2726 



PODOPHYLLUM 



POGOSTEMON 



pistil 1 (rarely several) : berry with many seeds, which 

 are inclosed in fleshy arils. Podophyllum is a genus of 

 about 5 species, 1 American, 1 Himalayan and 3 

 from China. 



The May apple is one of the most prominent of 

 the native low-growing spring herbs. The "apples" 

 are yellowish egg-shaped fruits about 2 inches long, 

 and have a rather mawkish taste. The leaves are very 

 distinct, being shaped like a round shield with 5 to 7 

 lobes. The plant has two kinds of leaves, the solitary 

 ones, and the others in pairs. The large centrally pel- 

 tate leaves have no flower underneath. The flowers are 

 nodding white waxlike cups which spring from the 

 fork of the stem. They have a rather unpleasant smell. 



Some parts 'of the May apple plant are emetic and 

 poisonous. Extract of podophyllum is common in drug- 

 stores. For the drug trade, the rhizomes are collected 

 late in summer and dried, the supply coming mostly 

 from the Central States. 



The plants are offered by several dealers in hardy 

 herbaceous perennials. They are of easy culture, re- 



3085. Royal poinciana. Poinciana regia. 



quiring deep rich soil and partial shade. They are 

 useful only for spring effects, however, as the foliage 

 dies down by midsummer or before. Later-growing 

 vigorous perennials, as Polygonatum giganteum, may 

 be associated with a planting of May apple, to occupy 

 the ground in the later part of the season. P. Emodii 

 requires a moister situation, and some prepare a peaty 

 soil for it. Propagation is by division or by seed. 

 The mandrake of Old World history and romance, 

 is Mandragora. 



A. Frs. yellowish. 



peltatum, Linn. MAY APPLE. MANDRAKE (see Man- 

 dragora, Vol. IV, p. 1982). Height 1-1^ ft.: Ivs. dark 

 green, nearly 1 ft. across, 5-7-lobed, each lobe 2-cleft: 

 fls. about 2 in. across. Also called wild lemon and hog 

 apple. B.M. 1819. Gn. 21, p. 127. B.B. 2:92. Blooms 

 in April and fruits in May. It is a shade-loving species, 

 although growing also in partial sun in moist and rich 

 soil, from W. Quebec and W. New Eng. to Minn, and 

 south to Fla. and Texas. 



AA. Frs. deep red. 



emddi, Wall. Lvs. 3-5-lobed: fls. white or pale rose: 

 fr. large as a hen's egg, brilliant red. Himalayas. G.C. 



II. 18:241. The foliage is a fine bronzy red in early 

 spring, said to be edible. 



P. versiptlle, Hance. A perennial herb, with sts. about 3 ft. 

 high, 2-forked at top, each fork bearing a lobed peltate If.: fls. 

 pendulous, crimson, in clusters of 12-16 just under the Ivs. China. 

 Intro, into England. B.M. 8154. R TRAcy HuBBARD f 



PODOSTIGMA (Greek words referring to the fact 

 that the stigma has a foot or stalk). Asdepiadacese. 

 This includes a half-hardy tuberous-rooted perennial 

 herb which grows a foot high or less in low pine-barrens 

 from N. C. to Fla. and bears in summer small greenish 

 yellow fls. The genus is closely allied to Asclepias, and 

 is distinguished by having the hoods remote from the 

 anthers at the base of the long column, while in Ascle- 

 pias the hoods are approximate to the anthers. P. 

 pedicellate, Vail. Lvs. opposite, linear-lanceolate, nearly 

 sessile: peduncles terminal and axillary, umbellately 

 several-fld. The only species. Advertised in 1881, 

 but presumably not hardy N. 



POGONIA (Greek, beard; alluding to bearded label- 

 lum). Orchiddcese. Hardy terrestrial orchids. 



Mostly small perennial herbs, with erect slender 

 sts.: fls. solitary or in racemes; sepals and 

 petals free, erect or ascending; labellum ses- 

 sile, with broad base, spurless, with longi- 

 tudinal ridges. About 40 species, N. and S. 

 Amer., with exception of 2 Chino-Japanese 

 species. Pogonias are delicate plants requiring 

 care in planting. The woodland species should 

 have rich leaf -mold, with deep shade; the 

 swamp species require peat or suitable light, 

 rich soil, moist yet not wet. All the species 

 are preferably planted in spring. 



A. Sepals and petals nearly equal in length. 

 ophioglossoides, Ker. St. 8-15 in. high, 

 slender, 1-3-lvd. : Ivs. 1-3 in. long, lanceolate 

 or ovate: fls. solitary or in pairs, fragrant, 

 pale rose, subtended by a foliaceous bract. 

 June, July. In meadows and swamps, U. S. 

 B.R. 148. G.F. 10:485. V. 2:269; 11:229. 

 This seems to be the only species that can be 

 grown with success. It thrives in wet moss 

 in boxes of sphagnum. Usually it is better to 

 transplant from the wild each year than to 

 attempt to prop, the plants. Sometimes it 

 can be colonized in wet meadows. 



AA. Sepals longer than the petals. 

 divaricate, R. Br. St. 1-2 ft. high, slender, 

 bearing a solitary fl.: fl. 1 in. long; sepals 

 dark; petals flesh-colored; lip as long as petals, green- 

 ish, veined with purple. July. Swamps, N. J. to Fla. 

 B.B. 1:468. 



P. pendula, Lindl.=Triphora. P. verticittata, Nutt.=Isotria. 



HEINRICH HASSELBRING. 



POGOSTEMON (Greek, bearded stamen). Labiate. 

 This includes the plant which produces the well-known 

 perfumes called patchouli, or in India pucha-pat. 



Herbs or subshrubs: Ivs. opposite, rarely in 3's: fls. 

 small, in solitary or panicled spikes formed of many 

 dense whorls; calyx subequally 4-5-toothed; corolla- 

 tube exserted or included; limb sub-2-lipped; lobes 4, 

 lower usually longest; stamens 4, exserted, straight or 

 declinate; filaments usually bearded; anther-cells con- 

 fluent: nutlets smooth, ovoid or oblong. About 40 

 species, 24 of which are distinguished in Flora of British 

 India 4:631. 



Patchouli has a peculiar dry moldy smell and is one 

 of the commonest perfumes in India. In the 1840's its 

 presence was considered the sure test of a genuine 

 Indian shawl, but the French manufacturers of imita- 

 tion Indian shawls imported the perfume in the 1850's. 

 Patchouli is no longer fashionable. Fuller accounts of 

 it will be found in the "Cultural Industries of Queens- 



