330 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



PLA 



lines within.' It requires cool green-house 

 treatment. While flowering, and until it 

 shows symptoms of rest, it needs a warm and 

 humid atmosphere, after which it can be put 

 under a bench until January, when it should 

 be re-potted and moderately watered, and it 

 will flower in May. It was introduced in 

 1840, and is propagated by offsets. 



Placenta. The place or part on which ovules 

 originate. 



Placentiform. Quoit-shaped, or like a flat cake 

 in form. 



Plagia'ntbus. From plagiofi, oblique, and 

 anthos, a flower ; referring to the usually 

 unequal-sided petals. Nat. Ord. MalvacetB. 



A small genus of green-house or halfluirdy 

 shrubs, natives of southern Australia and 

 New Zealand. P. Lyallii, is the most orna- 

 mental species, and forms a handsome green- 

 house plant, with drooping, axillary', white 

 flowers. It was introduced from New Zealand 

 in 1871, and is easily increased by cuttings. 



Plagioli'rion. From plagios, oblique, and 

 lierion, a lily ; in allusion to the shape of the 

 perianth. Nat. Ord. AmaryllidacecB. 



P Horsmanni, the only described species is 

 a very pretty stove-house bulb, introduced 

 from Columbia in 1883. Its pure white flow- 

 ers are disposed in a ten to twelve flowered 

 umbel, which though smaller than those of 

 the Eucharis, to which it is closely allied, are 

 quite showy and ornamental. 



Plagiolo'bium. From plagios, transverse, and 

 lobos, a pod ; alluding to the shape of the pod. 

 Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 



A genus of very beautiful green-house 

 plants, now placed under Hovea, by many 

 botanists. 



Plaited. Folded lengthwise, like the plaits of 

 a closed fan. 



Plane. Flat, level. 



Plane'ra. Named in honor of I. J. Planer, a 

 German botanist who published a "Flora of 

 Erfurt " in 1788. Nat. Ord. Urticacece. 



A small genus of trees, natives of Asia and 

 North America, closely allied to the Elms. P. 

 Richardi, the Zelkona tree, the wood of which 

 is exceedingly hard, and takes a fine polish, 

 forms a large and very ornamental tree in its 

 native country, and has smooth bark, and a 

 much branched crown, like an erect growing 

 Beech. P. aquatica, the Planer Tree (syn. P. 

 Gmelina), our only native species is found in 

 the Southern States, and is a small tree, to 

 which no particular value is attached. Either 

 of the species can be grafted on the Elm. 



Planer Tree. See Planera aquatica. 



Plane Tree. See Platanvs. 



Plane Tree, Scotch. A common name in Scot- 

 lana for Acer Pseudo-platanus. 



Plantagina'ceae. A natural order of annual or 

 perennial herbs, natives of the temperate 

 regions of both hemispheres, especially in 

 Europe and North America. Several of the 

 species are employed in medicine. The order 

 comprises only three genera, Bougueria, Ldt- 

 torella, and Plantago, and about two hundred 

 species. 



Planta'go. Plantain. The old name of the 

 genus, used by Pliny. Nat. Ord. Plantagin- 

 acecB. 



PLA 



P. laneeolata (Rib-grass), is sometimes sown 

 with grasses as a condiment for sheep pasture 

 or for a rabbit warren. P. major, the common 

 Plantain of the door-yard, and grass-plots, is 

 found near the abode of civilized man in all 

 parts of the world. 



Plantain Tree. See Musa. 



Plantain. See Plantago. 



Plantain Lily. A popular name for the genus 

 Funkia. 



Plantain. Water. The common name of Alisma 

 Plantago, once regarded as a specific against 

 Hydrophobia. 



Pla'ntia. Named by Dr. Herbert in honor of 

 Mr. Plant, a zealous and industrious experi- 

 mental cultivator and nurseryman at Cheadle, 

 England, who raised some interesting hybrids 

 among this race of plants. Nat. Ord. Iridacem. 

 P. flava, the only species, is a beautiful 

 yellow-fiowering bulb from the Cape of Good 

 Hope. It is a delicate growing plant, bearing 

 numerous pretty little flowers on a slender 

 scape about one foot high. It is propagated 

 by offsets and requires the same treatment as 

 the tender species of Irus. Introduced in 1842. 

 This genus is now included with Hexaglottis 

 by some botanists." 



Plant Lice. See Insects. 



Planting. This is an operation performed by 

 the fingers, dibber, trowel, or by the spade. 

 The condition of soil for planting should be 

 similar to that for Sowing (which see). And 

 here, too, as in sowing, the same necessity for 

 moderately firming the soil to the roots is as 

 important as in firming the soil over seeds, 

 and, as advised in seed sowing, no better 

 method can be used in firming the soil after 

 planting than by the feet. In the driest 

 weather in July hundreds of acres of Celery, 

 Cabbage, etc., are planted by our market 

 gardeners on newly plowed ground, without 

 using a particle of water, by the system of 

 firming the plants with the foot after planting. 

 The planter sets the plant with the dibber, 

 and on finishing the row, returns on it, press- 

 ing the soil to each plant firmly with the side 

 of his foot. This prevents the dry air pene- 

 trating the loose soil, and plants so set will 

 strike out new roots in thirty or forty hours, 

 after which they are safe. The same rule 

 should be adopted in setting out all plants, 

 shrubs, trees, or anything else, particularly if 

 the weather is hot and diy. Countless 

 millions of plants are lost every season by 

 want of the simple operation of firming the 

 roots after planting. In setting out plants 

 that have been growing in pots, there is 

 perhaps not so much necessity, as the roots 

 are not mutilated, and hence make a quicker 

 start; still circumstances must be the 

 guide in the operation ; and if the soil is very 

 dry and the weather warm, a moderate 

 amount oi pressure around the ball of earth 

 will be necessary. Sometimes in setting out 

 plants from pots, the ball is so hard as to pre- 

 A-ent the inner roots getting easily to the 

 surface ; in such cases the ball should be 

 crushed or beaten so as to render it partially 

 loose, which greatly conduces to the growth of 

 the plant. 



Planfjig. EvTii OF Deep. More than half the 

 losses in tree planting and fruit trees especially 

 ai'ise from their being planted too deep. No 



