HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



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PHI 



A genus of ornamental, com pact -growing, 

 hardy evergreen shrubs. The few known spe- 

 cies inhabit the shores of the Mediterranean. 

 The chief value of this shrub is its perfect har- 

 diness, and its adaptation for sea-side planting. 



Philodendron. From phileo, to love, and dendron, 

 a tree; referring to the habit of the plants of 

 this genus to overrun trees in the South Ameri- 

 can forests. Linn. Moncecia-Triandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Aracece. 



A singular genus of tropical plants, with 

 mostly scrambling stems, which attach them- 

 selves to the trunks of trees, whence the name 

 of the genus. They are all green-house ever- 

 green perennials, with large, irregular, singular 

 leaves, and showy flowers, some of which are 

 pure white, others white and bright rose. They 

 are natives of South America. Propagated by 

 cuttings of side shoots and from seeds. Intro- 

 duced in 1835. See Monstera. 



Phlebodium. From phleps, a vein. Linn. Cryp- 

 toijamia-Filices. Nat. Ord. Polypodiacece. 



A genus of net-veined Ferns, separated from 

 Polypcdium. P.aureum, typical of the genus, is a 

 bold, glaucous-tinted Fern, with strong rhizomes, 

 which run upon the surface. It is a handsome 

 species, and will grow luxuriantly in a cool 

 green-house. It is increased by division or 

 from spores. The species have long been un- 

 der cultivation. 



Phleum. Supposed to be the Greek name for 

 Typha. Linn. Triandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 GraminacecK. 



A small genus of grasses. P. pratense is the 

 well-known Timothy, or Herds Grass, in New 

 England; it is also known as Cat's-tail Grass. 



Phlogacanthus. From phlox, a flame, and akan- 

 thus, the type of this family; in allusion to the 

 long spike of yellow or flame-colored flowers. 

 Linn. Diandria-Monof/ynia. Nat. Ord. Acan- 

 thncece. 



A genus of East Indian green-house evergreen 

 shrubs, allied to Justicia, and from which genus 

 a few species have been separated. They are all 

 ornamental winter-blooming plants, with bright 

 orange or yellow flowers. They are increased 

 in the same manner as the Justicia., and require 

 the same general treatment. 



Phlomis. Jerusalem Sage. From phlogmos, a 



flame; in reference to the down being used for 



wicks. Linn. Didynamia-Gymnospermia. Nat. 



Ord. LamiacecK. 



A genus of herbaceous perennial and shrubby 



Elants, with large, coarse-growing, glaucous 

 saves, greatly resembling those of the common 

 Sage, and yellow or purple flowers disposed in a 

 whorl round the joints. All the species are prop- 

 agated by layers or cuttings, or by root divi- 

 sion. They are mostly natives of Southern Eu- 

 rope. P. tuberosa is occasionally met in some 

 parts of the State of New York growing wild; it 

 is, however, an escape from our gardens. 

 Phlox. From phlox, aflame; in reference to the 

 brilliancy of the flowers. Linn. Pentandria- 

 Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. Polemoniacece. 



This extensive and interesting genus is exclu- 

 sively North American, and contains many of our 

 most valuable hardy herbaceous perennials, and 

 one invaluable hardy annual. What are com- 

 monly termed Perennial Phloxes are seedlings, 

 varieties from P.' paniculata, which is common 

 from Pennsylvania to Illinois and southward. 

 Of this species there are several varieties, all of 

 the same general character, producing immense 

 terminal clusters of white, pink, purple, and 



PH(E 



crimson flowers. From this species and from 

 P. miculata. a lower growing species, common 

 in the Middle and Western States, have origi- 

 nated the many rare and beautiful varieties that 

 are now attracting such universal attention. 

 The hybridizing of this class has chiefly been 

 done by European florists; a pleasant and 

 profitable work that should not have passed out 

 of our own hands, and would not out for the 

 too common error that plants, as well as all 

 other commodities, to be truly valuable, must 

 be stamped with a foreign seal. It is claimed 

 by some of the foreign horticulturists that the 

 finer hybrids are crosses between the annual 

 and perennial species, and the brilliant color so 

 characteristic of them gives some credence to the 

 assertion. Many of the species have long been 

 cultivated, and regarded as the most valuable 

 plants for the border. A few of the more valu- 

 able are worthy of special mention. P. subu'ata, 

 Moss Pink or Ground Pink. This is a beautiful 

 dwarf-growing species, rarely exceeding six 

 inches in height, and grows in dense tufts, pro- 

 ducing its pink, purple, or white flowers, which 

 usually have a dark center, in great profusion in 

 early spring. This species is very common from 

 New York to Michigan and southward. P. rep- 

 tans or stolonifera is another dwarf species, ofa 

 rambling habit, with neat foliage and numerous 

 clusters of bright crimson flowers. It is one of 

 our most showy early spring flowering plants, 

 blooming early in May. The flowers are nearly 

 as large as the late, tail-growing species. P. di- 

 varicata produces bluish-lilac flowers from April 

 to June, and grows about the same height as the 

 former species. This species is found in moist, 

 rocky woods in the Middle States, north and 

 west. P. pilosa grows about one foot high, and 

 produces its lovely pink flowers in May and June. 

 P. Di-ummondii, the only annual species, is a native 

 of Texas, where it was discovered in 1835 by 

 Mr. Drummond, a botanical collector sent out by 

 the Glasgow Botanical Society. The seeds of 

 this were sent home, and soon after the discov- 

 erer fell a victim to the fever in Cuba, and died. 

 For this reason Sir W. J. Hooker named the 

 plant Phlox Drummondii, that it might " serve as 

 a frequent memento of its unfortunate discover- 

 er." There can be no stronger proof of the 

 value and beauty of this species than the extent 

 to which it is grown. Each year new varieties 

 are added to the list, and, thus far, each year 

 shows a marked improvement over the past, 

 both in size and color of the flower, and in their 

 extraordinary markings and variations. The 

 varieties now include white, pink, rose, purple, 

 and scarlet colors, and a near approach to vel- 

 low. Some of the scarlets have pure white 

 eyes, and many of the others have the same dis- 



tinctive marking. The only treatment required 

 for this species is to sow the seed in early 

 spring, where the plants are wanted to grow; 

 and for perfection of flower the plants should 

 be thinned out to one foot apart each way. 

 They may also be started in the green-house 

 or in a hot-bed, and pricked out in pots and 

 boxes, and earlier flowers thus secured. The 

 perennial species are increased by cuttings or 

 by division of roots in spring. They should in 

 no case be allowed to stand undivided more 

 than three years, and they produce larger and 

 finer flowers if separated every spring. 



Phoenix Date Palm. The Greek name of the 

 Date. Ifan. DioBda-Triandria, Nat. Ord. Po/n- 

 acete. 



