ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
Platycerium (Elk’s-horn Fern; Stag’s-horn Fern). — Ord. 
Filices. Stove & greenhouse evergreen ferns. First introduced 1808. 
Fronds more or less broad, divided; resembles stag’s horn. 
CULTURE: Compost, equal parts fibrous peat & sphagnum moss. 
Position, blocks of wood suspended from roof or sides of greenhouse or 
stove. Place plant on block of wood, cover roots with layer of moss 
& peat, & secure in position by means of copper wire. Top-dress 
annually with fresh peat & moss in Feb. or March. Water copiously, 
April to Sept. ; moderately Sept. to March. Shade from sun. Temp. 
for stove species, 55° to 65°, Oct. to March; 70° to 80°, March to Oct. ; 
greenhouse species, 45° to 55°, Oct. to March; 60° to 70°, March to 
Oct. Propagate by offsets in Feb. or March; also by spores sown in 
sandy peat in temp. 75° to 85°. 
STOVE SPECIES: P. grande, Tropical Asia; Wallichii, Malaya; Willinckii, 
Java. 
GREENHOUSE SPECIES: P. alcicorne (Common Elk’s-horn Fern), Australia; 
alicorne Hillii, fronds much forked. 
Platyclinis. — Ord. Orchidaceez. Stove epiphytal orchids. 
First introduced 1836. 
CULTURE: Compost, equal parts fibrous peat & sphagnum. _ Posi- 
tion, well-drained pots in plant stove. Water mcderately Sept. to 
April, freely afterwards. Temp., Oct. to March 60° to 65°; March to 
Oct. 70° to 85°. Flowers appear in centre of new growth. Resting 
period, winter. Propagate by dividing pseudo-bulbs & plants when 
beginning to grow. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. filiformis (Syn. Dendrochilum filiformis), yellow, 
fragrant, June to Aug., Philippines; glumacea (Syn. Dendrochilum glumaceum), 
greenish white, fragrant, spring, Philippines. 
Platyceodon (Chinese Bell-flower).—Ord. Campanulacee. Hardy 
herbaceous perennial. First introduced 1782. 
CULTURE: Soil, ordinary rich. Position, sunny well-drained bor- 
ders or rockeries. Plant, Oct. to April. Propagate by seeds sown 
1-16 in. deep in sandy soil in temp. 55°, March or Aug.; cuttings, 3 in. 
long, of young shoots, inserted singly in small pots of light sandy soil 
in temp. 55° in March or April; division of plants in April. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. grandiflorum, blue, July, 1 ft., China and Japan; 
and its varieties alba (white), and Mariesii (white and dwarf). 
Platyiobium (Flat Pea). — Ord. Leguminose. Greenhouse 
flowering shrubs. Evergreen. Nat. Australia. First introduced 
1790. 
CULTURE: Compost, three parts peat, one part loam & little silver 
sand. Position, well-drained pots in light airy greenhouse. Pot, 
Feb. or March. Nip off points of young shoots in spring to induce 
bushy growth. Water freely, April to Sept.; moderately, Sept. to 
April. Temp., March to Sept. 55° to 65°; Sept. to March 45° to 50°, 
Stand plants outdoors from July to Sept. to mature flowering shoots 
for following year. Propagate by seeds sown 1-16in. deep in well- 
drained pots of sandy peat in temp. of 55° to 65° in March or April; 
cuttings inserted in sandy soil under bell-glass in temp. 55°, April to 
July. : 
SPRCTES CULTIVATED: P. formosum, yellow, summer, 3 to 4 ft.; gracile, 
yellow, June, 3 ft.; obtusangulum, yellow and red, May, 1 ft. 
Platyloma.—see Pellea. 
Platystemon (Californian Poppy; Cream Cups).—Ord. Papa- 
veracem. Hardy annnal. First introduced 1833. 
CULTURE: Soil, good ordinary. Position, sunny beds, borders, or 
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