931 



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[PRTJN 



sent the same structure as the Red Snow, 

 and one or two allied Algce. [M. J. B.] 



PROTOPHYLLUM. The first leaf of a 

 cryptogainic plant after germination. 



PROTOPHYTA A name given by Per- 

 leb to the simpler cryptogams, as being the 

 most imperfect plants, and the first efforts 

 of nature in the production of the vege- 

 table kingdom. [M. J. BJ 



PROTOPHTTOLOGY. That part of Bo- 

 tany which treats of fossil plants. 



PROTOPLASM. The matter which is 

 deposited over the inside walls of a cell 

 subsequent to the formation of the cell 

 itself. 



PROTOSPORE. As the apparent spores 

 in Fucciniei are not the true reproductive 

 bodies, but merely preparatory organs ana- 

 logous to a prothallus, and as the name of 

 prothallus cannot conveniently be applied 

 to them, the term protospore is proposed 

 as a convenient name. [M. J. B.] 



PRUD'HOMME. (Fr.) Salvia verbenaca. 



PRUIXA (adj. PRUIXOSE). A coarse 

 granular secretion found on the surface of 

 some plants. 



PROIXOPITYS. A name proposed by 

 Philippi for the Podocarpus andina from 

 Chili, but not founded on characters of 

 sufficient importance to justify its separa- 

 tion as a distinct genus. 



PRUNE. The dried fruits of certain 

 varieties of the Plum, Primus domestica. 

 — , WILD. A Cape of Good Hope name 

 for Sapindus Pappea. 



PRUNEATIER. (Fr.) Prunus insititia. 

 \ PRUNELET. A liquor made from Sloes 

 or Wild Plums. 



PRUNELLA. A genus of herbaceous 

 plants belonging to the Labiatce, distin- 

 guished by a two-lipped calyx, the upper 

 lip truncate three-toothed, the lower bifid ; 

 stamens ascending ; style bifid. The species 

 are common wayside weeds throughout 

 the temperate zone in both hemispheres. 

 P. vulgaris, or Common Selfheal, is a plant 

 of frequent occurrence in the British Isles, 

 growing to the height of a few inches, of 

 a straggling habit, and bearing stalked 

 ovate leaves, and dense spiked heads of 

 deep purple flowers, with a pair of leaves at 

 the base of each head. Selfheal was highly 

 commended by the ohi herbalists for its 

 vulnerary properties, but is now held in 

 no repute. French, Brunelle ; German, 

 Prunelle. [C. A. J.] 



PRUNELLIER. (Fr.) Prunus spinosa. 



PRUNES. (Fr.) The fruits of the Plum- 

 tree. — NOIRBS DAMERIQUE. Span- 

 dlas. — VIERGES. Comocladia. 



PRUNE-TREE of the West Indies. 

 Prunus occidentalis. 



PRUNIER. (Fr.) Prunus. — EPINEUX 

 DAMERIQUE. Ximenia. — ICAQUE. 

 Chrysobalanus. — JAUNE D'QETJF. Lu~ 

 ; cuma. 



PRUNUS. A Latin epithet borrowed 

 from the Greek word signifying Plum, and 

 used to designate the genus whose species 

 furnish that fruit. It is included in the 

 Drupacece, and consists of trees and shrubs, 

 natives of temperate regions in both he- 

 mispheres, many of them spiny in the 

 wild condition, but losing their thorns 

 when cultivated. The flowers are in umbel- 

 like clusters, or sometimes solitary, pro- 

 duced before or after the leaves ; and the 

 margins of the young leaves are rolled 

 inwards. The fruit is covered with mealy 

 bloom or velvet-like down ; the stone is 

 pointed at one or both ends, and furrowed 

 along the edge. 



P. spinosa is the Common Sloe or Black- 

 thorn, whose white blossoms are the or- 

 nament of our hedges in March and April. 

 The leaves are elliptical, produced after the 

 flowers, and the branches dark-purple in 

 colour (whence the name Blackthorn), and 

 terminating in a sharp spine. The roots are 

 creeping, and throw up numerous suck- 

 ers, on which account it is ill-adapted for 

 a hedge-plant; these suckers, however, 

 grow into upright branches, much sought 

 after for walking-sticks. The wood is of 

 no great value, but the bark has been used 

 as a febrifuge. The leaves are used ex- 

 tensively to adulterate tea ; the fruits are 

 ! globose, dark-purple in colour, and very 

 i sour and rough in taste. It is said that 

 I they are employed in the manufacture of 

 i a fictitious portwine ; by the poor they 

 are made into a palatable preserve. This 

 shrub is the badge of the clan M'Quarrie. 

 i P. insititia, the Bullace, is sometimes 

 distinguished from the foregoing by its 

 ' narrower leaves.more downy on theunder- 

 , surface ; the flowers not solitary, but pro- 

 duced in pairs ; and the fruits larger and 

 [ less rough to the palate. They are exten- 

 sively used in this country. A variety 

 occurs with yellowish fruit, which latter 

 are sold in London as White Damsons. 

 | P. Cocomilia, a native of Calabria, yields 

 a bark which is considered a specific 

 remedy in the fevers of that country. The 

 kernel of P. briaantiaca yields an oil known 

 in France as Huile des Marmottes, which is 

 used instead of almond or olive oil. The 

 fruit of P. myrobolana is used in India 

 to dye black. The fruits of some of the 

 cultivated varieties of P. domestica, dried 

 in the sun or by artificial means, are 

 known as Prunes. Those for table-use are 

 from the St. Catherine or Reine Claude 

 varieties. Anotheresteemed sort takes its 

 name from Guimaraes, a village of Portu- 

 gal, where they are principally prepared. 

 Those intended for medicinal purposes 

 are obtained from the St. Julien Plum. 

 Prunes are used as mild laxatives ; the 

 fresh fruit when ripe is also slightly laxa- 

 tive, but eaten in moderation it is not so in- 

 jurious as is usually supposed. The fruit of 

 the Apricot, P. Armeniaca, is used in the 

 East as a remedy in fevers. P. sibirica is 

 like the common Apricot tree, but smaller. 

 It blooms earlier, and when in flower is 

 highly ornamental. Among the species of 

 Primus in cultivation for ornamental pur- 



