polia'nthes . 



222 



POLY GALA. 



February or March, and transplanting 

 into the open border in March. 



Podophyllum. — Podophyllacece. 

 — The May Apple, or Ducksfoot. An 

 American herbaceous marsh plant, 

 which should be grown in a light rich 

 soil kept moist, and which is increased 

 by seeds or dividing its creeping roots. 

 The flower is white, and the fruit, 

 which is eatable, is green and about 

 the size of a plum. 



Poet's Cassia. — See Osyris. 



Poinciana. — See CeSALPIIIIA. 



Poinsetti a EuphorbiacecB. — A 



most splendid plant, not for its 

 flowers, which are small and white, 

 butfor its large bright scarlet bracteas, 

 which, at a ] ittle distance, have a 

 superb appearance. There is a va- 

 riety with white bracteas, but it is 

 very inferior to the species. This 

 plant requires a stove, in which it 

 should be grown in a compost of loam 

 and peat. After it has shed its leaves, 

 it should be allowed a season of rest, 

 during which it should be kept nearly 

 dry. It is increased by cuttings, which, 

 when taken off, should be dried for a_ 

 few days, and then plunged into the 

 tan of a pine pit or stove. 



Poivrea. — Combretacece. — This 

 new genus, established by Professor 

 De Candolle, includes all those spe- 

 cies of the genus Combretum which 

 have ten stamens and five-angled 

 seeds ; the type being Combretiurn 

 purpurea, {Poivrea coccinea Dec.) 

 For the culture, see Combretum. 



Polemo v nium. — Polemoniacece. — 

 Greek Valerian. The common wild 

 species, P. cceruleum, is very abun- 

 dant on the dry sandy banks in the 

 ianes near Shenstone, in Staffordshire, 

 where it is called Charity, though its 

 common name in other parts of Eng- 

 land is Jacob's Ladder. All the kinds 

 succeed best in gravelly or chalky soil, 

 and they are all increased by dividing 

 she roots. 



Polia'mthes. — HemerocallidecB. 



— The Tuberose. A bulbous-rooted 

 plant, a native of the East Indies, re- 

 markable for its highly odoriferous 

 white flowers. The bulbs are im- 

 ported from Italy, where they are 

 grown for exportation as Hyacinths 

 are in Holland. They require to be 

 brought forward in a frame or pit ; 

 and when coming into flower, they 

 should be removed to a greenhouse 

 or any cool airy apartment, where 

 they will diffuse a powerful fragrance 

 which to some is grateful and to 

 others oppressive. They should be 

 potted in sandy loam ; and if the bulbs 

 are intended to flower the second 

 year, the plants should be replaced in 

 heat close to the glass, and kept there 

 till the leaves begin to decay ; after 

 which the bulbs may be treated like 

 those of the Hyacinth. It is rarely, 

 however, that this can be done with 

 success, and it is therefore better to 

 throw the plants away when they 

 have done flowering, and purchase 

 fresh bulbs every year. In pleasure- 

 grounds of limited extent, a few plants 

 of Tuberose in flower, distributed 

 over them at distances of fifty or one 

 hundred yards plant from plant, will 

 diffuse a most delightful fragrance in 

 the summer and autumnal evenings ; 

 a circumstance well understood in the 

 public gardens in the vicinity of 

 Paris. 



Polya'nthus. — See Pri'mula. 



Poly'gala. — Polygalece. — Milk- 

 wort. Very handsome greenhouse 

 shrubs, natives of the Cape of Good 

 Hope, which should be grown in a 

 compost of two-thirds peat, and 

 one-third of very sandy loam ; or 

 equal parts of peat and sand, with 

 one- third of vegetable mould may be 

 used. The plants should be frequently 

 watered ; but the water should not be 

 suffered to remain in a stagnant state 

 about the roots. When it is wished 

 to raise young plants, the tips of the 

 shoots should be taken off about 



