316 DICTIONARY OF POPULAR NAMES PEACH 



speeiosa, a native of Venezuela and countries bordering the 

 Orinoco, where it is called Perigas. It is a wing-leaved palm, 

 and grows to a height of 50 or 60 feet, the stem being covered 

 with sharp black spines. It is largely cultivated for its fruit, 

 which is of the form of an egg, but larger ; it consists of a sweet 

 pulpy thick rind of a yellowish colour, and forms a considerable 

 article of food for the natives. 



Peach, Sierra Leone {Sarcocephcdus esmkntus), a strong 

 climbing shrub of the Cinchona family, native of Western tropical 

 Africa. The flowers are small, produced in terminal compact 

 heads, each becoming a one-celled berry, the whole united 

 formiag a pulpy fruit about the size of a peach. It is eaten by 

 the negroes, and known by the name of ISTegro Peach. 



Pear Tree {Pyrus communis), a tree of the Apple family 

 (Pomacese). In its wild state it is a small thorny tree, and, 

 like the crab apple, considered to be a native of this country, 

 as also many parts of Europe. Its history is similar to that 

 of the apple ; in Pliny's time 36 species are recorded to 

 have been cultivated at Eome. By sowing the seeds of 

 apples or pears, crab-trees are generally the result, but occa- 

 sionally fruit-bearing trees of new kinds are produced. The 

 number of sorts in British nurseries amount to about 100. 

 Pear trees live to a great age, some are recorded 200 or 300 

 years old. The wood in old trees is hard and much valued by 

 turners and cabinetmakers. The liquor well known as Perry is 

 the fermented juice of pears. 



Peccan Nut {Carya olivceformis), a tree of the Walnut family 

 (Juglandacese), native of the south and western States of North 

 America, the nut of which is considered a great delicacy. Small 

 quantities are occasionally imported from New Orleans. 



Pekea Nut. {See Souari Nut.) 



Pelargonium. {See Geranium.) 



Pellitory of Spain (Anacyclus jpyrethrum), a perennial of 

 the Composite family (Compositse), native of Southern Europe, 

 having much -divided leaves, and prostrate stems with white 

 flowers. It is cultivated in Southern Europe and Northern 



