IN FLORIDA 179 
inches in diameter. P. pacificus has beautiful broad, bright 
green leaves and is a superb plant but being one of the tenderest 
things we cultivate, it is almost impossible to winter it here in the 
open. There are several others in my collection, all of which do 
well. 
Panicum excurrens is a grand, broad-leaved grass whose foliage 
resembles the first leaves of some of the palms. 
Pedilanthus tithymaloides has bright red shoe-shaped flowers 
and will grow without attention in lower Florida. 
Pelargonium. This includes all the so-called Geraniums, few 
of which really do well out of doors in Florida. The scented 
species, however, grow better than those in the zonale section. 
Peperomia. These charming plants do well in pots or damp, 
shaded spots, such as the banks of fern pools. I once grew a fine 
plant ona live oak in the hammock. It is probable that the species 
are epiphytic. 
Phlox. The perennial species succeed in some places in north- 
ern Florida and fail in others. 
Phormium, New Zealand Flax. I have tried several species 
repeatedly in different locations and they have invariably failed. 
Schnabel reports that they are tender at Gainesville. 
Phytelephas, Ivory Nut Palm. Not a true palm but much 
_resembling one. I have had several of these which are at home in 
pots but not in the open. 
Pilea. Pretty little plants with watery stems and neat foliage. 
Good in a damp, shady.place. 
Pleroma. This plant has magnificent purple flowers, is from 
Brazil and is probably tender. It does not do well on the lime- 
stone soil but flourishes with Reasoner at Oneco. 
Ravenala madagascariensis, Traveller’s Tree. A glorious plant 
which forms a stem often twenty feet high, but constantly throws 
up suckers so that, unless they are cut out, it becomes a great 
clump of immense foliage. It is related to the banana and prob- 
ably has the largest entire leaves of any plant grown. Many of 
those here are three feet wide and nine feet long and with the great 
stem reach a height of twenty feet. A time-honored story has 
it that this tree grows in the desert and that the perishing trav- 
eller may pierce the bases of its leaves and obtain water. Ellis 
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