PON 
inma, or Grasses. Essential character : 
calyx, (iirhinate, two valved, three or four 
flowered ; valves four cleft, awned at the 
back ; corolla, two valved, awned. There 
is but one species, viz, P. comucopiaae a 
native of the East Indies, whence it was 
found by Koenig. 
POMUM, in botany, an apple : a species 
of seed-vessel composed of a succulent flesiiy 
pulp, in the middle of which is generally 
found a membranous capsule, with a num- 
ber of cavities for containing the seeds. 
Seed-vessels of this kind have no external 
opening or valve. At the end opposite to 
the foot stalk is frequently a small cavity, 
called by gardeners the eye of the fruit, 
and by botanists “ umbilicus” from its 
fancied resemblance to the navel in ani- 
mals, 
PONjEA, in botany, so named in memory 
of John Pona, a genus of the Octandria 
Trigynia class and order. Natural order 
of Sapindi, Jussieu. Essential character: 
calyx five parted, spreading; petals four, 
with pilliferous glands at the tip ; germ 
three-sided; capsule, three-winged, three- 
celled, with one seed in each cell. There 
is only one species, viz. P. guianensis. 
PONTEDERIA, in botany, so named in 
memory of Julius Pontedera, professor of 
botany at Padua, a genus of the Hexandria 
Monogynia class and order. Natural order 
of Ensatse. Narcissi, Jussieu. Essential 
character : corolla one petalled, six-cleft, 
two lipped ; stamens, three inserted into the 
top, three into the tube of the corolla; 
capsule three-celled. Tliere are seven spe- 
cies; these are aquatic herbaceous peren- 
nial plants, with fibrous roots, chiefly na- 
tives of the East Indies; both root and 
stem leaves sheathing, frequently sagittate ; 
flowers in spikes or umbels terminating, or 
put forth from the cloven sheath of the 
leaves, each having a spathe. 
PONTON, or Pontoon, in war, denotes 
a little floating bridge made of boats and 
planks. The ponton is a machine consist- 
ing of two vessels, at a little distance, joined 
by beams, with planks laid across for the 
passage of the cavalry, the cannon, infantry, 
&c. over a river, or an arm of the sea, &c. 
The late invented ponton is of copper fur- 
nished with an anchor, &c. to fix it. To 
make a bridge, several of these are disposed 
two yards asunder, with beams across them ; 
and over those are put boards or planks. 
They are also linked to each other, and 
fastened on each side of the river by a rope 
ran through a ring in each of their heads; 
POO 
and fixed to a tree or stake on either * 
shore : the whole makes one firm uniform 
bridge, over which a train of artillery may- 
pass. 
POOP, the stern of a ship, or the highest, 
uppermost, and hinder part of the ship’s 
hull. 
POORlaios. Of the general outline of 
this most enormous and almost ineflfec- 
tual burden on the people, much has been 
said in the excellent treatise of Mr. Colqu- 
houn. The 43 of Elizabeth, c. 2, is the 
foundation of all that is good in the poor 
laws ; making provision for finding work for 
the industrious and able ; for compelling 
the idle and able to labour ; and for afford- 
ing relief to the diseased and impotent : 
and the 13, 14 Charles II. c. 12, is the 
foundation of all that is evil, by forming 
the system of settlements and removals ; a 
system, establishing oppression, litigation, 
and expense, and which has been made 
more oppressive, and more productive of 
litigation and expense by every subsequent 
statute, till the statute of the 35th of his 
present Majesty ; which, by forbidding re- 
movals in case the pauper is not absolutely 
cliargeable, has remedied more than half 
the evils occasioned by the former laws. 
Overseers. The churchwardens of every 
parish, with two, three, or four substantial 
householders, according to the size of the 
parish, to be nominated in Easter week, or 
within a month after, under the hands and 
seals of two or more neighbouring justices 
and who shall be called overseers of the 
poor. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 1. 
Where there are no churchwardens, the 
whole power is vested in the overseers 
17 George II. c. 38, s. 15. ’ 
Overseer dying, or becoming incapable 
of acting, two justices may appoint an- 
other. Ibid. s. 3. If any person shall find 
himself aggrieved by any act of the jus- 
tices, Ap.* sessions, whose determination 
shall be final. Ibid, s. 6. 
Where there is no nomination of over- 
seers, P. 51. on every justice of the divi- 
sion. R. by distress from the sessions, to ' 
be levied by the churchwardens and over- 
seers. 43 Elizabeth, c. 2, s. 10. 
Parish officers, with consent of two jus- 
tices, shall set children to work, whose pa- 
* In this article the following abbrevia- 
tions will be used : P. denotes penalty ; R. 
the mode of recovering it ; , A. the applica- 
tion ; Ap. the appeal ; J. 1 or 2, and W. 1 
or 2, justices or witnesses. 
