HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



181 



PHI 



ers. It finds its home in very high latitudes, 

 where it is constantly watered from the melting 

 snow. From this peculiarity it cannot be suc- 

 cessfully grown in our houses or borders. There 

 are many other species included in this genus, 

 mostly interesting, but not of special import- 

 ance. We only add Primula veris, the common 

 English Cowslit), and P. elatior, the common 

 Ox-lip. 



Prince's Feather. See Polygonum. 



Prince's Feather. See Amaranthus hypochondri- 



in-ns. 



Prinos. Winter Berry. The ancient name of the 

 Holly, which some of the species resemble. 

 Linn. Hexandria-Monoyynia. Nat. Ord. Aquifdia- 

 cece. 



Very handsome berry-bearing hardy decidu- 

 ous shrubs, common from Maine to Virginia and 

 southward. P. verticillata is the Black Alder or 

 Winter Berry. It is covered with glossy red ber- 

 ries during most of the winte/. P. Icevigata is 

 the Smooth Winter Berry. The fruit is larger 

 than in the preceding, and ripens earlier in the 

 fall; but the berries are of the same glossy red. 

 These two species are beautiful plants, especial- 

 ly in the winter, and are worthy of a plaae in the 

 shrubbery or on the lawn. They are used in 

 the winter for decorative purposes, P. glabra is 

 the Ink Berry, the fruit of which is black. It is 

 a less desirable plant than the species named 

 above. Professor Gray has placed these plants 

 in the genus Ile.t. 



Privet. See Ligustrum. 



Promeneea. Derivation of name unknown. 

 Linn. Gynandrla-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchida- 



CfCK. ;: : 



A small genus of low-growing, very pretty Or- 

 chids from Brazil, formerly classed with Maxil- 

 laria. They are usually grown as curiosities 

 rather than for show; their height rarely ex- 

 ceeds three inches. 



Pronaya. Named after M. Pronay, a French nat- 

 uralist. Linn. Pentandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. 

 Pittosporacete. 



A genus of green-house evergreen climbers 

 from Swan River. P. degans, the best known 

 species, is a showy plant, with terminal clusters 

 of pale lilac flowers. It has the habit of SoUya, 

 to which it is nearly allied, but is inferior in 

 beauty. Propagated by cuttings. Introduced 

 in 1837. 



Prosartes. From prosartao, to hang from ; in 

 allusion to the pendent ovules or flowers. Linn. 

 Hexandria-Monofjyma. Nat. Ord. Liliacea;. 



A small genus of hardy native plants, with yel- 

 low, drooping flowers, common in moist, rich 

 woods, from New York, west and south. 



Prostanthera. From prostheke, appendage, and 

 anlhera, anther; connections of the anthers are 

 spurred. Linn. Didynamia-Angiospennia. Nat. 

 Ord. L'liiiiiiciii'. 



Green-house evergreen shrubs from New Hol- 

 land, remarkable for the strong odor they emit. 

 Their flowers are produced in terminal racemes, 

 but are not of very great beauty. One of the 

 species has long been under cultivation, quite 

 as much for rarity as for beauty. Propagated by 

 seeds or from cuttings. 



Prunus. Plum, Cherry. From prune, its Greek 

 name. Linn. Icosandria-Moivxjyina. Nat. Ord. 

 Jjrupacefr. 



See Plum and Cherry. 



Psidium. Guavn. Derived from psidion, the 

 Greek name of Pomegranate. Linn. Icosandrla- 

 Munorjynia. Nat. Ord. Jlyrtacece. 



PUN 



An extensive genus of low-growing evergreen 

 trees, confined chiefly to the West Indies and 

 South America. They are much esteemed for 

 their fruit. P. Guaiava produces the well- 

 known Guava fruits, so largely employed in the 

 preparation of jellies, a staple article of West 

 Indian commerce. The fruit is small, not unlike 

 an Orleans Plum. It is juicy, and in flavor some- 

 what resembles a Strawberry. 



Pteris. Brake. From pteryx, a wing; the shape 

 of the fronds or leaves. Linn. Cryptogamia-Filices. 

 Nat. Ord. Polypodiaceo}. 



A very extensive genus of Ferns, widely dis- 

 tributed over the temperate and tropical regions, 

 and differing as widely in character. The genus 

 includes the common Brake or Bracken, and the 

 beautifully variegated P. argurea is one of the 

 most valued plants for green-house or conserva- 

 tory decoration. P. tricolor is one of the most 

 beautiful Ferns, but, from the difficulty in grow- 

 ing it, is rarely met. These two are natives of the 

 East Indies. There are several other species in 

 common cultivation. They are all propagated 

 from spores. 



Ptychosperma. Derivation of name not given. 

 Linn. JJioecia-Polyandria. Nat. Ord. Palmacea;. 



A. genus of elegant Palms with pinnate leaves, 

 natives of the Eastern Archipelago. P. Seemani 

 is a very beautiful dwarf Palm, well adapted for 

 table and general decorative purposes. The 

 leaves somewhat resemble those of the Caryola 

 in appearance, and are of a bright green color. 

 This Palm never attains large dimensions ; the 

 stem, when fully developed, is about an inch in 

 diameter, and is used, on account of its strength 

 and straightness, for spears by the natives of 

 New Guiana, from whence it was received. 

 Propagated by seed. 



Pulmonaria. Lungwort. So named from the 

 supposed medicinal properties in diseases of 

 the lungs. Linn. Pentandria-Mon igynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Boraginacece. 



An extensive genus of hardy herbaceous per- 

 ennials, common in the temperate regions of 

 both hemispheres. They are showy border 

 plants, with flowers of various shades of blue. 

 They grow freely in any good rich soil, and are 

 increased by seeds or root division. This is 

 placed in Mertensia by Professor Gray. 



Pulsatilla. A synonym of Anemone patens, var. 

 Vuttotfunta. 



Pulteneea. Named after W. Putteney, M.D., a 

 botanical author. Linn. Decandria-Jfonogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. FabacecK. 



Green - house, yellow - flowered, evergreen 

 shrubs from New Holland. Of the fifty or sixty 

 species that make up this genus, but two or 

 three have been introduced into the green- 

 house, and these are only to be found in the 

 more extensive collections. 



Pumpkin. C'ucurbita Pepo. A species of gourd; 

 but when, where, or how our present varieties 

 originated is past finding out. Three hundred 

 years ago they were made into pies by cutting 

 a hole in the side, extracting the seeds anf. fila- 

 ments, stuffing the cavity with apples and 

 spices, and baking the whole. 



Punica. Pomegranate. From punicus, of ' ' Car- 

 thage," near which city it is said to have been 

 first found; or from puniceus, scarlet; referring 

 to the color of the flowers. Linn. Icosandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. J/v/^cw. 



The Pomegranate is a very handsome decidu- 

 ous shrub or low-growing tree, a native of 

 Northern Africa and Western Asia. It thrives 



