p n Y 



P H Y 



cells bivalve : the sccJs are solitary and round- 

 ish. 



The species are : 1. P. Niriiri, Annual Phyl- 

 janthus ; 2. P. graiidtfolia Great-leaved Phyl- 

 lanthus; 3. P. Emblira, Shrubby Phyllanthus. 



The first has a filiform, long, white root : 

 the stem herbaceous, about afoot high, branch- 

 ed, erect, roundish, even : the leaves alternate, 

 distant, often only terminating : the petioles 

 filiform, bearing both leaves and flowers : the 

 leaflets contract every evening, turhmg their 

 under side outwards : the flowers are produced 

 on the under side of the leaves along the midrib, 

 and turn downwards. It usually flowers here 

 from June to October. It is common in Bar- 

 badoes. 



The second species rises with a tree like stem 

 and branches: the leaves are large, ovate, ob- 

 tuse, and entire. It is a native of North Ame- 

 rica. 



The third rises in its native situation, with a 

 tree-like stem, to the height of twelve or four- 

 teen feet, but in this climate not more than 

 half that height, sending out from the side many 

 patulous branches : the leaves have very narrow 

 leaflets. It has a berry-like fruit, and is a native 

 of the Indies. 



Culture. — These plants, where seeds can be 

 procured from their native situations, may be 

 raised in that way. They should be sown 

 in pots filled with light earth, and plunged 

 in a hot-bed ; and when the plants have acquired 

 some growth, they shoidd be planted out into 

 separate pots filled with the same sort of mould; 

 being replungcd in the hot-bed, due shade and 

 water being given, until they become perfectly 

 rooted ; after which they should be constantly 

 kept in the bark-bed of the stove, and have the 

 management of other plants of the same tender 

 sort. 



They may also sometimes be raised by plant- 

 ing out slips, or by layers managed in the same 

 way as those from seeds. 



They afford a fine variety in their beautiful 

 foliage, and the flowery kinds have a singular 

 efiect in their flowers. 



PHYLLIS, a genus containing plants of the 

 shrubby evergreen exotic kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentandnn 

 Digynia, snd ranks in the natural order of Stcl- 

 latce. 



The characters are : that the calyx has no 

 umbel (but a panicle) : perianthium very small, 

 superior, two-leaved, obsolete: the corolla has 

 five petals, lanceolate, obtuse, revolute, scarcely 

 connected at the base : the stamina have five 

 filaments, shorter than the corolla, capillary, 

 flaccid : anthers simple, oblong : the pistiUum 



is an inferior germ : style nonfe : stigmas two, 

 awl-shaped, pubescent, reflex: there is no peri- 

 carpium : fruit turbinate-oblong, blunt, angu- 

 lar : the seeds two, parallel, convex and angular 

 on one side, flat on the other, wider at top. 



The species is P. Nulla, Bastard Hare's-Ear. 



It rises with a soft shrubby stalk about two 

 or three feet high, which is seldom thicker than 

 a man's finger, of an herbaceous colour, and full 

 ot joints. These send out several small side 

 branches towards the top, garnished with spear- 

 shaped leaves near four inches long, and almost 

 two broad in the middle, drawing to a point at 

 each end ; they are of a lucid green on their 

 upper side, but pale on their under, having 

 a strong whitish midrib, with several deep veins 

 running from it to the sides : the leaves are for 

 the most part placed by threes round the 

 branches, to which they sit close : the flowers 

 are produced at the ends of the branches, in 

 loose panicles ; are > nail, of an herbaceous co- 

 lour at their first appearance, but before they 

 fade, change to a brown or worn out purple, and 

 are cut into five parts to their base, where they 

 are connected, and fall ofl" without separating. 

 It is a native of the Canary Islands, flowerino- Tn 

 June and July. 



Cidture. — The plants may be increased by 

 sowing the seeds in the early spring months, as 

 about March, in pots filled with light earth, and 

 plunged in a hot-bed j and when the plants have 

 attained some growth, they should be planted 

 out in separate pots, replunging them in the hot- 

 bed, due shade being given till they become well 

 rooted. In the summer season they should be 

 set out in a sheltered situation, so as to have 

 the morning sun, and be frequently watered. 

 In the winter they naist be well sheltered from 

 frost, but have as much air as possible in mild 

 weather. 



In the second year, when the plants are 

 shaken out of the pots and placed in a proper 

 situation in the open ground, they flower better 

 and afford more perfect seeds than when kept 

 in pots. 



They may also be raised by cuttings planted 

 out in the summer season. 



New plants should be raised every two or 

 three years, as they do not last Ions;. 



They afford an agreeable variety among other 

 evergreen plants of the green-house kind. 



PHYSALIS, a genus comprising jilants of 

 the herbaceous and shrubby ornamental kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pentaiidr'ia 

 Mi)nogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Lur'uhe. 



The characters are : that the calvx is a one- 

 leafed perianthium, ventricose, half-five-cleft. 



