HENDEKSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



PUB 



remarkably well in the Southern States, where it 

 is extensively grown for ornamental purposes. 

 In the Middle and Northern States it is grown 

 in pots or tubs, and used in summer for orna- 

 menting the border or lawn. There are few 

 species, but several varieties. The double flow- 

 ered scarlet is the most desirable. P. nana, a 

 dwarf double -flowered variety, is a favorite 

 green-house plant, suitable for lawn decoration 

 during summer, requiring the protection of a 

 cool house or cellar during the winter. This 

 species is a native of the East Indies, from 

 whence it was introduced into England in 1723. 

 It has sinco become naturalized in the West In- 

 dies and Southern States. A few years since it 

 was sent out as a new plant. The fruit of the 

 Pomegranate has been highly esteemed for its 

 quality and form from the earliest ages. It was 

 one of the most conspicuous ornaments directed 

 to be used in the construction of Solomon's 

 Temple, and is frequently mentioned in the 

 Bible. All the species are of easy culture, and 

 readily propagated from cuttings of the young 

 wood. 



Purple Cone Flower. See Echinacea. 



Purslane. See Portulaca. 



Puschkinia. Named after Courd M. Puschkin, a 

 Russian botanist. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. LUiacece. 



P. scUloides is the only species now known. 

 It is a beautiful littlo bulbous plant, with light 

 purple flowers, like the small-flowered Scilla, as 

 its pecific name indicates. The leaves grow 

 from the bulb, and stand erect round the stem, 

 as though protecting the flower. It is a native 

 of Russia, and perfectly hardy. Propagated by 

 offsets. Introduced in 1819. 



Putty-root. Seo Apleclrum, 



Puya. Native name. This genus is the same as 

 Pourretia. Puya has been substituted for Pour- 

 retia, as being the older name. Linn. Hexandria- 

 Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Bromdiacece. 



A genus of green-house herbaceous peren- 

 nials and epiphytes, with spikes of white and 

 yellow flowers, like the Pitcarnia, which they 

 resemble. They are natives of Mexico and 

 South America. P. Merophylla is a very pretty 

 and curious plant, bearing two distinct kinds of 

 leaves : one with tough, broad, horny kinds of 

 leaves, which overlie each other, forming a kind 

 of bulb, extended into narrow, serrated pro- 

 cesses about two inches long; the others, which 

 are last formed, are thin, bright green, and lan- 

 ceolate, more than eighteen inches long. A more 

 recent introduction, P. grandiflora, is also a fine 

 plant, and all are interesting. Propagated by 

 seeds or from suckers. Introduced in 1840 



Pyrethrum. Feverfew. From pyr, fire; the roots 

 are hot to the taste. Linn. Sywjenesia-Superftua. 

 Nat. Ord. Asteracece. 



A genus of very interesting plants, mostly 

 hardy herbaceous perennials, which only re- 

 quire planting in the open border and the usual 

 treatment of perennial plants. P. Parlhenmm is 

 the well-known Feverfew of our gardens, and 

 is hardy. It is common throughout Europe 

 and the Caucasus. The Golden Feather, so 

 much used as an edging plant, is a sport from 

 this species. P. carneum and its varieties are 

 beautiful hardy plants. The flowers are bright 

 rose and pink, as large as an Aster, and remark- 

 able for the length of time they remain perfect. 

 Many of them are very double. They are na- 

 tives of the Caucasus, perfectly hardy, and easily 

 propagated by division, or from seed, which 



PYR 



should be sown in June to flower the following 

 season. 



Pyrola. Wintergreen. From pyrus, a pear-tree; 

 resemblance in the leaves. Linn. l)ecandria-Mo- 

 nogynia. Nat. Ord. Pyrolacetv. 



A small genus of native evergreen, low-grow- 

 ing shrubs common in moist, sandy woods 

 throughout the Northern States. P. rotundifolia, 

 with its varieties, is the most common, and 

 yields the Wintergreen Berries so much sought 

 after. 



Pyrolirion. Flame Lily. From pyr, fire, and 

 lirion, a lily; alluding to the color and form of 

 the. flowers. Linn. Jlexandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord. Amaryllidacece. 



A small genus of rare and beautiful Peruvian 

 bulbs, allied to Zephyranthes. The flowers are 

 orange and yellow, produced in July and Au- 

 gust, before the leaves appear. They can be 

 grown in the open border. The bulbs require 

 to be kept dry and warm during the winter. If 

 grown in pots in the green-house, they must 

 have rest from December until April. They are 

 increased by offsets. Introduced into England 

 in 1833. 



Pyrus.* Pear. Also Apple, which see. From 

 peren, the Celtic word for pear. Linn. Icosandria- 

 Monogynut. Nat. Ord. Pomacece. 



The different kinds of Crabs and Pears are 

 very ornamental flowering plants, independent- 

 ly of the value of the fruit of some of the spe- 

 cies. The ornamental kinds are all low trees, 

 admirably adapted for the lawn or the shrub- 

 bery, and are all of easy culture. They are prop- 

 agated by grafting the finer on the more com- 

 mon kinds. To thrive and look well, however, 

 they require an airy situation, and not to be 

 crowded among other trees. Among the kinds 

 most worthy of notice are the following: Pyms 

 spectiibilis, the Chinese Crab or Garland-flower- 

 ing Wild Apple, producing the most showy flow- 

 ers of the whole genus in May, and as hardy as 

 the common Crab or wild Pear. P. coronaria, 

 the Sweet-scented Crab, with large and beauti- 

 ful pink blossoms, highly fragrant, as is the 

 first. P. coronarius angustifolia, the narrow- 

 leaved Sweet-scented Crab, with flowers as beau- 

 tiful as the former, and with the leaves sub- 

 evergreen. This and the two preceding kinds 

 have the fruit green when ripe, and fragrant, 

 but it is hardly edible. Pyrus baccata and P. 

 prunifoHa, the two kinds of Siberian Crab, have 

 very showy flowers, and small red or yellow 

 fruit. These are the principal ornamental spe- 

 cies of the Crabor Apple kind, unless we ex- 

 cept one, the Moscow or Transparent Crab, 

 Pyrus Astracanica, which has fruit almost as 

 large as a Golden Pippin, wax-colored when ripe. 

 The Crab, though commonly cultivated for its 

 fruit, as useful for the table, well deserves a 

 place on the lawn as an ornamental plant, from 

 the extraordinary beauty of the fruit, and is 

 sometimes used for that purpose. The orna- 

 mental Pears are the following: P. S'llvifolln, 

 which has woolly leaves like those of the Sage, 

 and, like all the Pears, white flowers ; this pecu- 

 liarity, independently of other marks, distin- 

 guishing them from the Apples, which have red- 

 dish flowers. P. amygdalwformis is another or- 

 namental species, which has silvery-white 

 leaves, and fruit shaped like that of the Al- 

 mond; and to these may be added P. ele>itjmfUa, 

 which has long, narrow, white leaves like those 

 of the Eleagnus, P. salicifolia, with long, nar- 

 row, silky leaves, like those of the Willow; and 



