HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



179 



POT 



ing flowers, the corolla of which is funnel- 

 shaped, with a very long tube, a hairy throat, 

 and a five-parted limb. One or two of the spe- 

 cies are to be found in collections of rare plants. 

 P. revolida is one of the best, and should be 

 grown in the hot-house. Propagated by cuttings. 

 Introduced in 1822. 



Pot Marigold. See Calendula. 



Potato. Solatium tuberosum. The early history of 

 this important plant, as well as the various 

 stages of its development from a tuber not much 

 larger than a marble, watery and comparatively 

 tasteless, to the present great staple of food, is 

 very obscure. The most accurate and concise 

 account we find in the "Treasury of Botany," 

 written by Mr. W. B. Booth, from which we 

 quote : " The native country of the Potato, and 

 the date of its introduction into Britain, have 

 been subjects of much discussion. There can 

 be no doubt of its being indigenous in many 

 parts of South America, plants in a wild state 

 having been found on the Peruvian coast, as 

 well as on the sterile mountains of Central Chili 

 and Buenos Ayres. The Spaniards are believed 

 to have first brought it to Europe from Quito, 

 in the early part of the sixteenth century. It 

 afterward found its way into Italy, and from 

 thence it was carried into Mons in Belgium by 

 one of the attendants of the pope's legate. In 

 1598 it was sent from Mons to the celebrated 

 botanist Clusius at Vienna, who states that in 

 a short time it spread rapidly throughout Ger- 

 many. The first Potatoes that reached this 

 country (England) were brought from Virginia 

 by the colonists sent out by Sir Walter Raleigh 

 in A. D. 1584, and who returned in 1583. They 

 were planted on Sir Walter's estate near Cork, 

 and were used for food in Ireland long before 

 they were even known or cultivated in England. 

 Gerarde had a plant in his garden at Holborn, 

 and has given a figure of it in his Herbal, pub- 

 lished in 1597, under the name of Balata Vir- 

 giniamt. He recommends the roots to be eaten 

 as a delicate dish, and not as common food. In 

 the times of James the First they were so rare 

 as to cost two shillings (sterling) a pound, and 

 are mentioned in 1619 among the articles pro- 

 vided for the royal household. In 1633, when 

 their valuable properties had become more 

 generally known, they were deemed worthy of 

 notice by the Royal Society, which took meas- 

 ures to encourage their cultivation with a view 

 of preventing famine; but it was not until 

 nearly a century after the above date that they 

 were grown to any extent in England. In 1725 

 they were introduced into Scotland, and cultivat- 

 ed with much success, first in gardens and after- 

 ward, (about 1760,) when they had become more 

 plentiful, in the open fields. Since that period 

 the prejudices which so long existed against 

 their use, both in England and Scotland, have 

 gradually vanished, and for many years past the 

 Potato crop has been regarded as a most valu- 

 able addition to the staple commodities of life, 

 only second in importance to the cereals." 

 The Sweet Potato is the root of Batatas edulii*, of 

 the Nat. Ord. Gmvolvulacew, and its history is 

 quite as obscure as that of the common Potato. 

 The first mention of it is said to be by an author 

 named Pigafetta, who went to Brazil in 1519, 

 and found it in use as an article of food by the 

 Indians. It was soon afterward introduced into 

 Spain, where it has been extensively cultivated 

 ever since. Of this species there are several 

 varieties indigenous to both the East and West 



PRI 



Indies, and South America. The Sweet Potato 

 is extensively grown in the United States, espe- 

 cially in the Southern States. 



Potato, Sweet. See Potato. 



Potentilla. Cinquefoil, Five Finger. From 

 fiotfHS, powerful ; supposed medicinal quality 

 of some of the species. Linn. Icosandria-Trigy- 

 nia. Nat. Ord. fiosacece. 



This is a large genus of very desirable hardy 

 herbaceous plants, and it is somewhat remark- 

 able, when their number (upward of one hun- 

 dred and thirty species and varieties) and their 

 ornamental character are considered, that so few 

 of them are met with in gardens. They grow 

 without trouble in any tolerably good soil, and 

 produce their scarlet, orange, yellow, crimson, 

 and rose colored double and single flowers in 

 great abundance. The species are common to 

 both hemispheres, and are propagated readily 

 from seeds or by division. First introduced 

 in 1680. 



Pothos. From Pathos, the name of a species in 

 Ceylon. Linn. Tetrandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Orontacece. 



A genus of climbing shrubs, natives of India, 

 China, and New Holland. They are epiphytal, 

 and have cord-like stems, sending out false 

 roots here and there, and attaching themselves 

 to trees. A few of the species have very hand- 

 some foliage, and are grown in the green-house 

 for the sake of their leaves. The leaves of P. 

 palmata are three feet long, and the foot-stalks 

 four. They are increased by cuttings. Intro- 

 duced in 1790. 



Pourretia. In honor of Abbe Pourret, a French 

 botanist and traveler in Spain. Linn. Hexan- 

 dr'M-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Bromeliacece. 



An ornamental genus of green-house plants, 

 differing but little from B'ulberyia, and requiring 

 the same management. All the species are na- 

 tives of South America. Propagated by suckers. 



Prickly Ash. See Xanthoxylon fraxinewn, 



Prickly Comfrey. See Symphytum, 



Prickly Pear. See Opuntla. 



Prickly Poppy. See Argemone. 



Priestleya. Named in honor of the celebrated 

 Dr. Priestley. Linn. Diaddphia-Decandria. Nat. 

 Ord. Fabacece. 



A handsome genus of Cape plants, with bril- 

 liant yellow flowers. They grow best in very 

 sandy loam, which must be well drained. The 

 necessary water must be given cautiously at all 

 times, especially in winter, when great care must 

 be taken to keep the leaves dry, for if wetted 

 then they die off, and thus weaken the plant. 

 The ornamental character of the genus is suffi- 

 ciently great, however, to deserve all the neces- 

 sary attention. Propagated by cuttings of well- 

 ripened wood. Introduced in 1800. 



Prim. One of the common names of Ligustrum. 



Primrose. See Primula. 



Primula. Primrose. From primus, the first; in 

 allusion to the early flowering of the plants. 

 Linn. Pentandria-Monogynki. Nat. Ord. Priimir 

 lacece. 



This extensive genus includes three of the 

 most popular and beautiful of florist's flowers, 

 viz., the Auricula, the Polyanthus, and the Prim' 

 rose. Of each, there are almost innumerable va- 

 rieties. The Auricula, Primula auricula, is a na- 

 tive of the Alps of Switzerland, and the mount- 

 ainous countries adjoining, whence it was called, 

 when first introduced in 1596, the Mountain or 

 French Cowslip. It was also called Bear's Ear 

 or Oricola, whence the modern name of Auric- 



