164 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



PEP 



ever, pay for the protection they may need 

 against the elements. Many of the species will 

 flower the first season from seed, if sown in the 

 green-house or an early hot-bed, and once trans- 

 planted before being transferred to the open 

 border. 



Peperomia. From piper, pepper, and omoios, 

 similar. Linn. Dioeda-Triandria. Nat. Ord. 

 Piperacece. 



An extensive genus of green-house evergreen 

 and herbaceous ornamental-leaved plants, 

 abundant in Central and South America, the 

 Sandwich Islands, Southern Africa, and the 

 East Indies. The majority are small creeping 

 plants with fleshy leaves, growing on trunks of 

 trees, or on damp rocks; others are more erect, 

 of a shrubby character, and are terrestrial in 

 their habits. Several of the species have been 

 introduced into the green-house for the sake of 

 their foliage; prominent among them is P. macu- 

 losa, a dwarf-growing species, with inconspicu- 

 ous flowers, but very beautiful foliage. This 

 species is readily increased by leaf cuttings, 

 treated in the same manner as Begonia Rex. It 

 is a native of St. Domingo. First introduced 

 in 1790. P. resedceftora, or Mignonette flowered, 

 recently introduced, bears small, spire-like 

 spikes of white flowers at the apex of pink stems, 

 the lower portions of which are furnished with 

 small velvety leaves. It is used for button-hole 

 bouquets, and is suitable for florists' work 

 generally. P. prostrata, introduced in 1880, has 

 small round leaves. Well-grown specimens 

 droop four to five feet, making a great acquisi- 

 tion to our basket or vase plants. 



Pepper. See Piper. 



Peppergrass. See Lepidium. 



Pepperidge. See Nyssa. 



Peppermint. Menlha piperita. 



Pepper-root. See Dentaria. 



Pepper, White, is Piper nigrum with the black 

 husks removed. 



Pepperwort. See Lepidium. 



Pereskia. Barbadoes Gooseberry. Named after 

 Nicholas F. Pieresk, a French patron of botany. 

 The generic name is sometimes written Pierescia. 

 Linn. Icosandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Cactacecv. 

 This genus consists of about a dozen species, 

 and is allied to the Cactus. Some are tree-like 

 and have woody stems, but they are mostly 

 shrubs with fleshy stems, flat leaves, and round 

 branches armed with tufts of spines, and bear- 

 ing terminal solitary or clustered flowers, gene- 

 rally on short stalks. P. aculeata is indigenous 

 in the West Indies, where it is commonly known 

 as the Barbadoes Gooseberry or Gooseberry 

 Shrub. It grows about fifteen feet high, the 

 stem armed with bundles of straight spines, 

 and having trailing branches bearing oblong, 

 elliptical leaves and clusters of beautiful white 

 flowers, and yellow, eatable, and pleasant-tasted 

 fruit, which is used in making preserves, in the 

 same manner as the common garden Gooseberry 

 is used. This species is an excellent subject to 

 graft Epiphyllums, etc., on, and is much used 

 for that purpose. P. Bleo is called Bleo by the 

 natives of New Granada, where it is indigenous. 

 It is a shrub growing eight or ten feet high, with 

 rather soft, fleshy leaves, five or six inches long, 

 of an elliptical form, sharp pointed at the top, 

 and tapering to the base. It bears handsome 

 rose-colored flowers, with ten petals in two 

 series, the inner of which are the largest and 

 deepest colored. The leaves are eaten as a salad 

 in Panama. Propagated by cuttings. 



PER 



Pergularia. From pergula, trellis-work ; referring 

 to its quick climbing growth. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Difjynia. Nat. Ord. Asdepiadacece. 



A small genus of green-house evergreen climb- 

 ers, allied to Stephanotis. Som'e of the species 

 are remarkable for their sweet-scented, greenish- 

 white flowers. They are natives of the East 

 Indies and Java, but are very little cultivated. 



Perilla. Derivation of name unknown. Linn. 

 Didynimia-Gymnofipermia,. Nat. Ord. Lamiacece. 

 A small genus of hardy annuals, natives of 

 China and the East Indies. P. Nankinensis has 

 deep purple leaves, and at one time was much 

 used as an ornamental border plant, but, from its 

 somewhat weedy appearance and wonderful pro- 

 ductiveness, it has been pretty generally dis- 

 carded. 



Periploca. From periploke, an intertwining; re- 

 ferring to the habit of the plant. Linn. Pentan- 

 dria-Digynia. Nat Ord. Asdepiadacece. 



A small genus of hardy deciduous and green- 

 house evergreen twiners, inhabiting Southern 

 Europe, Asia, and Africa. P. Grceca is an orna- 

 mental species, and has long been known in the 

 garden. It is very common in the hedge-rows 

 of Southern Europe. It has purplish flowers, 

 arranged in axillary clusters. The juice of this 

 species is exceedingly poisonous, and is used in 

 the East for destroying wolves. Propagated by 

 layers or cuttings. 



Peristeria. From peristera, a dove ; in allusion to 

 the dove-like appearance of the column. Linn. 

 Gynandria-Mmandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of splendid terrestrial Orchids. 

 The best known and most beautiful of the spe- 

 cies is P. elata, a native of Panama, where it is 

 known as El Spirito Santo, the Holy Ghost Plant. 

 The reason of this name is obvious on looking 

 at the flower; the central member exhibits a col- 

 umn, which, with its summit and the projecting 

 gland of the pollen masses, together with the 

 erect wings, bears a very striking resemblance to 

 the figure of a dove; hence the English name of 

 Dove Slower. It flower stem rises from the 

 base of the pseudo-bulbs, and attains a height 

 of from four to six feet, its upper portion, for 

 about one-third of the length, being covered 

 with nearly round, very sweet-scented flowers, 

 each about an inch and a half across, and of a 

 ereamy white, with small lilac specks on the base 

 of the lip. They should be grown in well- 

 drained pots of light, rich, fibrous loam, with a 

 liberal mixture of fine sand and broken char- 

 coal. They succeed well in an ordinary green- 

 house, but are impatient of much water, partic- 

 ularly when at rest. They flower during the 

 summer months, and remain in bloom several 

 weeks. Propagated by division. Introduced 

 in 1826. 



Peristrophe. Derivation of name not given. Linn. 

 Diandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Acanthacece. 



A small genus of green-house herbaceous 

 plants, natives of India, with small purple 

 flowers, produced in winter, and continuing in 

 full beauty for several weeks. P. angustifolia varie- 

 gata, of recent introduction, is an ornamental 

 plant, with foliage variegated with yellowish- 

 white and green. It is a very useful plant in 

 window gardening or rustic work. Propagated 

 readily by cuttings. 



Periwinkle. See Vinca. 



Pernettya. Named after Don Pernetti/, author of 

 " A Voyage to the Falkland Islands." Linn. De- 

 candria-Monoqiin'ui. Nat. Ord. Ericacecp.. 

 A genus of 'half-hardy evergreen, white-flow- 



