Platycarpum 



( 212 ) 



Platyclinis 



deeply five-lobed (//>/. 

 heterophylla, liquidam- 

 bariiolia, and vitifolia 

 of gardens, and vulgaris 

 of Spach). Eastern or 

 Common Plane. 



Other Species : 

 cuneata, base of Ivs. 

 wedge shaped, other- 

 wise like orientalis 



laciiiiata, Ivs. deeply 



cut. 

 variegata, Ivs. grn., 



wh. 



(//. digitata, uepal- 

 ensis, orientalis cuue- 

 ata, and palmata su- 

 perba). 



PLATYCARPUM. 



A tall, stove tree (prd. Rubiacese). Propagation, 

 by cuttings of partly ripened shoots, in sand, in a 

 close frame. Soil, loam two parts, leaf mould one 

 part, and one-sixth sand. A rather dry time during 

 winter is advisable. 



Only Species : 



orinocense, 20', st., pale ro., funnel shaped, showy. 



PLATYCARYA (syn. FORTUNE). 



The only species (ord. Juglandese) is a branching 

 shrub of elegant habit, hardy in the south and 

 south-west of Britain. Almost any soil will do for 

 it. (tfee also JUGLANS.) 



Only Species : 



strobilacea, Aug., hdy. or hlf-hdy., yel., Ivs. 

 aromatic (st/n. Fortunrea chinensis). 



PLATYCERIUM. (STAG'S and ELK'S 

 HORN FERNS.) 



Description. These distinct-looking Ferns (or A. 

 Filices) are popular and easy to grow. 



Propagation. With the exception of grande, all 

 Platyceriums produce upon their roots buds which 

 give rise to young plants. This is a comparatively 

 slow method of increase. Also by spores, though 

 sporelings take a long time before they make 

 plants. 



Compost. The plants may be grown in shallow 

 pots or pans, but they appear to better advantage 

 if their epiphytic nature be taken into account and 

 they be established on rustic tree branches or placed 

 in pockets of virgin cork affixed to tree steins. A 

 stump of this kind covered with Platyceriums and 

 Ficus stipulata (repens) is a choice addition to the 

 warm fernery. Very little soil is required fibrous 

 peat and chopped sphagnum in equal parts, with a 

 little sand, charcoal, and crushed crocks added, suit 

 them well. If grown in pots, nearly half the pot 

 must be filled with drainage. A surfacing of living 

 sphagnum is helpful. Weak liquid cow manure 

 may be given in the summer months. The roots 

 must be kept moist at all times. A fungus occa- 

 sionally attacks Platyceriums, and is very difficult 

 to deal with. Watering with weak Condy's Fluid 

 is a good remedy. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



[NOTE. The dimensions given refer to the fertile 

 fronds. The sterile fronds appear as broad, flat. 

 or slightly convex plates covering the surface on 

 which they are growing. The edges are upturned, 

 but are erect in grande.] 



sethiopicum, 2' to 3' 

 long, twice divided, sub- 

 peudent, lower surface 

 downy, st. (si/n. Stem- 

 maria). 



alcicorne, 2' to 3' long, 

 twice or thrice forked, 

 very leathery, under 



surface downy, st. or 

 grh. Common Elk's 

 Horn Fern (see figure). 

 Hillii, \\' long, erect, 

 covered with wh. hairs 

 when young, dark grn., 

 fronds much forked, st. 

 (tyn. Hillii). 



majus, larger fronds, 

 st. ; stronger plant. 



grande, 4' to 6' long. sni>- 

 peudeut, in pairs, st. ; 

 one of the best. 



Wallichii, fertile fronds 



Other Species : 



angolense, 9" broad at 

 top, not forked, st. (//. 

 (ethiopicum augolense) . 



biforme, 0' to 15' long, 

 drooping, much divided, 

 st. ; rare in cultivation. 



in pairs, pendent, 

 covered yel., woolly 

 beneath, st. ; rare, but 

 hmidsome. 



Williuckii, 2}' long, in 

 threes, pendent, much 

 divided, glaucous, st. 



Hillii (see alcicorne var.). 

 Stemmaria (sec sethiop- 



icum). 

 Veitchii, fronds erect. 



stout, leathery, dark 



grn., st. 



1'LATYCEIUCM ALCICOHXE. 



PLATYCLINIS (*yn. DRNDROCHILUM). 



Stove and intermediate house epiphytal Orchids 

 (ord. Orchidacefe), with small flowers whose 

 number makes up for the lack of size ; they are 

 generally deliciously scented. Propagation is by 

 division and imported pieces. Compost, fibrous 

 peat and sphagnum in equal parts. The pans must 

 be well drained, and hung close up to the glass, for 

 abundance of diffused light is needed. The most 

 suitable time for repotting is just when new growths 

 are beginning to send out roots in spring, and where 

 a good effect is desired it will be well to compound 

 two or three clumps to form a large one. Plenty of 

 water is needed during growth, but when the plants 

 show signs of going to rest this must be curtailed , 

 when rest is complete, give only enough to keep 

 the pseudo-bulbs from shrivelling. 



Principal Species and Varieties : 



[NOTE. p. b. = pseudo-bulbs; 1. = lip.] 

 cobbiana, p. b. 1" to 2", yel. (KI/II. Dcndrochilum 



late aut., st., yel., 1. or. cobbianum). 



Platycapnos (see Fnmaria), 

 Platycldliim (tee Hoi-ea), 



