PHY 



PHY 



name of cadew-worm, and is Frequently 

 used by anglers as a bait. When arrived 

 at full growth, it fastens the case or tube, 

 by several silken filaments, to the stem 

 of some water plant, or other convenient 

 substance, in such a manner as to project 

 a little above the surface of the water, 

 and casting its skin, changes to a chrysa- 

 lis of a lengthened shape, and displaying 

 the immature limbs of the future phryga- 

 nea, which in a fortnight emerges from 

 its confinement. It inhabits Europe. 



PHRYMA, in botany, a genus of the 

 Didynumia G\ mnospermia class and order. 

 Natural order of Personate. Labiate, 

 Jussieu. Essential character : seed one. 

 There are two species, r*i~. P. leptostachya 

 and P. dehiscens ; the former is a native 

 of North America, the latter was found at 

 the Cape of Good Hope, by Thunberg. 



PHRYNIUM, in botany, a genfsdl the 

 Monandria Monogynia class and order. 

 Essential character : calyx three-leaved ; 

 petals three, equal, growing to the long 

 channelled tube of the nectary ; nectary 

 tube filiform ; border four-parted ; capsule 

 three celled ; nuts three. There is but 

 one species, viz. P. capitatum, which is a 

 native of Malabar, China, and Cochin 

 China, in shady moist places. 



PHTHISIS, a species of consumption, 

 arising from an ulcer of the lungs. See 

 MEDICINE. 



PHYLACTERY, in antiquity, a charm, 

 or amulet, which being worn, was suppos- 

 ed to preserve people from certain evils, 

 diseases, and dangers. 



PHYLLACHNE, in botany, a genus of 

 the Dioecia Monandria class and order. 

 Essential character: calyx three-leaved, 

 superior ; corolla funnel-form ; female 

 stigma four-cornered; capsule inferior, 

 many seeded. There is only one species, 

 viz. P. uliginosa, a small mossy plant, 

 growing in tufts ; stems closely approxi- 

 mating, covered with imbricate leaves, 

 proliferous into two or three branchlets ; 

 leaves small, awl-shaped, flowers termi- 

 nating, sessile, white ; this plant has the 

 structure of a moss, but adorned with 

 flowers of a very different kind. It is a 

 native of Terra del Fuego. 



PHYLLANTHUS, in botany, a genus 

 of the Monoecia Triandria class and or- 

 der. Natural order of Tricoccae. Eu- 

 phorbiae, Jussieu. Essential character : 

 male, calyx six-parted, bell-shaped; co- 

 rolla none ; female, calyx six-parted ; 

 corolla none ; styles three) bifid ; capsule 

 three-celled ; seeds solitary. There are 

 eleven species, among which we shall no- 

 tice the P. niruri, annual phyllanthus; this 



is a plant, with an herbaceous stalk a foot 

 and a halt in height ; the leaflets contract 

 every evening, turning their under side 

 outwards ; the flowers are produced on 

 the under side of the leaves along the mid- 

 rib, and turn downwards ; it usually flow- 

 ers here from June to October; the seeds 

 ripen in succession, and are cast out of 

 the capsules, when ripe, with so much 

 force, as to be thrown to a considerable 

 distance : it is very common in Barbadoes 

 and Japan. 



PHYLICA, in botany, a genus of the 

 Pentandria Monogynia class and order. 

 Natural order of Dumosae. Rhamni, Jus- 

 sieu. Essential character : perianth five- 

 parted, turbinate ; petals none, but five 

 scales defending the stamens; capsule 

 tricoccous, inferior. There are twenty 

 species, of which P. ericoides, heath-leav- 

 ed phylica, is a low bushy plant, seldom 

 more than three feet in height ; the stalks 

 are shrubby and irregular, dividing into 

 many spreading branches ; at the end of 

 every shoot, the flowers are produced in 

 small clusters, sitting close to the leaves, 

 of a white colour; they begin to appear 

 in the autumn, continue in beauty all the 

 winter ; they decay in spring ; it grows 

 naturally at the Cape of Good Hope ; it 

 also occupies large tracts of ground about 

 Lisbon, in the same manner as many lands 

 in England are covered with heath. 



PHYLLIS, in botany, a genus of the 

 Pentandria Digynia class and order. Na- 

 tural order of Stellatae. Rubiacex, Jus- 

 sieu. Essential character: stigmas his- 

 pid ; fructifications scattered ; calyx two- 

 leaved, obsolete; corolla five-petalled ; 

 seeds two. There is but one species, viz. 

 P. nobla, bastard hare's ear, a native of 

 the Canary islands. 



PHYSALIS, in botany, winter. cherry, a 

 genus of the Pentandria Monogynia class 

 and order. Natural order of Luridae. So- 

 lanesc, Jussieu. Essential character : co- 

 rolla wheel-shaped; stamina converging ; 

 berry within an inflated calyx, two-celled. 

 There are seventeen species, of which the 

 P. alkekengi, common winter-cherry, has 

 a perennial root, creeping to a considera- 

 ble distance ; it shoots up many stalks in 

 the spring; leaves of various shapes, of a 

 dark green colour, on long foot stalks ; 

 flowers axillary, on slender peduncles ; 

 berry round, the size of a small cherry, 

 inclosed in the inflated calyx ; it is a na- 

 tive of the south of Europe. 



PHYSETER, the cachalot, in natural 

 history, a genus of Mammalia, of the or- 

 der Cetae. Generic character : teeth per- 

 ceivable in the lower jaw only ; spiracle 



