54 



PHYTOLACCA DIOICA. Ombu. Large, evergreen, ornamen- 

 tal, and shade tree from South America. It grows with astonishing 

 rapidity, forming a huge buttressed trunk and a dense spreading top. 

 Leaves are slender stalked, somewhat resembling those of the poplar. 

 Male and female flowers borne on different trees in more or less 

 pendulous racemes, followed on pistillate trees by small berrylike 

 inedible fruits. Withstands only light frosts. 



PINUS SINENSIS. The hard pine of northern China. With- 

 stands long drought, cold, and alkali. Of extremely picturesque 

 habit when grown singly. Extensively used in temple courts and 

 palace gardens. Produces medium-sized, straight trunks in forest 

 plantings. Wood close grained and durable. Distinct from P. 

 densiflora. 



PINUS THUNBERGII. Japanese black pine. From Dr. 



Nishimura, Mukden, Manchuria, through F. N. Meyer. Tree 100 to 

 120 feet high, with spreading, often somewhat pendulous branches, 

 forming a broad pyramidal head. Branches orange yellow. Leaves 

 bright green, 3 to 4J inches long. Wood resinous, tough, durable, 

 suitable only for indoor work. Hardy; prefers sandy soil. Splendid 

 for avenues. 



PISTACIA CHINENSIS. Chinese pistache. Tall deciduous, 

 dioecious tree, strikingly ornamental, with large pinnate leaves, wine- 

 red when young, changing to vivid green in summer and flaming 

 scarlet and yellow in fall. Berries inedible. Highly recommended 

 as a shade and ornamental tree. Trunk attains 16 feet in circum- 

 ference. 



PISTACIA VERA. Pistache or pistachio. Small deciduous 

 tree, cultivated in the Mediterranean region for its nuts, with char- 

 acteristic green meat and delicate flavor, used extensively in con- 

 fectionery; becoming a very popular table nut. The best varieties 

 bearing large nuts grafted on special stock are to be tested under 

 supervision. • Promising new dry-land tree crop. 



PITHECOLOBIUM LIGUSTRINUM. Payande. A smaU tree 

 branching from the base of the trunk and presenting a very bushy 

 appearance. It has small clusters of pinkish white flowers and com- 

 pound leaves composed of but one pair of narrow leaflets. Fairly 

 common in the American Tropics and possibly of some value as an 

 ornamental in the southernmost sections of the United States. 



PITTOSPORUM FLORIBUNDUM . Handsome small evergreen 

 tree with alternate leaves found in subtropical Himalaya, ascending 

 to 5,000 feet on hills. Bark bitter and aromatic and reported to 

 possess narcotic qualities. Plant contains an aromatic resin, yellow 

 in color, having very tenacious properties. Timber light colored, 

 strong and tough, but of small size. 



