GARDEN FLOWERS. 3O3 



POLYANTHUS. See PRIMULA. 



POLYGALA. [Polygalaceae.] A large family, of which the 

 greenhouse species are chiefly important. P. fastigiata, pur- 

 purea, and umbellata are pretty, hardy annuals ; and P. al- 

 pestris, rubella, and paucifolia are very showy perennials. 

 All are of easy culture in garden soil. 



POLYGONATUM. Solomon's Seal. [Liliaceae.] Hardy her- 

 baceous perennials. Common soil. Increased by division. 



P. latifolium (broad-leaved) ; hardy perennial ; 3 feet ; flowers 

 white, in May; Germany; 1802. P. multiflorum (many-flow- 

 ered) ; hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers white, in June ; Britain. 

 P. vulgare (common) ; hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers white, 

 in May ; England. There is a variety flore-pleno. 



POLYGONUM. Pcrsicaria. [Polygonaceae.] A large genus, 

 not remarkable for floral attractions. There are, however, 

 exceptions. P, Orientale, a common hardy annual, which is 

 best self-sown, grows four or five feet high, much branched, 

 with many gracefully nodding spikes of small red flowers, 

 which become conspicuous from their aggregation. It re- 

 quires no culture ; but, if sown artificially, it may be done 

 in May. P. amphibium is a beautiful hardy water-plant, with 

 short floating stems, and rosy flower-spikes. P. divaricatum 

 is a pretty hardy perennial, densely branched, forming a 

 large mass, covered with feathery-looking bunches of creamy- 

 white flowers. It is of the easiest culture in common soil, 

 and increases by division. P. vaccinifolium and Brunonis 

 are beautiful rock-plants : they increase by their self-rooting 

 trailing branches, but are tender in the Northern States. 



P. ampJiibiuni (amphibious) ; hardy aquatic perennial, float- 

 ing ; flowers rose, in July ; England. P. amplexicaule (stem- 

 clasping) ; hardy perennial ; 2 feet ; flowers pink, in July ; In- 

 dia ; 1837. P. Brunonis (Brown's) ; hardy evergreen perennial ; 

 i foot ; flowers pink, in August ; North India ; 1845. P divar- 



