble plants if they have room to 

 develope themselves : they consequently require large pots, 

 and good rough turfy peat soil, well drained, should be used 

 for them. P. alpestre, hardy. P. drepanum, greenhouse. 

 P. dryopteris, hardy. P. hexagonopterum, hardy. P. 

 jjhetjopteiis, hardy. P. Robertianum, hardy. P. rugulosum, 

 greenhouse. P. vulgare, hardy. P. vulgare Catnbricum, 

 hardy. 



POLYSTICHUM. [Polypodiace®.] Evergreen ferns, 

 including some common native, though very beautiful species. 

 The most graceful of these is the P. angidare, a species of 

 which there are a variety of forms, but all remarkable for 

 their compound structure and gracefully drooping habit. The 

 hardy kinds are beautiful subjects for rockwork, on account of 

 their elegant habit and evergreen character : they grow in 

 cool shady places in turfy soil. The tender species require 

 a greenhouse or stove, and the ordinary treatment of indoor 

 ferns. The following are cultivated : — P. aculeatum, hardy ; 

 P. angulare, hardy ; P. Uapense, greenhouse ; P. falcinellum, 

 greenhouse ; P. lonchitis, hardy ; P. pungens, greenhouse ; 

 P. vestitum, greenhouse. 



POMEGRANATE. See Punica. 



PONTEDERA. [Poutederaceae.] Aquatics. Rich strong 

 loam. Division. The flowers are blue and pretty. P. 

 angustifolia, P. ccsrulea, P. cordata, and P. lanceolata ai'e 

 all natives of North America. 



POPPY. See Papaver. 



PORPHYROCOMA. [Acanthaceae.] Stove evergreen 

 soft-wooded shrubs, easily multiplied by cuttings placed in a 

 hotbed. Compost, loam and leaf-mould in equal proportions. 

 P. lanceolata, flowers violet. 



PORTULACA. Purslane. [PortulaceEe.] A genus 



