ENCYCLOPEDIA OF GARDENING. 
successfully treated as an annual also. Propagate half-hardy perennial 
species by division of plants in spring. 
ANNUAL SPECIES: P. acuminata, yeliow, summer, 1 ft.; aristata, yellow and 
pink, summer, 1 ft. es 
PERENNIAL SPECIES: P. gracilis, purple, lilac, and white, summer, Aug., 3 ft. 
Podophyllum (Duck Foot; May Apple).—Ord. Berberidacez. 
Hardy herbaceous perennials. Orn. foliage. First introduced 1664. 
Leaves, large, shield-shaped; divided, ornamental. 
CULTURE: Soil, moist peat. Position, partially-shaded borders, 
woods, marshes, or bog gardens. Plant, March or April. Propagate 
by division of roots in March or April. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. Emodi (Himalayan May Apple), white, May, 1 ft., 
Himalayas; peltatum (May Apple), white, May, 6 in., N. America. : 
Poet’s Daffodil (Narcissus poeticus).—See Narcissus. 
Poet’s Laurel (Laurus nobilis)—See Laurus. 
Poet’s Narcissus (Narcissus poeticus)—See Narcissus. 
Poinciana.—Ord. Leguminose. Stove evergreen trees. Flower- 
ing as foliage. First introduced 1691. Leaves, fern-like, green, 
graceful. 
CULTURE: Compost, two parts peat or loam, one part leaf-mould, 
half a part silver sand. Position, pots in light part of stove or out- 
doors during July & Aug. Pot Feb. or March. Water freely, March 
to Oct., moderately afterwards. Temp., March to Oct. 70° to 85°; 
Oct. to March 55° to 65°. Propagate by seeds sown in light sandy 
soil in temp. of 75° to 85° in spring; cuttings of short young shoots 
inserted singly in small pots filled with pure sand under bell-glass in 
temp. 75° to 85° in summer. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. elata, yellow, summer, 10 to 15 ft., Trop. Africa; 
regia, crimson, summer, 20 to 30 ft., Madagascar. 
Poinsettia.—see Euphorbia. 
Poison Ash (Chionanthus virginica)—See Chionanthus. 
Poison Bay Tree (Illicium Floridanum).—See Ilicium. 
Poison-dart.—See Aglaonema. 
Poison Oak (Rhus toxicondendron).—See Rhus, 
Poivrea.—sSee Combretum. 
Poke (Phytolacca decandra).—See Phytolacca. 
Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder; Greek Valerian).—Ord. Pole- 
moniacee. Hardy herbaceous perennials. 
CULTURE: Soil, good ordinary or deep rich well-drained loam. 
Position, open sunny borders for P. ceruleum & vars.; sunny well- 
drained rockeries for other species. Plant, Oct., Nov., March, or 
April. Cut off flower stems immediately after flowering. Top-dress 
annually in spring with well-decayed manure or leaf-soil. Propagate 
P. cernuleum by division of plants in Oct. or Nov.; other species by 
division in March or April. 
SPECIES CULTIVATED: P. exruleum (Jacob’s Ladder or Greek Valerian), 
blue, June, 2 ft., Europe (Britain); cxruleum album, white; confertum, blue, 
stmmer, 16 in., N.W. America; flavum, yellow, summer, 3 ft., New Mexico; 
humile, blue, July, 6 in., N. America; reptans, blue, spring, 6 in., N. America: 
Richardsoni,. blue, summer, 1 ft. 
‘Polianthes (The Tuberose).—Ord. Amaryllidaceew. Talf-hardy 
bulbous plant. Flowers fragrant. First introduced 1629. 
-CULTURE: Compost, two parts fibrous loam, one part of equal pro- 
portions of leaf-mould, decayed manure & coarse silver sand. Pot, 
African kinds in Oct., Nov., & Dec., to flower following autumn; 
American or Pearl varieties in Jan., Feh., March & April, to flower 
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