PHLOX. 



Phlox Greek <px.5 the PAZoz of Theophrastus. The 

 name is synonymous with flame; alluding, as is supposed, to 

 the bright colour, or fiery hue of some of the species. 



The genus was termed Lychnidea, by Plukenet and Dil- 

 lenius, because of its resemblance to Lychnis. But a name 

 so constructed, being against all rule, Linnaeus evidently took 

 up the idea of Luchnis (Lychnis) as alluding either to the 

 shape or to the wick of a lamp, (see Lychnis) and adopted 

 Phlox, as a word nearly expressive of the same thing. 



Fourteen species of this handsome tribe have been enu- 

 merated. All, except Ph. Sibirica, are natives of N. Ame- 

 rica; and, as far as we know, of no other country. 



Rees' Cyclopedia. 



The flowers are showy, of various hues of purple, or 

 pink; and, in one instance, of a brilliant white, as in the PA. 

 Suaveolens, fragrant white Phlox. 



Ph. Paniculata, Great Common Phlox, or Panicled 

 Lychnidea, has blossoms of a fine lilac hue; scentless. 



Ph. Pyramidalis, Pyramidal Phlox, has flowers in a 

 dense pyramidal cluster, of a rich purple; honey-scented; 

 stem purple-spotted : a very ornamental species. 



Ph. jyiaculata, Spotted-stalked Lychnidea, or Wild 

 Sweet William, is a more slender and narrow-leafed species, 

 frequent in our gardens; distinguished from the last named, 

 by the recurved teeth of its calyx. 



The flowers of this genus have a corolla salver-shaped, 

 monopetalous; calyx of one leaf, tubular, with five angles, 

 and five deep acute teeth, permanent; perennial, herbaceous, 

 entire leafed. 



PINE. 

 Finns. 



Linnseus places Pinus amongst ancient Latin names, of 

 unknown origin. Rees* Cyclopedia. 



Pinus, Latin, from the Greek riim?, which, according to 

 Schrevelius, comes from the Greek adjective riioi/, signifying 

 fat, because the tree abounds in rezin resin. 



Pine, Fr. pin; Sp. It. pino; L,.pinus; Sax. pinntreow, 

 pin-tree; Dutch, pyn-boom; Welsh, pin-bren, pin-tree, and 

 pin-gwyz, pin-wood. These words all indicate that this 

 name is from the leaves of the pine, which resemble pins. 



Webster. 



According to Heathen mythology, the pine was sacred 

 to Rhea, mother of Jupiter. (Rhea, one of the names under 

 which the earth was worshipped.) 



" To Rhea, grateful still the pine remains." 



Congreve's Ovid. 



Lempriere tells us, that Jltys, a celebrated shepherd of 

 Phrygia, much esteemed by Cybcle, (Cybele, same as Rhea, 

 Vesta, Ceres, etc.) because he had introduced her worship 

 and festivals into Asia Minor, was, after his death, changed 

 into a Pi?ie tree, by Cybele, and, ever after, that tree was 

 sacred to the mother of the gods. 



Pan, one of the rural deities, was crowned with Pine.. 

 He was in love with the nymph Syrinx, who was transformed 

 into a bundle of reeds, from which Pan afterwards formed the 

 musical instrument called Syrinx, or Pan's pipes. 



" A crown of Pine upon his head he wore ; 



And thus began her pity to implore." 



Dry den's Ovid. 



Black Spruce Pine, P. JV7gra, to be found from Cana- 

 da to Carolina. The black, or double spruce, Jlbies Jfigra, 

 of Michaux the young branches of which are used in 

 making the well known spruce beer. The leaves are of a 

 dark, gloomy green; cones ovate, hardly above an inch long, 

 crowded about the sides of the last year's shoots, which have 

 protruded beyond them, and before they become dry, are of 

 a rich purple. 



Pinus rigida, is known all over the United States, by 

 the name of pitch pine sometimes in Virginia called black 

 pine. The spines of the cones being reflexed, not inflexed, 

 will, at any time, distinguish them. 



Pinus Jlbies, Norway Spruce Fir, much cultivated as 

 an ornament in gardens, etc. The long, sweeping, fan-like 

 branches, often borne down by loads of snow, have a beauti- 

 ful appearance. The leaves are copiously scattered all 

 around the branches, ascending, somewhat imbricated, each 

 scarcely an inch long, on a short stalk. Cones pendulous, 

 solitary at the end of each branch, a span long, nearly cylin- 

 drical, light brown, smooth, of numerous, flattish, rigid, rhom- 

 boid scales, waved at the edge, and notched at the point. 

 The Burgundy pitch is prepared from this species. 



PINK. 



Dianthus. 



Dianthus L. from the Greek j (S J.o;, Jove, and an&o?, a 

 flower. A name given by Linnzeus to the pink and carna- 

 tion genus, and which signifies Jove's flower. 



" Pink, English; Pince, French, from pink, Dutch, an 

 eye: whence the French word cellet, i.e. eyelet; Caryophil- 

 lum, Latin." Johnson. 



The primitive pink is simple, red, or white, and scented; 

 by culture the petals have been enlarged and multiplied, and 

 its colour infinitely varied. 



With hues on hues expression cannot paint, 

 The breath of Nature and her endless bloom. 



Thomson. 



Each Pink sends forth its choicest sweet 



Aurora's warm embrace to meet. M. Robinson. 



Florists designate two principal subdivisions, Carna- 

 tions and Pinks. The latter are distinguished by an eye- 

 like spot, and a more humble growth, and by some asserted to 

 be a distinct species. 



Carnation. 



Spencer writes it Coronation, probably because they 

 were used on such festive occasions; and from hence, proba- 

 bly, the present name. 



Bring Coronations, and sops in wine, 



Worn of paramours. Spencer. 



It was also called "Clove-Gtily flmcer," from its clove- 



* 



