PER 



PET 



and two broad in the middle, of a lucid green 

 on their upper side, but pale on their under, 

 opposite, on short footstalks ; the flowers come 

 out towards the ends of the small branches in 

 bunches, and are of a purple colour. It is a 

 native of Syria, flowering in July and August, 

 but rarely ripening seeds in this climate. 



It is sometimes called Clmbhig Dog's-Bmte. 

 The second species has a t\vining,shrubby, even 

 stem: the leaves are opposite, petioled, even,iin- 

 derneath paler, veined transversely : the panicles 

 axillary, alternate, dichotomous, shorter than the 

 leaves : theflowers are small. It differs obviously 

 from the first sort in its small copiousflowers. It 

 is said to be a native of Egypt ; but its place of 

 growth is uncertain ; flovvering in July. 



The third has many slender stalks, which 

 twine about each other, and by a shrub or other 

 support will rise near three feet high, putting out 

 several small side-branches; these are hairy, as 

 are also the leaves; which are about three quarters 

 of an inch long, and half an inch broad, stand- 

 ing by pairs upon very short footstalks : the 

 flowers come out in small bunches from the side 

 of the stalks; are small, of a dull purple colour, 

 and have a sweet scent. It flowers in the sum- 

 mer, but does not produce seeds in this climate. 

 It is a native of the Cape. 



There is a variety with smooth leaver and 

 stalks, which comes from the same place. 



Culture. — These plants maybe easily increased 

 by layers made from the young wood in the early 

 spring or sumtaier season. When they are fully 

 rooted, they may be taken oft" and planted out, 

 the first or hardy kind, either where they are 

 to remain, or in the nursery, to be afterwards 

 removed; and the two last, or tender sorts, into 

 pots, to be protected during the winter. 



The first sort likewise often succeeds by 

 cuttings, and also the two last by the use of 

 the hot-bed. 



They may all be increased also by sowing the 

 seeds procured from abroad in pots of light earth, 

 plunging them in the hot-bed. 



Thev'should all beplaced near support, to pre- 

 vent their trailing upon the ground and fasten- 

 ing about other plants. 



Where the two last sorts are kept constantly 

 plunoed in the tan-bed of the stove, they thrive 

 and ilower much better than in any other situa- 

 tion, but they should not be kept toov.arm in win- 

 ter; and in the summer they hhould have a large 

 share of free air admitted to them ; for when 

 they are kept too close their leaves will be covered 

 with insects, and the plants become sickly in a 

 short time. 



The first sorts only require a little protection 

 Vol. II. 



in the winter. They all afford variety among 

 potted plants. 



PP:RIWINCLE. See Vinca. 



J'EKOLA. See Momordica. 



PEHSEA. See Laukus. 



PEIiSIAN LILY. See Fritillaria. 



I'ERSICA. See Amygdalus. 



PERSICAKIA. See Polygonum. 



PERUVIAN MASTICK TREE. See Schi- 



NUS. 



PETIVERIA, a genus containing plants of 

 the woody exotic perennial evergieen kind for 

 the stove. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexaiidria 

 Tclragt/nia {Heptandria Monogyjiia), and ranks 

 in the natural order of Holoracece. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a four- 

 leaved perianthium: leaflets linear, blunt, equal, 

 spreading, permanent : there is no corolla (ex- 

 cept the coloured calyx) : thestamina have six or 

 eight unequal, awl-shaped, convergingfilaments: 

 anlhers erect, linear-sagittate, bifid at top : the 

 pistillum is an ovate germ, compressed, emar- 

 ginate : style very short, lateral, in the groove of 

 the germ : styles four, permanent, finally bent 

 outwards, spinescent: stigma pencil -shaped : 

 there is no pericarpiun), except the crust over 

 the seed : the seed single, oblong, narrower be- 

 low, roundish, compressed, emarginate; with 

 four barbed hooks, bent back outwards, rigid, 

 acute, the middle ones longer (naked, but arm- 

 ed above with reflex spines). 



The species are : 1 . P. aUiacea, Common 

 Guinea-Hen Weed ; 2. P. octandra. Dwarf 

 Guinea-Hen Weed. 



The first has a strong root, striking deep into 

 the ground : the stems from two to three feet 

 high, jointed, and becoming woody at bottom : 

 the leaves oblong, three inches lorjg and an 

 inch and half broad, of a deep green and 

 veined, placed alternately on short footstalks : 

 the flowers are produced in slender spikes at the 

 ends of the branches; are very small, and make 

 no fioure. It is conmion in the West Indies, 

 flowering here m June. 



It thrives most iti a dry gravelly soil and a 

 shady situation. 



The second species differs from the first, in 

 having a shorter and narrower stalk ; and in the- 

 flowers having eight stamens ; anel, according to 

 Linnreus, the leaves are more risjid and quite 

 smooth, the filaments purple and not white. It 

 is a native of the West Indies. 



Culture. — These plants may be increased by 

 slips or cuttings planted out in the summer, a^ 

 well as by seeds ; which must be sown on a hot- 

 bed early in the spring. \\ hen the plants are 

 2D 



