IN FLORIDA 179 



inches in diameter. P. pacificus has beautiful broad, bright 

 green leaves and is a superb plant but being one of the tenderest 

 things we cultivate, it is almost impossible to winter it here in the 

 open. There are several others in my collection, all of which do- 

 well. 



Panicum excurrens is a grand, broad-leaved grass whose foliage 

 resembles the first leaves of some of the palms. 



Pedilanthus tithymaloides has bright red shoe-shaped flowers 

 and will grow without attention in lower Florida. 



Pelargonium. This includes all the so-called Geraniums, few 

 of which really do well out of doors in Florida. The scented 

 species, however, grow better than those in the zonale section. 



Peperomia. These charming plants do well in pots or damp, 

 shaded spots, such as the banks of fern pools. I once grew a fine 

 plant on a live oak in the hammock. It is probable that the species 

 are epiphytic. 



Phlox. The perennial species succeed in some places in north- 

 ern Florida and fail in others. 



Phormium, New Zealand Flax. I have tried several species 

 repeatedly in different locations and they have invariably failed. 

 Schnabel reports that they are tender at Gainesville. 



Phytelephas, Ivory Nut Palm. Not a true palm but much 

 resembling one. I have had several of these which are at home ia 

 pots but not in the open. 



Pilea. Pretty little plants with watery stems and neat foliage. 

 Good in a damp, shady place. 



Pleroma. This plant has magnificent purple flowers, is from 

 Brazil and is probably tender. It does not do well on the lime- 

 stone soil but flourishes with Reasoner at Oneco. 



Ravenala madagascariensis, Traveller's Tree. A glorious plant 

 which forms a stem often twenty feet high, but constantly throws- 

 up suckers so that, unless they are cut out, it becomes a great 

 clump of immense foliage. It is related to the banana and prob- 

 ably has the largest entire leaves of any plant grown. Many of 

 those here are three feet wide and nine feet long and with the great 

 stem reach a height of twenty feet. A time-honored story has 

 it that this tree grows in the desert and that the perishing trav- 

 eller may pierce the bases of its leaves and obtain water. Ellis 



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