182 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Polyanthus continued. 



flowers are distinguished by having a clear, even margin, 

 or lacing, of gold, then a ground or body-colour, similarly 

 well defined, with a stripe passing through the centre 

 of each division to the eye. The pip, as a single flower 

 is termed, should be large, flat, and round, with the 

 exception of five or six small divisions on the margin. 



For general garden decoration, any quantity of seed- 

 lings with beautiful flowers may be raised without the 

 florists' conventional rules being adhered to. Seeds 

 should be sown in June, or so soon as they are ripe ; they 

 germinate quickly at this season, and form flowering 1 

 plants by the following spring : if kept in store until 

 spring, a season will be lost. In summer, a prepared 

 border outside is best for the seed; in spring, shallow 

 boxes and a free, sandy soil should be used under glass. 

 When once established, Polyanthuses grow in any ordi- 

 nary garden soil ; but they succeed best where it is rich, 

 and the position somewhat moist and partially shaded. 

 It is important that seeds be saved only from the best 

 flowers procurable, or be obtained from a separate re- 

 liable source, as the varieties soon deteriorate, even as 

 ornamental plants, if this is not attended to. 



Polyanthuses for exhibition are grown in pots and in 

 cold frames, tinder treatment somewhat similar to that 

 accorded Auriculas. The season for potting or repotting 

 is August, and a good compost would consist of two 

 parts loam to one of leaf mould and decayed manure. 

 A top-dressing of good soil is recommended in February, 

 particularly for plants that have not been repotted the 

 previous autumn. In addition to propagating from seeds, 

 Polyanthuses may be readily increased by divisions. Good 

 varieties grown in pots may have their side-shoots removed 

 when the annual potting takes place in August ; and any 

 that are grown in the open ground, can be readily divided 

 in the autumn, when they are planted out. 



Besides the Gold-laced varieties of Polyanthus already 

 referred to, there are others designated respectively Fancy 

 and Hose-in-Hose. Fancy varieties are of various hues, 

 the plants being very floriferous, and of vigorous habit ; 

 and some of the Hose-in-Hose flowers are curious and very 

 uncommon. All succeed under similar treatment. 



POLYANTHUS. See Folianthes. 



POLYANTHUS NARCISSUS. See Narcissus 

 Tazetta. 



POLYB2EA. A synonym of Cavendishia (which 

 see under Proclesia). 



FOLYBOTRYA. Included under Acrostichnxn 



(which see). 



FIG. 223. POLYCALYMMA STUARTIT, showing Habit detached 

 Flowcr-lnaid, and Leaf. ' 



Included under Polypodium 



POLYCALYMMA (from poly, many, and kalymna, a 

 covering ; in allusion to the numerous series of invo- 

 lucral bracts). OED. Composite. A monotypic genus, 

 now included, by Bentham and Hooker, under Myrio- 

 cephalus. The species is a glandular-puberulous, half- 

 hardy, perennial herb, requiring similar treatment to 

 Centaurea (which see). 



P. Stuartii (Stuart's). fl.-headt white, depressed-hemispherical, 

 lin. or more in diameter ; florets many, Jin. long ; outer involucral 

 leaflets ^in. long. I. alternate, sessile, elongated-linear, flat, 

 Sin. to 4m. long, in. broad ; uppermost ones scarious. white. 

 Stems flstular, striated, 1ft. or more long. Australia. See 

 Fig. 223. 



POLYCAMPIUM. 



(which see). 



FOLYCARF2EA (from poly, many, and karpos, a 

 fruit ; alluding to the numerous seeds). STNS. Hagcea, 

 Lahaya, Mollia, Polycarpia. OBD. Caryophyllece. A 

 genus comprising about two dozen species of greenhouse 

 or hardy, annual or perennial, erect or rarely diffuse 

 herbs, natives of tropical and extra-tropical regions, one 

 being broadly dispersed over tropical America. Flowers 

 often numerous, disposed in terminal, paniculate, effuse 

 or contracted, sometimes capitate cymes ; sepals five, 

 white, rose, or purple, scarious; petals five, entire, bi- 

 dentate, or rarely laterally denticulate. Leaves narrow- 

 linear or rarely ovate, fasciculate, often pseudo-verticil- 

 late. The species are of easy culture in light, sandy loam. 

 The annuals may be increased by seeds, sown on a hotbed, 

 or in the open border, in spring ; and the perennials by 

 cuttings. The species are not much known to cultivation ; 

 those mentioned below are hardy. 



P. aristata (awned). fl. white, in corymbose cymes. June and 

 July. I. usually six in a whorl, linear-lanceolate ; young ones 

 silky, mucronated by an awn ; old ones nearly glabrous, and 

 almost awnless. h. Sin. to 6in. Canary Islands, 1780. Perennial. 

 P. gnaphalioides (Gnaphalium-like). fl. white, crowded into 

 terminal, sub-capitate cymes. June and July. I. oblong, hoary- 

 tomentose. Stems suffruticose, prostrate. North Africa, 1818. 



P. latifolia (broad-leaved), fl. white ; cymes terminal, corym- 

 bosely capitate. June to August. I. obovate, mucronated by an 

 awn ; cauline ones usually six in a whorl, those of the branches 

 opposite. Stems suffruticose, diffuse, h. Sin. Teneriffe, 1810. 

 Perennial. 



P. Memphitica (Memphitic). fl. white; petals quite entire; 

 cymes terminal, few-flowered. July. I. usually six in a whorl, 

 oval-oblong, narrowed into the petiole. Stems diffuse, branched, 

 villous. h. 6in. Egypt, 1828. Annual. 



FOLYCARFA MAXIMOWICZII. A synonym of 

 Idesia polycarpa (which see). 



FOLYCARPIA. A synonym of Folycarpaea 

 (which see). 



POLYCARFIC. Many-fruited; also, but less pro- 



perly, fruiting many times. 



FOLYCHILOS. Included under Phalsenopsis 

 (which see). 



FOLYCYCNIS (from polys, many, and kyknos, a 

 swan ; referring to the lip and column, which, together, 

 bear some resemblance to a swan). OED. Orchidece. 

 A genus comprising about five species of stove, epiphytal 

 orchids, closely allied to Cycnoches and Mormodes, natives 

 of tropical America. Flowers rather large, pedicellate, 

 in loose, floribund, often nodding racemes ; sepals free, 

 spreading, narrow ; petals similar, or narrow and sub- 

 stipitate at base; lip affixed to the base of the column, 

 sometimes biauriculate ; column very long, slender, curved, 

 resembling the neck of a swan. Leaves ample, plicate- 

 venose, contracted into petioles. Rhizomes or scapes 

 erect, few-sheathed, simple. For culture, see Catasetum. 



P. barbata (bearded). This is correct name of plant described 

 in this work as Cycnoches barbatum. 



P. gratiosa (agreeable), fl. brownish-purple ; raceme deflexed, 

 drooping, many-flowered. Costa Rica, 1871. "This is a species 

 in the way of P. lepida ; yet it appears very distinct by the very 

 short claw of the lip and the anterior part of the same organ " 

 (Keichenbach). An elegant plant. 



