PI OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 319 



Pepper Tree, California. {See. Mastich.) 

 Pepper Tree of Tasmania {Tasmannia aromatica), a shrub, 

 or rugged, distorted-branclied tree, of the Magnolia family, 

 native of Mount Wellington in Tasmania. It attains a height 

 of 10 or 12 feet ; the bark and leaves are aromatic. Its beiry- 

 like fruit is pungent, and is used as a substitute for pepper. 



Peppermint (Mentha 'piferitd), a creeping-rooted perennial 

 of the family Labiatse, native of this countiy, generally grow- 

 ing on river banks and moist places. It is extensively culti- 

 vated here as well as in the United States for its fragrant oil, 

 which is obtained by distillation. It is used as a stimulant, 

 and for making a cordial called Peppermint Water. 



Peppermint Trees of Australia. — Eucalyptus piperita and 

 E. amygdalina, large trees of the Myitle family (Myrtacese), 

 natives of ITew South Wales and other parts of Australia. They 

 yield an essential oil, which is largely imported into this coun- 

 try. The wood is hard and durable. (See Eucalyptus.) 

 Perry. {See Pears.) 

 Persian Berries. {See Buckthorn.) 

 Persimmon Plum. {See Date Plum, American.) 

 Peruvian Bark. {See Cinchona.) 



Pharaoh's Corn, supposed to be Triticum compositiim, a 

 wheat having several separate spikes to the ear. It is also 

 called Mummy Wheat. It has been grown at Kew. 



Physic Nut {Jatropha Curcas), a small tree of the Spurge- 

 wort family (Euphorbiacese), attaining a height of 20 feet, 

 having soft spongy wood and entire or lobed leaves. It is a 

 native of tropical America, and is now cultivated in all hot 

 countries for its seeds, which yield an oil analogous to that of 

 castor-oil, but of a drastic nature ; it is used for many purposes. 

 The seeds are nutty and pleasant to eat, but when eaten to 

 excess produce serious consec^uences. A few years ago several 

 children died at Bristol through eating them. 



Pi, a name in the Sandwich Islands for Tacca pinnatifida, 

 a perennial herb of the Taccaceae. It is cultivated throughout 

 most of the islands of the Pacific, also in India and the Malayan 



