f 0 j. 
V 0 M 
POO 
4*1 
fostering the fern-root in his tieatise on the j fourth order, gramina. The calx * is oi- 
tape-xvorm. ^ ! valved, and shaped like a top; the vj' villa 
POLYPREMUM, a genus of the mono- ! quadrilid, and bearded on the back. T he 
gynia order, in the tetrandria class of plants ; j corolla has two unequal valves ; the filament? 
and in the natural method ranking under the ! three, with long pointed .anthers ; the style 
22d order, caryophyllei. The calyx is te- , simple. The whole flower forms itseli into 
trapliyllous ; the corolla quadrilid and rotace- | a sharp point, and the corolla serves as a co- 
ous, with its lobes obcordate ; the capsule 
is compressed, emarginated, and bilocular. 
There is one species, an annual ofCusolim. 
POLYPUS, the popular name for those 
fresh-water insects, which class under the 
genus of hydra, of the order of vermes 
vering to the seed, which is long, clear, and 
smooth. T here is only one species, a grass 
of the East Indies. 
PONCEA, a genus of the octandria tri- 
gynia class and order. The calyx is five- 
parted, spreading; petals four; germ. 
He then goes and feeds his cattle, or digs his ’ non* also has described the mode of adiui- j and in the natural method ranking • n «!.*r the 
trenches, or lies down to sleep. In the mean 
time the cake beginning to dissolve, tire small 
pieces of date fall off, and llowing down the 
stream, are eagerly seized on by the lishes as 
they pass: they rush up the stream, picking 
up the floating pieces as they go, till at 
length they arrive at the cake itself, and vo- 
raciously falling to work at the dates which 
are buried in it, each fish, in swallowing a 
date, swallows also the hook in it, and feeling 
himself fast, makes off as speedily as possible : 
the consequence is, that in endeavouring to 
escape from the line by which he is held, he 
pulls the palm-branch to which it is fastened, 
and thus gives notice of his capture by ring- 
ing the bell. The fisherman runs, and hav- 
ing secured the lish, puts a strong iron ring 
through his jaw, ties a few yards of cord to it, 
and again commits him to the water, fasten- 
ing the cord well to the shore. This is prac- 
tised in order to preserve the fish ready for 
sale, since fish in general, when dead 'will 
not keep long in these regions. It is rarely 
that on these, occasions a single hook is found 
empty. The inhabitants of the towns of Ach- 
mim, Girge, and others, repair at intervals to 
the shores as to a fish-market, and are thus 
supplied by the country -people. There are 
other species. 
POLY l’ODIUM, in botany, a genus ofthe 
order of Alices, in the cryptogamia class of 
plants. The fructifications are in roundish 
points, scattered over the inferior disc of the 
irons or leaf. There are 137 species, of which 
the most remarkable is the filix mas, or com- 
mon male fern. This grows in great plenty 
throughout Britain, in woods and stony un- 
cultivated soils. The greatest part of the 
root lies horizontally, and has a great num- 
ber of appendages placed close to each other 
zoopbyts. The name of hydra was given three-sided ; capsules three-winged, three 
them by Linnaeus on account of the property j celled. There is one species, a tree of Gui- 
they have of reproducing themselves when ' ana. 
cut in pieces, every part soon becoming a j PONTEDERIA, in botany, a genus of 
perfect animal. Dr. Hill called them biota, I the monogynia order, in the hexandria class- 
on account ofthe strong principle of life with ; of plants; and in the natural method ranking 
which every part of them is endowed. See 
IIydra. 
See 
under the sixth order, ensats. The corolla 
is monopetalous, sexiid, bilabiate; there are 
three stamina inserted into the top, and three 
into the tube of the corolla ; the capsule is 
bilocular. There are seven species, aquatics 
ofthe East indies. 
PONTON, or Pontoon, in war, denotes 
a little floating bridge made of boats and 
planks. T he ponton is a machine consisting 
ot two vessels, at a little distance, joined by 
beams, with planks laid across for the pas- 
sage of the cavalry, the cannon, infantry, &c. 
over a river, or an arm of the sea, &c. The 
Polypus, or Polypus of the heart. 
Medicine. 
Polypus ofthe nose. See Surgery. 
POLYPASTON, in mechanics, a ma- 
chine consisting of an assemblage of several 
pulleys ; for the nature and force of which, 
see Mechanics. 
POLYSPERMOUS. See Botany. 
POLYTRICHUM, a genus of the order 
of musci, in the cryptogamia class of plants. 
The anthera is operculated, and placed upon late-invented ponton is of copper, furnished 
a very small apophysis or articulation; the j with an anchor, &c. to fix to it. To make a 
calyptra villous ; the star of the female is on ! bridge, several of these are disposed two 
a distinct individual. There are 19 species ; yards asunder, with beams across them ; and 
the most remarkable of which is the com- over those are put boards or planks. They 
mu ne, or great golden maiden-hair, fre- are also linked to each other, and fastened on 
quently to be met with in the bogs and wet each side the river by a rope run through a 
.... places of this country. It grows in patches, ring in each of their heads, and fixed to a 
in a vertical direction, while a number of , the stalks erect, generally single and un- tree or stake on either shore; the whole 
small fibres strike downwards. The stalks j branched, from three inches to a foot, or makes one firm uniform bridge, over which a 
are covered with brown filmy scales. The even a yard, high. It is sometimes used in train of artillery may pass. & 
fructifications are kidney-shaped, and cover- j England and Holland to make brooms or: POOP, the stern ot a ship, or the highest, 
ed with a permanent scaly shield or involu- j brushes; and the Laplanders, when obliged to J uppermost, and hinder part ofthe ship’s°hull! 
el'll 111. The capsules are of a pale brown, j sleep in desert places, frequently make of it a ! POOR, in law. Where the last legal set- 
surrounded with a saffron-coloured elastic speedy and convenient bed. Their manner tlement of the father of a legitimate child is 
ring. { of doing it is curious : Where this moss grows not known, the child may be sent to the 
T his fern has nearly the same qualities, j thick together, they mark out with a knife a place of its birth, as well as an illegitimate 
and is used for-most of the same intentions, 1 piece of ground, about tw o yards square, or one. Blackerby, 246. 
as the pteris aquilina. They are both burnt j of the size of a common blanket; then be- i A legitimate child shall necessarily follow 
together for the sake of their ashes, which are j ginning at one corner, they gently sever the the settlement of its parents as a nurse-child 
purchased by the soap and glass-makers, j turf from the ground; and as the roots of or as part the family, only till it is seven 
In the island of Jura are exported annually j the moss are closely interwoven and matted : years of age; and after that a«u, it shall not 
150/. -worth of these ashes. Gunner relates, ■ together, they by degrees strip off’ the whole , be removed as part of the father’s family; 
; c,, “" v ’ ’ circumscribed turf in one entire piece ; after- ; but with an adjudication of the place of it* 
wards they mark and draw up another piece, ’ own legal settlement, as being deemed ca- 
exactly corresponding with the first; then, | pabie at that age of having, gained a settle-* 
in his Flor. Noveg. that the young curled 
leaves, at their first appearance out of the 
ground, are by some boiled and eaten like 
asparagus ; and that the poorer Norwegians 
cut off those succulent lamina:, like the nails 
ofthe linger at the crown of the root, which 
are the bases of the future stalks, and brew 
them into beer, adding a third portion of 
malt, and in times of great scarcity mix the 
same in their bread. The same author adds, 
that this fern cut green, and dried in the open 
air, affords not only an excellent litter for 
cattle, but, if infused in hot water, becomes 
no contemptible fodder to goats, sheep, and 
other cattle, which w ill readily eat and some- 
times grow fat upon it. But the anthelmintic 
quality of the root of the male: fern is that lor 
which it is chiefly to be valued, and of which 
an account is given in the French publica- 
tions of madarne Noiiffer, who employed 
ibis remedy with great success. Dr. Sim- 
Vol. II. 
dug gained a settle- 
ment of his'own. 
If a person is bound apprentice by inden- 
shaking them both with their hands, they 
lay one upon the ground, with the moss up- 
permost, instead of a mattress, and the other tuie, wherever he continues forty' days in 
over it, with the moss downwards, instead of j the service of ins master or mistress, there 
a rug ; and between them both take a com- 
fortable nap, free from fleas and bugs, and 
without fear of contagious di stem pecs. It is 
probable they might take the hint of making 
such a bed from the bear, a cohabitant of 
their country, which prepares his winter- 
quarters with a large collection of this moss. 
POM ETTA, a genus of the monoecia hex- 
andria class and order. The calyx is one- 
such apprentice gains a settlement ; and 
where any person serves the last forty day* 
of his apprenticeship, that is tire place “of iiig 
last legal settlement. 
1 he 8 and 9 . 3. c. 30 explains, that as 
some doubts had arisen touching tiie settle- 
ment of unmarried persons, not having child 
or children, lawfully hired into any parish or 
town for one year, it was enacted, that inr 
caved, six-cleft ; petals six ; male stamina such person so' hired as aforesaid, should be 
six; female, berry globular, one seed in the deemed to have a good settlement in any 
centre. 'I here are two species. such parish or town ship, unless such person 
POMMEREULIA, a genus ofthe mono- should cchlinue and abide in such service' 
gynia order, in the tr a. ulna class of p ants; during the space of one whole \ ear. 
3 P 
