174 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



PLA 



is not BO. There are very few plants that will 

 accommodate themselves to such varying con- 

 ditions of heat, moisture, and exposure, iney 

 are admirable room plants. They may be grown 

 in pots in a porous soil composed of leaf-mould, 

 sand and plenty of potsherds or pieces of char- 

 coal; or, better still, they may be grown on cork 

 or a piece of a tree log, two or three feet long 

 and about a foot in diameter. They are propa- 

 gated by division and by spores, the latter, 

 however, being an uncertain method of propa- 

 gation except by an expert. 



Platvcodon From plati/s, broad, and kodon, a 

 3 the flowers are broad and bell-shaped. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Campan- 

 ulacece. . . .,, 



A genus of hardy herbaceous perennials, with 

 large white flowers, natives of China and Dahu- 

 ria They grow readily in the garden, and are 

 increased from seeds or by division. In the 

 Northern States they should have a slight pro- 

 tection in winter. 



Platylobium. Flat Pea. From platys, broad, and 

 lobos a pod; in reference to the broad legumes. | 

 Linn. Monadelphia-Decandria. Nat. Ord. Fdba- 



A small genus of handsome evergreen shrubs 

 from Tasmania and New Holland. Like other 

 New Holland plants, these require alight sandy 

 soil, well drained. They should be carefully 

 watered, and have plenty of fresh air whenever 

 it can be admitted. A shelf near to the glass in 

 the most airy part of the green-house in winter, 

 and a shaded situation out of doors in summer, 

 will suit them. The slender branches of all the 

 species require some support, though they do 

 not look well when trained to a regular trellis. 

 It is, therefore, better to use slight sticks where 

 most wanted, allowing the points of the shoots 

 to hang in a graceful, pendent manner. The 

 prevailing color of the large pea-shaped flowers 

 is orange, and an occasional full red. The spe- 

 cies are rarely met in collections, though deserv- 

 ing of general cultivation. They are propa- 

 gated by cuttings or from seed. Introduced 

 about 1800. 



Platyloma. From platys, broad, and lorna, a 

 fringe. Linn. Cryptogamia-FUices. Nat. Ord. 

 Pdypodiacece. 



A small genus of tropical Ferns, some of 

 which are very beautiful. They require to be 

 grown in a shaded house, warm and moist. 

 Platyatemon. From platys, broad, and stemon, a 

 stamen. Linn. Pdyandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Papa.verac.ea;. 



Very handsome yellow-flowering annuals, 

 quite hardy, of creeping habit, and free to 

 flower. The seed should be sown in March, on 

 a warm border, where the plants are required to 

 bloom. The two species that compose this 

 genus are natives of California and Siberia. 

 Platystigma. From platys, broad, and stigma, 

 the female organ. Linn. Polyandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Papavtraeece. 



P. lineare, the only species, is a hardy annual, 

 found in California in 1833. It is a dwarf-grow- 

 ing and free-blooming plant. The flowers are 

 yellow, and, from their profusion, quite showy. 

 It requires no more care than any other hardy 

 annual. 



Plectopomas. A new group of hybrid Gesneras, 

 which some writers have constituted a distinct 

 genus. They are a strong, erect-growing class, 

 with but little to distinguish them from others 

 of this interesting order. See Gesnera. 



PLU 



Plectranthus. From plektron, a cock's spur, and 

 anthos, a flower; referring to the shape of the 

 flower. Linn. Didynamia-Gymnospermia. Nat. 

 Ord. LamiacecK. 



Green-house shrubs and herbaceous plants, 

 natives of Africa, South America, and Asia. 

 They all have purple flowers, produced in ter- 

 minal and axillary racemes. They are rarely 

 cultivated. 



Pleione. A mythological name. Linn. Gynandna- 

 Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A small genus of dwarf epiphytal Orchids, 

 formerly classed with Coelogyne. They are found 

 growing in high altitudes in the mountains of 

 Northern and Northeastern India. They are 

 remarkable for their dwarf habit and richly-col- 

 ored flowers. The flowers are produced in au- 

 tumn or early winter, after a period of rest, and 

 immediately precede the new growth. They are 

 of easy culture, requiring a house of moderate 

 temperature, and alternate seasons of growth 

 and rest. Propagated by division. Introduced 

 in 1864. 



Pleroma. From pleroma, fullness; referring to the 

 cells of the seed-vessel. Linn. Decandria-Monogy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. Melastomacea;. 



A small genus of handsome green-house ever- 

 green shrubs from Brazil. They are free flower- 

 ing, and of easy culture. A rich soil and liberal 

 watering during summer are essential that the 

 new growth may be strong ; they will then pro duce 

 their clusters of purple flowers freely in autumn 

 and winter. P. elegans is one of the best known 

 species, and bears beautiful flowers of a rich 



Eurple color. They are increased by cuttings, 

 atroduced in 1821. 



Pleurisy Boot. A popular name of Asdepias 

 luberosa, from its supposed medicinal qualities. 



Pleurogyne. From pleuron, a side, and gyne, the 

 female organ; this issuing from the side of the 

 seed-vessel. Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Gentianacece. 



P. rotata, the only species, is a low-growing, 

 hardy annual from Siberia. 



Pleurothallis. From pleuron, a side, and thdtto, to 

 flower; in allusion to the one-sided disposition 

 of the flowers of some of the species. Linn. 

 Gynandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



This is one of the most extensive genus of 

 Orchids, comprising nearly three hundred spe- 

 cies, all epiphytes, and natives of the West In- 

 dies and South America. Though interesting 

 botanically, the flowers have not sufficient merit 

 to warrant their introduction into the Orchid 



Plocostemma. Fromptofcos, curled, andsfemma, 

 a crown; referring to the crown of the stamens. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Digynia. Nat. Ord. Asdepiada- 

 cece. 



A small genus of green-house evergreen twin- 

 ers, allied to Hoya, and requiring the same gen- 

 eral treatment. They inhabit the forests of Bor- 

 neo and Java. Introduced in 1858. 



Plum. The well-known Prunus domestica and its 

 varieties. The species from which have origi- 

 nated the Plums of our gardens are found 

 throughout Asia and Southern Europe. The 

 early history of the cultivated varieties is quite 

 obscure. They were introduced into England 

 from France early in the fifteenth century. Both 

 the French and English horticulturists have 



f'tven this fruit considerable attention. New 

 ork has the credit, however, of having pro- 

 duced the greatest number of excellent varieties. 

 Dowing says: "That the soil and climate of the 



