1 64 A USTRALIAN BOTANY. 



laboratory. In South Australia Pittosporum phillyraoides 

 is very common, and frequents the sea-coast (Yorke's 

 Peninsula) and Mallee scrubs. It grows to a height of 10 

 or 15 feet. All the species are worthy of cultivation. See 

 'Victorian Laurel.' 



Plane Tree. — PLAT ANUS. (Natural Order, Plata- 

 nace.e.) P. 30. — A genus of deciduous trees, generally 

 having lofty, massive stems and thick foliage. The bark, like 

 that of many of the Eucalyptus tribe, is annually shed. The 

 wood is extensively used by carpenters and joiners. The 

 Oriental Plane (Platanus oriental-is) and Platamts acerifolia 

 often approach 100 feet in height, with trunks from 13 to 15 

 feet in diameter. There are other species of less importance. 

 Planes are generally cultivated as shade-trees, from their 

 umbrageous habit. They succeed well in Victoria if they 

 receive a moderate supply of water during the summer 

 months. Like most deciduous trees, however, the leaves are 

 apt to become scorched by hot winds, and fall off, leaving 

 the branches bare at the season when shade is most required. 



Plum. — PRUNUS DOMESTICA. (Natural Order, 

 Rosace/E.) Pp. $l, 53, 186. — A well-known family of fruit- 

 producing trees, comprising many varieties, all of which 

 thrive well in Australia. 



Poplar.— POPULUS. (Natural Order, Salicine^.) P. 

 64. — A large genus of deciduous trees, natives of temperate 

 climes, and having a wide geographical range. The genus 

 is largely represented in Europe, Asia, and America. Those 

 most commonly cultivated are P. fastigiata, ' the Lombardy 

 or upright poplar ; ' P. monolifera, ' the black Italian 

 poplar ; ' P. alba, the ' white or Abele poplar ; ' P. tremula, 

 the ' aspen ; ' P. nigra, the ' black or spreading poplar ; ' 



