378 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



Pilocarpus pennatifolius, Lemaire.* 



The Jaborandi-plant of Paraguay. The leaves and bark of this 

 shrub, which contain essential oil and a peculiar alkaloid, are famed 

 as an agreeable, powerful and quickly acting sudorific ; recommended 

 as a specific in diphtheria, as well as typhoid fever, and supposed to 

 be also reliable in hydrophobia [Continho, Baillon, Hardy, Guebler]. 

 This bush is likely to endure the clime of milder temperate forest- 

 regions. Like P. simplex, also an active sialagogue. Pilocarpin 

 contracts the pupil. P. Sellowianus has similar properties. The 

 genus reaches the Antilles, The Rio Janeiro-Jaborandi is obtained 

 from P. Sellowianus (Engler), the Pernambuco-drug from P. Jabo- 

 randi (Holmes). Other Jaborandi-plants, all from Southern Brazil, 

 are Piper Jaborandi (Vellozo), Bramia Monniera, B. gratioloides, 

 B. colubrina, also Monniera trifoliata. 



Pimenta officinalis, Lindley. 



The Allspice. West Indies. A middle-sized tree. Flowers freely 

 at Port Jackson, but does not ripen its fruit readily there [C. Moore]] . 

 In Ceylon it can be grown to about 3,000 feet elevation advanta- 

 geously [Dr. Trimen]. Cultivated in Jamaica up to 4,000 feet [W. 

 Fawcett]. Succeeds in Natal [J. M. Wood]. For the stick- and 

 umbrella-trade large lots of the young saplings are exported [J. R 

 Jackson]. Requires soil rich in lime. 



Pimpinella Anisum, Linn. 



The Anise-plant. Greece, Egypt, Persia. An annual. The seed- 

 like fruits enter into various medicines and condiments, and are 

 required for the distillation of oil, rich in anethol. The herbage left 

 after obtaining the seeds serves for fodder. Not unwelcome among 

 other plants on pastures. The plant will bear seeds in Norway up to 

 lat. 68 40' [Schuebeler]. The seeds retain their power of germina- 

 tion for three years [ Vilmorin] . 



Pimpinella saxifraga, Linn6. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia. A perennial herb ; its root 

 used in medicine ; a peculiar volatile oil can be distilled from the 

 root. P. magna, L., is a closely allied species, and P. nigra, W, is a 

 variety. The root of the last is particularly powerful. 



Pimpinella Sisarum, Bentham. (Sium Sisarum, Linn. ) 



Middle and Eastern Asia, extending to Persia [Maximowicz], 

 Volhynia and Podolia [Rostafinski]. A perennial herb. The bunches 

 of small tubers afford an excellent culinary vegetable. The taste is 

 sweet and somewhat celery-like. The roots endure frost. The plant 

 is cultivated up to lat. 63 26' in Norway [Schuebeler] 



