370 



THE GAEDENER'S ASSISTANT. 



Phyteuma. — Attractive plants, related to the Cam- 

 panulas, and suitable for the rock garden or herbaceous 

 border. The flowers, which are mostly blue, are arranged 



Fig. 456.— Physalis Franchetti. 



in spicate or globular heads. P. como&um is a very dwarf 

 species, with lilac - coloured flowers, tipped with dark 

 purple, arranged in heads, and growing quite close to the 

 root-stock. Readily increased by seeds, which are ripened 

 very freely. 



P. comoaum. Lilac, tipped purple, 3 inches. Europe. 



P. Halleri. Violet, 1 to 2 feet Europe. 



P. Michelii. .Mauve, 9 inches. Europe. 



P. Scheuchzeri, var. Charmelii. Mauve, l foot. 



/'. spicatum. Pale-lilac*, 2 feet Europe. 



Platycodon.— Related to Campanula, having a broad 

 belled corolla, inflated like a balloon, hence the popular 

 name Balloon-flower. They make nice border plants, but 

 are charming for the rockery, where a good, deep, sandy 

 loam with a partly-shaded position is best for them, and 

 helps to prolong their flowering season. They flower in 

 July. 



P. grandi/lomm. Deep-blue, H foot. China and Japan. 

 ,, var. Mariesii. Deep-blue, 9 to 12 inches. 



,, var. Mariesii album. White, 9 inches. 



Podophyllum (May Apple). — A small genus of large- 

 leaved plants growing about 1 foot in height, with white 

 flowers and handsome coral -red, scarlet, or yellow fruits, 

 egg-shaped, 2 inches long. They require a moist, shady 

 position, and may be increased by division at the roots. 



P. Emodi. White, fruit coral-red, 1 foot. Himalaya. 



P. peltatum. White, fruit pale-yellow. 1 foot. North America. 



P. pleianthum. Dull-purple, 1 foot. China. 



Polemonium (Jacob's Ladder). — Quick - growing, 

 pretty, blue-flowered plants with pinnate leaves. Almost 

 any soil and situation suit them. Readily increased by 

 seeds. P. cosruleum is a doubtful native of Britain. Its 

 variegated form is pretty. 



P. cceruleum. Blue, 2 feet. Northern temperate region. 

 P. himalayanum. Azure-blue, 1\ feet. Himalaya. 

 P. humile. Pale-blue, 4 inches. North America. 

 P. reptans. Slaty-blue, 9 inches. North America. 



Polygonatum (Solomon's Seal). — Graceful plants for 

 naturalization, or shady, moist corners where little else 

 will grow ; also very useful for early forcing. They have 

 pretty arching stems, with white or greenish flowers, 

 borne singly or several together, in the axils of the leaves. 

 Increased by seeds or division. 



P. multijiorum. White fragrant flowers, 2 feet. Europe 

 (Britain). 

 P. officinale. White, 3 feet. Europe and Himalaya (Britain). 



Polygonum. — A large genus, some of the species 

 being valuable garden plants. P. cuspidatum is a good 

 plant for the wild garden, or where a screen is desired, 

 but it may prove troublesome in more select positions, as 

 its Raspberry-like suckers are very persistent and difficult 

 to eradicate. Its flowers are white and attractive, in 

 spikes produced from the lateral branches. P. affine, a 

 dwarfer kind, is very pretty in a mass, with its dense 

 rosy spikes of flowers. Propagation by division, seeds, or 

 cuttings. 



P. affine. Rose, 6 to 9 inches. Himalaya. 



P. amplexicaule. Crimson, 2 feet. Himalaya. 



P. cuspidatum. White, 5 to 8 feet. Japan. 



P. sacchalinense. White, 10 feet. Island of Sachalin. 



P. spacer ostachyum. Deep-crimson, 1 foot. Himalaya. 



P. vaccinifolium (fig. 457). Pink, 6 inches. Himalaya. 



Fig. 457.— Polygonum vaccinifolium. 



Potentilla (Cinquefoil).— Strawberry-like plants, sue- 

 ceeding in ordinary soil in a sunny position. The dwarf 

 species are worth a place in the rockery. The double- 

 flowered varieties are very effective in the border, and 



