P F. R 



PET 



and two broad in the middle, of a lucid green 

 on their upper side, but pale on their under, 

 opposite, on short footstalks : the flowers come 

 out towards the ends of the small branches in 

 bunches, and are of a purple colour. It is a 

 native of Syria, flowering in July and August, 

 but rarely ripening seeds in this climate. 



ft is sometimescalled Climiing Dog's-Bane. 

 The second species has a twining.shi ubby,evcn 

 stem: the leaves are opposite, petioled, even, un- 

 derneath paler, veined transversely : the panicles 

 axillarv, alternate, dichotomous, shorter than the 

 leaves: the flowers are small. It differs obviously 

 from the first sort in its small copious flowers. It 

 is said to be a native of Egypt ; but its place of 

 growth is uncertain ; flowering in July. 



The third has many slender stalks, which 

 twine about each other, and by a shrub or other 

 support will rise near three feet high, putting out 

 several small side-branches; these are hairy, as 

 are also the leaves; which are about thrcequarters 

 of an inch long, and half an inch broad, stand- 

 ing by pairs upon very short footstalks : the 

 flowers come out in small bunches from the side 

 of the stalks; are small, of a dull purple colour, 

 and have a sweet scent. It flowers in the sum- 

 mer, but does not produce seeds in this climate. 

 It is a native of the Cape. 



There is a variety with smooth leaves and 

 stalks, which comes from the same place. 



Culture. — These plants maybe easily increased 

 by layers made from the young wood in the early 

 spring or summer season. When they are fully 

 rooted, they may be taken off and planted out, 

 the first or hardy kind, either where they are 

 to remain, or in the nursery, to be afterwards 

 removed; and the two last, or tender sorts, into 

 pots, to be protected during the winter. 



The first sort likewise often succeeds by 

 cuttings, and also the two last by the use of 

 the hot-bed. 



They may all be increased also by sowing the 

 seeds procured from abroad in pots of light earth, 

 plunging them in the hot-bed. 



They should all beplaced near support, to pre- 

 vent their trailing upon the ground and fasten- 

 ing about other plants. 



Where the two last sorts are kept constantly 

 plunged in the tan-bed of the stove, they thrive 

 and flower much better than in any other situa- 

 tion, but they should not be kept too warm in win- 

 ter; and in the summer they should have a large 

 share of free air admitted to them ; for when 

 thevarekept too close their leaves will be coveied 

 with insects, and the plants become sickly in a 

 short time. 



The first sorts onlv require a little protection 

 Vol. II. 



in the winter. They all afford variety among 

 potted plants. 



PERIWINCLE. SeeViNCA. 



PEROLA. See Momordica. 



PERSE A. See Lauhus. 



PERSIAN LILY. See Fkitillaria. 



PERSICA, See Amygdalus. 



PERSICARIA. See Polygonum. 



PERUVIAN MASTICK TREE. See Scm- 



NUS. 



PETIYERIA, a genus containing plants of 

 the woody exotic perennial evergreen kind for 

 the stove. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexandria 

 Tclragijma (Heptamhia hfonovyniu), and ranks 

 in the natural order of Holoracece. 



The characters are: that the calvx is a four- 

 leaved perianthium: leaflets linear, blunt, equal, 

 spreading, permanent : there is no corolla (ex- 

 cept the coloured calyx): thestamina have six or 

 eight unequal, awl-shaped, convergingfilaments: 

 anthers erect, linear-sagittate, bifid at top : the 

 pistiilum is an ovate germ, compressed, emar- 

 ginate : style very short, lateral, in the groove of 

 the germ : styles four, permanent, finally bent 

 outwards, spinescent: stigma pencil - shaped : 

 there is no pericarpium, except the crust over 

 the seed : the seed single, oblong, narrower be- 

 low, roundish, compressed, emarginate; with 

 four barbed hooks, bent back outwards, rigid, 

 acute, the middle ones longer (naked, but arm- 

 ed above with reflex spines}. 



The species are: 1. P. alliacea, Common 

 Guinea-Hen Weed ; 2. P. cctaridra, Dwarf 

 Guinea-Hen Weed. 



The first has a strong root, striking deep into 

 the ground : the stems from two to three feet, 

 high, jointed, and becoming woody at bottom : 

 the leaves oblong, three inches long and an 

 inch and half broad, of a deep green and 

 veined, placed alternately on short footstalks : 

 the flowers are produced in slender spikes at the 

 ends of the branches; are very small, and make 

 no figure. It is common in the West Indies, 

 flowering here in June. 



It thrives most in a dry gravelly soil and a 

 shady situation. 



The second species differs from the first, in 

 having a shorter and narrower stalk ; and in the 

 flowers having eight stamens ; and, according to 

 Linnaeus, the leaves are more rigid and quite 

 smooth, the filaments purple and not white. It 

 is a native of the West Indies. 



Culture. — These plants may be increased by 

 slips or cuttings planted out in the summer, as 

 well as By seeds ; which must be sown on a hot- 

 bed early in the spring. When the plants are 

 2D 



