PHYTOLACCA 



POKE WEED OEDEB 



EECILLA 767 



dividing the rootstocks in spring. Seeds 

 may also be sown in spring in cold frames, 

 and the seedhngs transplanted when large 

 enough about a yard apart to allow them 

 to fuUy develop. 



P. acinosa. — A Himalayan species 

 related to P. decandra, from which it is 

 readily distinguished by its green and 

 slightly branched stems rarely exceeding 

 3 or 4 ft. high, by its oblong elliptic usually 

 green leaves, and its white or slightly 

 blush flowers in erect spikes 6-8 in. long. 



Culture Sc. as above. 



P. decandra [Virgi/niam, PoJce Weed; 

 Pigeon Beri-y ; Bed Ink Plamt). — A 

 vigorous but rather unpleasant smelling 

 N. American perermial 3-10 ft. high, with 

 large fleshy and poisonous roots, and 

 erect purplish stems branched at the top. 

 Leaves about 6 in. long, stalked ovate, 

 green at first, changing to a beautiful 

 purple in autumn. Flowers in summer, 

 white with 10 stamens, succeeded in 

 autumn by spikes of dark purple berries, 

 composed of 10 united carpels filled with 

 a crimson juice, which has been likened 

 to red ink — ^hence one of the popular 

 names. 



Culture dc. as above. Suitable for 

 the rougher parts of the garden among 

 bold and somewhat coarse growing plants. 



P. icosandra {P.mexicana). — A bushy 

 Mexican perennial 2-8 ft. high, having 

 rather thick elliptic or oblong-ovate taper- 



pointed leaves 4-9 in. or more long, in- 

 cluding the slender stalk. Flowers in 

 summer, pinkish-white, having 20 stamens, 

 and borne in long loose racemes 6-12 in. 

 long, succeeded in autumn by roundish 

 depressed berries, somewhat resembling 

 very ripe Blackberries. 

 Culture dec. as above. 



ERCILLA. — A genus with only one 

 species : — 



E. volubilis [Bridgesia apicata). — A 

 handsome climbing shrub native of Chili 

 and Peru, with alternate ovate heart- 

 shaped or oblong rounded thick leathery 

 leaves 2-3 in. long. Flowers in March and 

 April, hermaphrodite, purplish, sessile, 

 in dense racemes springing from the axils 

 of the shortly stalked or sessile leaves. 

 Perianth with 5 oblong blunt equal lobes. 

 Stamens 8-10. Fruit berries consisting of 

 4-8 fi:ee ovoid compressed carpels. 



Cultu/re amd Propagation. — This is 

 an excellent plant for covering walls, over 

 which it rapidly spreads, and seems to be 

 perfectly hardy, at least as far north as 

 the Thames Valley. It flowers profusely 

 and remains in good condition for three 

 or four weeks. It is not very well known 

 although it has been introduced to culti- 

 vation about 50 years. It is probably 

 increased by seeds and cuttings of the 

 more or less ripened shoots in summer 

 and autumn, inserted in cold frames in 

 sandy soil. 



XCV. POLYGONACE.^— Rhubarb Order 



A natural order of herbs, shrubs, or sometimes trees. Leaves alternate or 

 rarely opposite, variously shaped, rarely lobed or divided, the stalks often 

 more or less dilated and sheathing at the base, and having ocreate stipules. 

 Mowers hermaphrodite or 1-sexed in a few genera, regular, usually small, 

 springing from the leaf axils or bracts, solitary or clustered in racemes or 

 spikes. Perianth inferior, consisting of 4-6 calyx-like or coloured lobes or 

 segments. Stamens 6-9, rarely fewer, or many more; filaments free, or 

 united in a ring at the base. Ovary superior 3- (rarely 4-) angled or com- 

 pressed, 1-celled. Styles 3, 2, or very rarely 4. Fruit usually a triangular 

 indehiscent 1-seeded nut, often enclosed by the perianth. 



Besides the genera and species described below, it may be mentioned that 

 the well-known Dock {Bumex) belongs to this order. The Docks, which are 

 recognised by the perianth having 6 segments, the 3 inner ones of which 

 usually grow larger, 6 stamens and 3-angled fruit, are not usually included 

 in books dealing with ornamental garden plants ; but what is so graceful 

 and vigorous by the side of a stream or lake as a fine clump of bright green 



