312 



HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



PEL 



P. Aselliformis, the only described species, 

 has white and rose colored flowers, borne 

 near the summit of the stem. It is very 

 nearly allied to the Mammillarias, but in place 

 of the spines of that genus it bears two rows 

 of flat horny scales, which overlap like the 

 tiles on a roof. It was introduced from Mex- 

 ico in 1843. 

 Pele'xia. From pelex, a helmet, referring to the 

 shape of the back sepals. Nat. Ord. Orchid- 



C£e(B. 



A small genus of terrestrial orchids, natives 

 of tropical America. The spedies are not very 

 ornamental, and are seldom seen in cultiva- 

 tion. 



Pelican-Flo'wrer. A common name for Aristo- 

 lochia grandijlora. 



Pe'llaea. An extensive genus of Ferns, both 

 native and exotic, many of them very hand- 

 some. P. gracilis, and P. atropurpurea, are 

 our best known native species. According to 

 later authorities many of the species formerly 

 placed under Platyloma, Allosorus, Pteria, etc. , 

 are now classed with this genus. As consti- 

 tuted at present it contains upwards of sixty 

 species. 



Pellicle. A thin skin that envelopes certain 

 seeds. 



PeUio'nia. Named after A. A. Pellion, an officer 

 in Freycinet's voyage round the world. Nat. 

 Ord. UrlicaceoB. 



A genus of stove-house plants, often creep- 

 ing at the base ; natives of tropical and eastern 

 Asia, as far as Japan and the Pacific Islands. 

 P. Daveauana is by its pendant habit admir- 

 ably adapted for basket-work for the green- 

 house. The leaves much resemble Trades- 

 cantia zebrina in shape, but are much more 

 handsome. The centre of the leaves is light 

 green, with abroad band around the margin of 

 dark brown or chocolate. At first sight it 

 would easily be mistaken for one of the fine- 

 foliaged Begonias but it is quite distinct from 

 that genus. Introduced from Cochin China in 

 1880. 



PeUitory of Spain. See Anthemis. 



Pellitory of the "WalL Parietaria officinalis. 



Pelo'ria. An irregular flower, become irregular 

 by a monstrous development of complemen- 

 tary irregularities (Prof. Asa Gray). 



Pelta'ndra. From pelte, a buckler, and aner, a 

 man. Nat. Ord. AroidecB. 



P. Virginica, formerly called Arum Virgini- 

 cum, is a common aquatic plant, in shallow 

 waters, from New York southward. The 

 root-stock contains a considerable amount 

 of starch. 



Peltate. Target-shaped, shield-like ; attached 

 by the middle, as the leaf of Tropomlum. 



Peltatifid. When a peltate leaf is sub-divided. 



Pelviform. Shallowly cup-shaped ; basin-like. 



Penang La^vyers. See Licuala. 



Pencil Flower. The genus Stylosanthes. 



Pendulous. Drooping ; hanging down. 



Penicilla'ria. 'From penicillvs, a pencil ; in allu- 

 sion to the spikes. Nat. Ord. Graminacece. 



A genus of grasses now included under 

 Pennisetum. 



Penicillate, PenicUliform. Resembling a I 

 camel's-hair pencil ; consisting of, or covered I 



PEN 



with hairs, which are nearly parallel with each 

 other. Sometimes marked with color, as if 

 laid on in streaks with a camel's-hair pencil. 

 Penniform. Having the ribs of a leaf arranged 

 in a pinnated leaf, but confluent at the point 

 as in the Date Palm. 



Penninerved, Penniveined. Having main veins 

 or ribs, running straight from the margins, at 

 equal distances. 



Pennise'tum. From penna, a feather, and aeta, 

 a bristle ; referring to the long feathered 

 bristles of the flower spikes. Nat. Ord. 

 GraminacecB. 



A small genus of grasses of no agricultural 

 value, but affording one or two species that 

 are highly prized in the ornamental garden, 

 and for their uses as dried grasses in the 

 various forms in which they are employed. 

 One of the most beautiful species is Pennisetum 

 longyslylum, and for a low growing grass there 

 is none more to be desired. The heads are 

 cylindrical in form and their weight bends 

 down their slender culms into every variety of 

 the line of beauty ; the glumes and paleee are 

 of delicate whiteness, and the styles so long 

 and feathery that they resemble tassels of 

 white chenille. It grows from two to three 

 feet high and forms a very handsome clump. 

 P. latifolium (syn. Gymnothrix latifolium), 

 introduced from Montevideo in 1869, is also 

 a very ornamental perennial species, with 

 beautiful nodding spikes. It, as well as P. 

 longystylum, should be taken up at the approach 

 of winter and i)laced under cover. 



Pennyroyal. The common name of Mentha 

 Pulegium. 



Pennyroyal. American. The popular name of 

 Htdeoma pulegeoides. 



Pennyroyal. Bastard. Trichostema dichoto- 

 mum. 



Pennyroyal. 

 Pennyroyal. 



False. 

 Tree. 



Isanthus caruleua. 

 Satureja vitninea. 



Pennywort. Sibthorpea Europmn: also Coty- 

 ledon Umbilicus, and Linaria Cymbalaria. 



Pennywort. Marsh. Hydrocotyle vulgaris. 



Pennyvrort. Water. Hydrocotyle Americana. 



Pentade'sma. From pente, five, and desma, a 

 bundle ; the stamens are disposed in bundles 

 of five. Nat. Ord. GuttiferoB. 



P. bulryacea, the Butter and Tallow Tree 

 of Sierra Leone, is a large tree, yielding in 

 several parts, especially in the fruit, when cut, 

 a yellow greasy juice, wiience is derived its 

 popular name. The leaves are large, leathery, 

 beautifully marked with numerous parallel 

 veins ; the flowers large and handsome, soli- 

 tarj' and terminal. The fruits are said to be 

 edible. It was introduced in 1822 and may be 

 propagated by cuttings of the ripened wood. 



Pentape'ra. From penfe, five, and pera, a bag; 

 referring to the five-celled ovary. P. sicula, 

 the only described species, is a low, much- 

 branched, Heath-like shrub, a native of 

 Sicily, Cyprus, and Barca, distinguished 

 from the true Heaths by its pentamerous 

 flowers (which Sir Joseph Hooker points out 

 is* not a constant characterj, by its large 

 sepals and pubescent ovary. The flowers are 

 larger than those of the other European 

 Heaths, and are pure white. 



