GARDEN FLOWERS. 287 



for their dark foliage. Light garden soil. Increased by 

 seeds. 



P. Nankinensis (Nankin); half-hardy annual; 18 inches; 

 purple leaves ; China ; 1852. 



P. ocymoides and fruticosa are not of much cultural value. 



PERIPLOCA. [Asclepiadaceas.] Hardy deciduous climbers, 

 with glossy ornamental foliage. Loamy soil. Increased by 

 layers and cuttings. 



P. angustifolia (narrow-leaved) ; hardy twining shrub ; 6 feet ; 

 flowers purplish, in July; south of Europe ; 1800. P. Groeca 

 (Greek); hardy twining shrub ; 12 feet ; flowers purplish-brown, 

 in July ; Syria; 1597. 



PERIWINKLE. See VINCA. 



PERSICA. Peach. [Amygdalaceae.] A well-known genus, 

 containing some beautiful flowering shrubs. Good garden 

 soil. Propagated by budding. 



P. vulgaris (common) ; of this there are the following fine va- 

 rieties, flore plena (double-flowered, white and pink) ; foliis 

 variegatis (variegated-leaved) ; pendula (weeping) ; sanguined 

 plena (double red) ; camilliaflora (rich deep crimson double 

 flowers, China, 1 847) ; rosaeflora (deep rose double flowers, 

 China, 1848). 



PERSICARIA. See POLYGONUM. 



PETASITES. [Composite.] Hardy herbaceous perennial, 

 growing in common soil, and increased by division. 



P. alba (white) ; hardy perennial ; 9 inches ; flowers white, in 

 May ; Europe ; 1683. 



PETUNIA. [Solanaceae.] Showy, soft-stemmed, shrubby 

 perennials, closely allied to Nierembergia. The garden Pe- 

 tunias have sprung from P. nyctaginiflora and violacea ; the 

 latter, in its original form, one of the richest of all plants 

 for bedding out in the flower-garden, owing to its brilliant 

 color. There are, however, few families in which cultivation 



