212 



THE DICTIONARY OF GARDENING, 



Potentilla continued. 



P. Finima. (smallest), fl. yellow ; calyx segments shorter than 

 the corolla. May and June. L ternate, smoothish above, but 

 pilose beneath; leaflets obovate, short, oenaied, and rather 

 retuse. A. Sin. Alps, 1818. (L. B. C. 480.) 



P. missourica (Missouri). A synonym of P. Pennsylvania*. 



P. nepalensls (Nepaul). This species is very like /'. arpyro- 

 phylla atrosanrjuinea, but has quinate, radical leaves. Himalaya. 

 SYN. P. formosa (S. B. F. G. 156). 



P. nitida (shining).* fl. of a delicate rose, the green sepals 

 showing between the petals, the petals nearly oval in outline, 

 notched at the apex, longer than the calyx ; solitary. Summer. 

 I. ternate ; leaflets obovate or wedge-shaped, toothed at the apex, 

 clothed on both sides with shining, silvery, silky down. Stems 

 ascending. South Europe, 1815. (Gn., June, 1884 ; J. F. A. 25 ; 

 R.G.8580 



P. nlvalia (snowy), fl. three to six, terminal ; corolla white ; 

 petals obcordate, shorter than the calyx. July. I. with five to 

 seven obovate, roundish, obtuse leaflets, which are connivently 

 serrated at the apex, anil densely clothed with silky hairs. Stem 

 erect, pilose. A. 3in. 10 6in. Pyrenees, 1739. SVN. P. lupinoides 

 (L. B. C. 654). 



P. nivca (snowy-leaved), fl. yellow ; petals broad, obcordate, 

 a little longer than the calyx. June to August. I. ternate; 

 leaflets obovate-cuneiform, with flat, deeply serrated margins, 

 rather hairy above, but clotheil with white tomentum beneath. 

 Europe, &c., 1815. Plant ascending. (L. B. C. 460.) 



P. n. macrophylla (large-leaved). A variety with larger flowers 

 and leaflets, and elongated petioles. (B. M. 29b2.) 



P. pennsylvanica (Fennsylvanian). ft. yellow, corymbose; 

 petals emarginate, longer than the woolly calyx. June to 

 August. I. pinnate, with usually three pairs of leaflets, hoary 

 and silky above, white-downy beneath ; leaflets oblong, pinnatitid, 

 with linear-lanceolate, acute segments, h. 14ft. North America, 

 1827. SYN. P. missourica (B. B. 1412). 



P. pyrenaica (Pyrenean). fl. deep golden-yellow, large, the 

 petals very round, and overlapping, and twice as long as the calyx. 

 Summer. 1., radical ones on long stalks, velvety or nearly smooth, 

 with oblong leaflets, toothed towards the end ; cauline ones three 

 to flve-lobed, on short stalks, and the upper ones entire, h. Sin. 

 to 16in. Eastern and Central Pyrenees. A showy species, some- 

 times covered with adpressed hairs, and at others quite smooth. 



P. Russelliana (Russell's). /. of a rich blood-scarlet, nearly 

 2in. in diameter; petals obcordate. Summer and autumn. I. 

 ternate, one-coloured beneath, h. 1ft Hardy. A hybrid, pro- 

 bably between P. aryyrophvlla atrosanguinea and P. nepalensis. 

 (B. M. 3470.) 



P. Saxifraga (Saxifrage-like).* /. white, in corymbose, snb- 

 nmbellate neads ; petals nearly round, twice as long as the 

 calyx. May and June. I. either of five leaflets, the central 

 leaflets haying short, partial petioles, and all being three-toothed, 

 with connivent teeth, or of three leaflets, which are generally 

 entire. Stem shrubby, with very short, densely-tufted branches. 

 h. 4in. to 6in. Mentone. (F. M. x.) 



P. Sibbaldia (Sibbaldia). A. yellow, few in terminal, close 

 cymes ; petals small. July. 1. lin. to Sin. long ; leaflets Jin. to 

 lin. long. Stems 3in. to 5in. long, axillary, ascending, leafy. 

 Europe (Britain), North America. (Sy. En. B. 426.) SYN. Sif>- 

 baldia procumbent. 



P. Tormentilla (Tormentilla). Blood-root. Jt. bright yellow, 

 small, and mostly with four petals ; the first one of each stein 

 has, however, frequently five. Summer. I., lower ones shortly 

 stalked ; upper ones always sessile, with three, or rarely five, 

 leaflets. Stems erect. Europe, &c. (Britain). (B. M. PI. 101; 

 Sy. En. B. 430.) SYN. P. tridentata. 



P. tridentata (three-toothed). A synonym of P. Tormentilla. 



P. unguiculata (clawed).* ft. pearly-white, iin. in diameter, in 

 open pinicles with slender, spreading branches, peduncles, and 

 pedicels ; petals rather longer than the calyx lobes, rounded 

 July. L, radical ones 4in. to 8in. loni, petioled, narrow-linear, 

 flexuous, sessile, consisting of three closely-packed leaflets ; 

 cauline ones more sessile, with more scattered leaflets. Stem 

 9in. to 12in. high, very slender. California. (B. M. 6560.) SY.N. 

 Ivegia unyuieulata. 



P. verna (spring), fl. bright yellow, in irregular panicles at the 

 ends of the stems, with obcordate petals longer than the calyx. 

 Spring. I. rigid ; lower ones on long stalks, with five or seven, 

 oblong or wedge-shaped, toothed leaflets ; upper ones quinate 

 or rarely ternate, nearly sessile, h. 6in. to 8in., but some- 

 times prostrate. Europe, &c. (Britain). A variable species. 

 (Sy. En B. 428.) 



P. viscosa (clammy), fl. yellow, crowded at the tips of the 

 branches into a few-flowered panicle ; petals obovate, emarginate, 

 hardly longer than the calyx. June to August. I. greenish on 

 both surfaces, pinnate ; leaflets oblong, sharply and deeply ser- 

 rated, upper ones decurrent, lower ones small, h. 1ft. to lift. 

 Dahuria, 1797. (B. R. 1492.) 



FOTENTIL, MARSH. See Potentilla Comarum. 



POTERIUM (the old Greek name, used by Dioscorides, 

 from poterion, a drinking-cup ; the foliage of Burnet having 

 been used in the preparation of some medicinal drink). 



Poterium continued. 



Bnrnet. Including Sanguisorba. OKD. Rosaceas. A genus 

 comprising about fifteen or twenty species of greenhouse 

 or hardy, perennial (in one case annual) herbs, decumbent 

 at base, very rarely spiny shrubs, inhabiting the whole of 

 the temperate and warmer regions of the Northern hemi- 

 sphere. Flowers at the tips of the scapes, densely capitate 

 or spicate, small, bracteate and bibracteolate ; calyx tube 

 turbinate, persistent, constricted at throat ; lobes four, 

 petal-like, deciduous, imbricated ; petals absent. Leaves 

 alternate, impari-pinnate ; petioles elongated, with an im- 

 bricated sheath at base ; leaflets petiolulate, serrated, 

 rarely entire. The herbaceous kinds thrive in any ordinary 

 garden soil, and may be increased by seeds. The shrubs 

 require a light, rich soil, and may be propagated by young 

 cuttings, which will root readily under a glass. See also 

 Bnrnet. 



P. caudatnm (tailed). /. greenish, dioecious, sometimes six-cleft 

 and trigynous ; spikes eloiigated, cylindrical. January to April. 

 I., under surface, as well as the petioles and peduncles, villous. 

 Branches unarmed, h. 2ft. to 3ft. Canary Islands, 1779. Green- 

 house shrub. (B. M. 2341.) 



P. officinalo (officinal). Great Burnet. /. dark purple ; spikes 

 ovate ; stamens equalling the glabrous calyx. June to August. 

 I. glabrous; leaflets ovate, rather cordate, h. 3ft. to 4ft. 

 Europe (Britain). Perennial herb. SYN. Sanquisorba officinalis 

 (Sy. En. B. 421). 



P. Sanguisorba (Sanguisorba). Common Salad Burnet. fl. 

 greenish or purplish ; lower ones of the head male, upper ones 

 female. June and July. 1., as well as the stems, glabrous ; leaf- 

 lets roundish-ovate, h. 1ft. to 2ft Europe (Britain). Perennial 

 herb. (Sy. En. B. 419.) 



P. spinosum (spiny), fl. greenish, in oblong spikes. April to 

 August. I., leaflets smoothish, serrated. Branches rather villous, 

 the ultimate ones terminating in spines, h. 2ft. to 3ft. South 

 Europe, 1595. Hardy shrub. (S. F. G. 943.) 



MOTH. 



name are included 

 numerous species of Noctuidce, the larvae of which devour 



FIG. 266. LARV.E OF POTHER 

 POTHERB MOTHS. Under this 



the low-growing garden produce or potherbs, such as 

 Cabbages, Turnips, Beets, Peas, Beans, Carrots, &c. The 

 moths are nearly all dull-coloured, and mostly have a 

 spread of wings of Hin. to 2iin. They belong to groups 

 for the most part already discussed (see Mamestra, 



