262 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



Podachaenium alatum, Bentham. (Ferdinanda eminens, Lagasca.) 



Central America, up to a height of 8,000 feet. A tall shrub, for 

 the grandeur of its foliage in requisition for scenic effects. 



Podophyllum peltatum, Linne. 



North America. A perennial forest-herb, not without importance 

 for medicinal purposes. The root contains the bitter alkaloid 

 berberin. Podophyllum Emodi (Wall.), occurring in the Indian, 

 mountains at heights from 6,000 to 14,000 feet, can probably be 

 used like the American species. The berries of both are edible 

 though the root and leaves are poisonous. 



Pogostemon Patchouli, Pellet. 



Mountains of India. A perennial herb, famed for its powerful 

 scent arising from a volatile oil. P. parviflorus (Benth.) and P. 

 Heyneanus (Benth.) belong to this species. 



Polianthes tuberosa, Linne. 



Mexico. The Tuberose. Seemingly introduced only into South 

 Asia ; valuable for perfume distillation. 



Polygala crotalaroides, Hamilton. 



Temperate Himalaya. Praised as an ophidian alexipharmic. To 

 several other species both of the eastern and western hemispheres 

 similiar properties are ascribed, but we are almost entirely without 

 any reliable medical testimony on these and many other supposed 

 vegetable antidotes against snake-poison. 



Polygala Senega, Linne. 



North America. A perennial herb. The root is of medicinal value. 



Polygaster Sampadarius, Fries. 



South-Eastern Asia. One of the most palatable of all truffles. 



Polygonum tinctorium, Loureiro. 



Japan and China. An annual herb, deserving attention and local 

 trials, as yielding a kind of indigo, one of the most important dye- 

 plants of Japan. It can be cultivated in cold climes. Its growth 

 would be vigorous here. Various Polygonums contains tannin, 

 P. amphibium as much as 11^ per cent. (Gard. Chron.). 



Polyporus giganteus, Fries. 



Dr. Goeppert records this and also the following species as allowed 

 to be sold for food in Silesia : P. frondosus (Fr.), P. ovinus (Fr.), 

 P. tuberaster (Fr.), P. citrinus (Pers.). Dr. Atkinson mentions as 

 edible among the fungi of Cashmere P. fomentarius and P. 

 squamosus. 



