318 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



PHA 



part of the hot-house, with an abundant sup- 

 ply of moisture, especially in the form of 

 vapor, while in an active state ; but at other 

 times the quantity of each should be mod- 

 erately i-educed. In summer, when the plant 

 is growing, the thermometer should range 

 between 70° and 90*^, when it will grow rap- 

 idly, and consequently flower in perfection. 

 It may be regarded as a very liberal bloomer. 

 The genus consists of over twenty species, a 

 number of which are of recent introduction. 

 They are all natives of the islands of the 

 Indian Archipelago, and the eastern provinces 

 of India, and were first introduced in 1836. P. 

 amabilis, P. Esmeralda, P. Luddemannia, P. 

 Schilleriana, and P. Stuartiana, are well known 

 and superior species. See Orchids. 



Phala'ngium. A synonym of Anthericum, St. 

 Bruno's Lily. 



Pha'laris. Canary Grass. From phalaros, 

 shining; referring to the shining seeds. Nat. 

 Ord. Graminacem. 



A small genus of Grasses, mostly natives of 

 Central Asia. P. Canarien^is produces the 

 Canary seed of commerce. Gardener's Garters 

 is a beautiful, variegated variety of P. arund- 

 inacea very common in English gardens, and 

 has been long introduced here. It is an 

 excellent plant for shrubberies and is propa- 

 gated by division. 



Phale'ria. From phalaros, shining white ; 

 alluding to the color of the flowers. Nat. 

 Ord. TfiymeleacecB. 



A genus of green-house trees or shrubs, 

 natives of Australia, the Malayan Archipelago 

 and Ceylon. P. laurifolia, the only species 

 in cultivation, has beautiful white flowers, 

 remarkable for their delicious Daphne-like 

 fragrance. It was introduced from Ceylon in 

 1869, and is propagated by seeds or cuttings. 



Phaloca'llis. From phalos, a cone, and kallos, 

 beautiful; beautifully cone-crested. Nat. Ord. 

 JridacecB. 



P. plumbea. the only known species, is a 

 half-hardy Mexican bulb, producing singular 

 lead colored flowers, tinged with yellow in the 

 centre, about three inches across, lasting only 

 a few hours. They expand before sunrise and 

 close before noon. This was formerly in- 

 cluded in the genus Cypella, but was separated 

 by Dean Herbert. It requires the same treat- 

 ment and care as the Tigridia, and Is in- 

 creased by offsets. Introduced in 1837. 



Phanerogamous. The same as Phsenogamous, 

 which see. 



Pharbi'tis. One of the divisions of the genus 

 IpomcBa. 



Pha'rus. From pharos, a covering ; the leaves 

 are used for thatching and other purposes. 

 Nat. Ord. Graminacem. 



A genus of ornamental grasses natives of 

 tropical America, from Brazil to Mexico, and 

 Florida. P. Za<t/bhtts, introduced from Jamaica 

 in 1796, is a showy species requiring the same 

 treatment as tlie stove species of Bamhusa. 

 A finely variegated form, P. I. vittatus, the 

 foliage banded with white and flushed with 

 rose, is in cultivation. 



Pha'seolus. Kidney Bean. From phaselus, a 

 little boat ; fancied resemblance of the pods. 

 Nat. Ord. Leguminosoe. 



This genus contains a few ornamental 

 plants, the remainder being agricultural or 



PHI 



culinary vegetables. Of the former, P. Cara- 

 calla is the most remarkable, on account of its 

 singularly twisted vexillum and keel, the 

 appearance of which has induced the popular 

 name. Snail Flower. It is a climber and may 

 be grown out of doors in summer and in the 

 green-house in winter. It is propagated by 

 cuttings and from seed. The seed should be 

 sown in spring in the green-house, with a 

 slight bottom heat, and afterwards the plants 

 may be placed in the borders of the house 

 where they are to bloom, or they may be 

 grown in pots. Its flowers are bluish lilac, 

 and are valued by florists for their delicious 

 fragrance and for their resemblance to Orchids. 

 There are several other ornamental green- 

 house kinds requiring the same treatment. 

 P. lunatus is the origin of the well known Lima 

 and Sieva pole Beans. A new dwarf variety 

 of the latter, "Henderson's Bush Lima," has 

 been lately introduced (1889), and will prove 

 most acceptable to many. It grows about 

 eighteen inches in height (thus doing away 

 with the unsightly bean poles in the garden) 

 and produces enormous crops that can be gath- 

 ered as easily as the common garden Bush 

 Beans. It is at least two weeks earlier than any 

 of the climbing sorts ; the beans are of the size 

 of the Sieva or Small Lima, and of that deli- 

 cious quality that has made the Southern 

 Limas so famous. Like all Limas it is very 

 tender and should not be planted until end 

 of May in the latitude of New York. South 

 of Richmond, however, two crops a year 

 may be readily obtained, the first crop 

 ripening in time to allow of a second planting 

 for the fall months. 



P. multiflorus, the common Scarlet Runner of 

 our gardens, is a native of Mexico and South 

 America. There is a variety with white flow- 

 ers. They are very sho^^'y when in flower, 

 independent of their value as " String Beans." 

 P. vulgaris, is our common Kidney or String- 

 Bean, the origin of which is very uncertain. 



Pheasant's Eye. A common name for Adonis 

 cBstivalis, A. autumnalis; also tor Dianthus plvm,- 

 arius. 



Pheba'lium. From Phibah, a myrtle ; alluding 

 to the appearance of the species. Nat. Ord. 

 RutacecB. 



A genus of nearly thirty species of green- 

 house shrubs, natives of Australia and New 

 Zealand. P. Billardieri, P. squamulosum, and 

 one or two other species are in cultivation and 

 are showy ornamental plants, growing freely 

 in a compost of sandy peat and loam, and are 

 increased by cuttings of the j-oung wood. 



Phego'pteris. A genus of Ferns, now included 

 under Polypodium. 



Phe'llodendron. P. amurense, is a small hardy 

 tree from northeastern Asia, commonly called 

 Chinese Cork Tree. It is a medium sized tree, 

 pyramidal in form, and in general appearance 

 not unlike the Ailantus. Its foliage is bright 

 red in autumn, and remains very late on the 

 tree. 



Philabe'rtia. Named in honor of J. C. Philibert, 

 author of some works on elementary botany. 

 Nat. Ord. Asclepiadacece. 



A genus of interesting climbing shrubby 

 plants, natives of tropical and sub-tropical 

 America. P. grandiflora, introduced from 

 Buenos Ayres in 1836, has yellow and white 



