1380 



PLUMBAGO 



white-fld. form of P. Capensis. Distinffuished from 

 that species by its shorter fls. and different Ivs. 



scindens, Linn. Trailing or climbing, glabrous: co- 

 rolla white with nmcronate lobes, the tube twice longer 

 than the glandular-hairy calyx-tube: Ivs. ovate-lanceo- 

 late to oblong-lanceolate, pointed, stalked. Trop. Amer. 



AA. Fls. red. 

 rdsea, Linn. (P. sanguinea, Hort.?). Stem zigzag, 

 more or less climbing," glabrous even in the intiores- 

 cence: Ivs. large, ovate-elliptic, the short petiole some- 

 what clasping: tis. purplish red, in long racemes, the 

 corolla-lobes little if any exceeding the exserted part of 

 the tube, the calyx glandular-hairy. S. Asia. B.M. 230. 

 — Var. coccinea, Hook. {P. coccinea, Salisb.), is a form 

 with larger scarlet fls. B.M. .536.3. Gng. 1:183. This is 

 the form chiefly cultivated. Like P. Capensis, this spe- 

 cies is useful for summer bedding. It is also an excel- 

 lent subject for winter blooming in pots. l. jj. B. 



PLUME GRASS. Eriantlms Ravennw. 



PLUMfiRIA (Charles Plumier, 1646-1706, distinguished 

 French botanist; wherefore the genus should have been 

 spelled Plumieria). Apocymlcece. This includes the 

 showy tropical tree known as Frangipani, properly P. 

 rubra. Plumerias are amongst the most fragrant of 

 tropical flowers, vying in this respect with the jessa- 

 mine, Cape Jasmine and tuberose. They have large, 

 waxy, funnel-shaped fls. with 5 spreading lobes of white, 

 yellow, rose-purple or combinations of the three colors. 

 Choice specimens have been known to bear clusters 9 in. 

 across, com])osed of more than 20 fls. each 33^ in. across. 

 There are about 40 species, all tropical American, of 

 which 2 kinds at present are offered in S. Calif, and 2 

 in S. Fla. They are considerably cult, in all tropical 

 lands. The word Frangipani is supposed to be from the 

 French, franchipanier, coagulated milk, referring to 

 the tenacious white juice which exudes plentifully from 

 the wounded plant. All species are likely to be called 

 Frangipani. Plumerias are essentially summer-growing 

 plants. Keep rather dry in winter. Prop, by cuttings 

 in February or March. 



In general, the Ivs. are alternate, penninerved, the 

 primary veins joined to a nerve running parallel with 

 the margin : fls. in terminal 2-3-chotomous cymes : 

 bracts usually large and covering the young buds but 

 deciduous long before anthesis; corolla-tube cylindrical 

 throughout; stamens included, near the base of the 

 tube; disk wanting or fleshy and covering the tube of 

 the calyx: ovules in many series: follicles 2. The spe- 

 cies are much confused and imperfectly understood. 



A. Fls. more or less rosy. 



rillbra, Linn. Frangipani. Low tree or shrub: Ivs. 

 5-8 in. long: cymes spreading : corolla-lobes broadly 

 oval, longer than the tube. Mex. to Guiana and Ecua- 

 dor ; naturalized in West Indies. B.R. 10:780 (fls. 

 chiefly golden, only the tips bright rose). B.M. 279. 



AA. Fls. chiefly white or yellow. 

 B. Lvs. narrow, oblong-linear. 

 ilba, Linn. Lvs. rounded or acuminate at top, revo- 

 lute at margin, tomentose beneath; veins rectangular- 

 transverse: fls. white. W. Indies. P. hypolenca, Gas- 

 parr, is probably a color variety, with yellow flowers. 

 BB. Lvs. ivedge-shaped to lanceolate. 

 acutifdlia, Toir. (P. acumincLta, Ait.). Lvs. acumi- 

 nate, often 1 ft. or more long, 3 in. wide, broadly lan- 

 ceolate, with a long tai)ering base: corolla-lobes oval. 

 Mex. B.M. :i'.l.';2 (fls. white, much flushed from the cen- 

 ter with pale yellow). P. acuminata of B.R. 2:114, with 

 its narrow oblong lobes and close, well-dcflned golden 

 center, must be a different species. -yy ^ 



POA (ancient Greek name for grass or fodder). Gra- 

 miniiK. About 100 species, natives of temiierate and 

 cold regions, mostly perennial grasses of low growth. 

 Several sp(;cies arc cult, lor forage or ornament. Spike- 

 lets 2-Ofld., in o|>cn i)anicli's, eni|)ty ghnucs slmrter 

 than thcll.glmncs, awnh^ss; fl. -glumes keeled on back, 



POA 



membranaceous, scarious margined, pointless, 5-nerved, 

 often clothed with soft hair. 



arachnlfera, Torr. Texas Blue Grass. Culm 2-3 ft. 

 high: panicle contracted, 3-8 in. long: spikelets % in. 

 long; first emptj^ glume 1-nerved, second 3-nerved; 

 fl. -glume copiously webby hairy at base. A native of 

 Texas, where it is a valuable forage grass. — It propa- 

 gates by rhizomes and forms a dense sod. Recom- 

 mended as a winter pasture grass in the South. Easily 

 distinguished from the other species by its contracted 

 panicle and large spikelets. 



prat^nsis. Linn. Kentucky Blue Grass. June 

 Grass. Fig. 1801. Panicle pyramidal, open, usually 

 3-4 in. long: spikelets 3-6-fld., % in. long; lower empty 

 glume 1-nerved, second 3 nerved: fl. -glume hairy at 



1861. June-grass— Poa pratensis (X x2)- Flower enlarged. 



base: culm usually 1-2 ft. high, forming a sod with its 

 copious rootstocks, its long, soft radical lvs. forming an 

 abundance of foliage. Native in the cooler regions of 

 the northern hemisphere.— A common pasture grass 

 through the middle portions of the United States. Its 

 most important horticultural use is for lawns, for 

 which purpose its habit and aggressiveness are emi- 

 nently adapted. 



trivi^lis, Linn. Rough-stalked Meadow Grass. 

 Resembles P. pratensis, from which it differs by hav- 

 ing no creeping rootstocks, taller stems, branches of 

 panicle more slender and spreading, usually only 2-fld. 

 spikelets, and lateral nerves of fl. -glume much more 

 conspicuous. Native of Europe, where it is a prominent 

 pasture grass, and rather sparingl)' cult, in this coun- 

 try, where it is recommended for wet pastures. A va- 

 riegated form is described. F.S. 16:1695. 



compr^ssa, Linn. Known in the trade as Canada 

 Blue Grass (though it is probably not native to Can- 

 ada) and English Blue Grass, but the latter name is 

 often applied to Festuca pratensis. Distinguished from 

 P. pratensis, which it resembles, by its blue-gre(>ii foli- 

 age, distinctly flattened culms, and its short and much 

 contracted panicles. Spreads liy rhizomes. Native of 

 Europe and extensively naturalized in this country, l)e- 

 ing found in open and rather sterile soil. — It is of little 

 value as a pasture grass except possibly on sterile soil. 



nemor&,Iis, Linn. Wood Meadow Grass. A tufted 

 perennial without running rootstocks. Panicle long and 

 narrow, with short branches: culms 1-3 ft.: empty 

 glumes 3-nerv(Hl, acuminate. Native of Europe and 

 cooler parts of America. — It is recommended for pasture 

 <n- lawn in shaded situations. 



P. am/ihilis.lAnn. See Ei'agrostis spoctaliilis.— P. afjitaYica, 

 Linn. ScoGlyceriagrimdis. A. S. HrrCHCOCK. 



