220 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Passiflora suberosa, Linne. (P.paltida, Linne.) 



From Florida to Brazil. A careful investigator, Dr. Maxw. 

 Masters, has recently defined about 200 species of Passion 

 Flowers. 



Paullinia sorbilis, Martins. 



Brazil. A climbing shrub, possibly hardy in the warm 

 temperate zones, where many tropical Cupanise and other 

 sapindaceous trees endure the clime. The hard Guarana 

 paste of chocolate colour is prepared from the seeds by tritura- 

 tion in a heated mortar with admixture of a little water, 

 kneaded into a dough and then dried. This paste, very rich 

 in coffein, serves for a pleasant beverage and also medicinally. 



Paulownia imperialis, Siebold. 



Japan. A tree, hardier than Cercis Siliquastrum, of value for 

 scenic effects. 



Peireskia aculeata, Miller. 



West India. The Barbadoes Gooseberry. A tall shrub, 

 adapted for hedges in localities free of frost. The cochineal 

 insect can be reared on this plant also. The berries are edible. 

 Several other species exist in tropical America, among which 

 P. Bleo (Humb.) is particularly handsome, but they may not 

 all be sufficiently hardy for utilitarian purposes in an extra- 

 tropical clime. Otherwise the Bleo is used for salad. 



Peireskia portulacifolia, Haworth. 



West India. This attains the size of a fair tree. 



Pelargonium odoratissinmm, Alton. 



South Asia. A perennial trailing herb, from the leaves of 

 which a fragrant oil can be distilled. Pelargonium oil is exten- 

 sively produced in Algeria as a cheap substitute for attar of 

 roses. The same remark applies to the shrubby P. radula 

 and P. capitatum (Dr. Rosenthal). The Kaffirs assert that 

 these plants keep off snakes. 



Peltophorum Linnsei, Bentham. (Caaalpmia Brasiliensis, Linne.) 

 A small tree, which provides the orange-coloured Brasiletto 

 wood. This species likes dry calcareous soil (Grisebach). 

 Endures the climate of Carolina. 



Pennisetum thyphoideum, Richard.* (Penicillaria spicata, Will- 

 denow ; Panicum coeruleitm, Miller.) 



Tropical Asia, Nubia, and Egypt. The Bajree. An annual, 



