PLUMBAGO. THE ENGLISH FLOWER GARDEN. PODOPHYLLUM. 637 



PLUMBAGO (Leadwort), syn. Cera- 

 tostigina plumb aginoides. An inter- 

 esting family of graceful perennials 

 and half-shrubby plants, the hardiest 

 being P. Larpentts, the blue-flowered 

 Leadwort, from China. P. capensis, 

 usually grown under glass, may be 

 planted out in summer, bearing its 

 lovely pale blue flowers continuously. 

 The plants should be specially prepared 

 for out of doors, young ones being 

 best for edgings, though taller ones 

 may be used in certain positions. P. 

 capensis is used with good effect in 

 German gardens. P. Larpentce is 

 perfectly hardy, its wiry stems forming 

 neat and full tufts, varying from 6 to 



Platystenwn californicus. 



10 inches high, according to soil and 

 position. In September these are 

 nearly covered with flowers, arranged 

 in close trusses at the ends of the 

 shoots, and of a fine cobalt - blue, 

 changing to violet ; they usually last 

 till the frosts. A warm sandy loam 

 or other light soil and a sunny warm 

 position should be given. Increased 

 by division of the roots during winter 

 or early spring. 



POA. Perennial and annual grasses, 

 few worth cultivating. P. fertilis 

 has dense tufts of long, soft, smooth, 

 slender leaves, 10 to 18 inches high, 

 and arched gracefully on every side. 

 In the flowering season they bear 

 airy, purplish or violet-tinged panicles, 

 rising to twice the height of the tufts. 



Isolated on lawns the plant is effective, 

 and if in good soil gives no trouble. 

 P. aquatica is a stout native grass, 

 4 to 6 feet high, usually occurring in 

 wet ditches, by rivers, and in marshes. 

 It is one of the boldest and handsomest 

 of hardy grasses for the margins of 

 artificial water or streams, associated 

 with such things as the Typhas, 

 Acorus, Bulrush, and Water Dock. It 

 increases rapidly. 



PODO CARPUS. Evergreen trees of 

 the Yew tribe, tender in Britain save 

 in the mildest parts. P. chilina is a 

 handsome tree which has reached a 

 fair size in a few sheltered gardens, 

 and P. japonica and P. macrophylla 

 from Japan, and P. Totara from New 

 Zealand, may prove more or less hardy 

 along the South Coast when older and 

 well established. P. alpina, from the 

 mountains of Tasmania, is probably 

 the hardiest of the group, but is only 

 a Yew - like shrub of semi - prostrate 

 habit, more interesting than beautiful. 



PODOPHYLLUM (May Apple}. 

 Distinct perennial herbs, three of which 

 are from Asia and one from N. 

 America. The best known is P. 

 Emodi, from the Himalayas, a plant 

 6 to 12 inches high, with large leaves 

 cut into wedge-shaped lobes, their 

 whole surface a fine bronzy red in 

 early spring. The flowers are large, 

 white or pale rose, and followed in 

 August by fruits of a brilliant red as 

 large as a hen's egg, and edible, though 

 of mawkish flavour. The plant suc- 

 ceeds in the moist peaty soil of wood- 

 lands, especially in wet places and in 

 partial shade, and where the leaves are 

 sheltered from cold winds. Increase 

 by division of the creeping root-stock, 

 or seed sown in cold frames as soon as 

 ripe. This is a handsome plant for 

 shady plots of deep moist soil in the 

 wild garden or the margins of peat 

 borders, but it dies away quite early 

 in summer, so must be grouped with 

 other things for autumn effect. P. 

 peltatum is from rich woods of the 

 eastern United States, with poisonous 

 roots and leaves, though the fruits are 

 harmless. It is not so handsome as 

 Emodi, but will grow in drier places, 

 and its glossy, wrinkled leaves, borne 

 umbrella-like on a long bare stem, are 

 distinct and interesting. The waxy- 

 white cup-like flowers come in May, 

 and give place to yellowish - green 

 fruits like a wild Apple whence the 

 name May Apple. P. pleianthum is 

 from China, its spreading leaves rising 



