5°4 
PARKIA 
Parkia R. Br. Leguminosae (i. 6). 19 sp. trop. The firs, are in 
heads, of which either the upper or lower firs, are male or neuter. 
Parnassia (Tourn.) Linn. Saxifragaceae (1). 19 sp. N. temp., chiefly 
in mountain bogs; 1 in Brit. — P. palustris L. (grass of Parnassus). 
The floral axis is hollowed out and united to the base of the ovary. 
K 5 ; C 5 ; A 5, and alternating with them 5 staminodes ; G (4) or 
half-inferior, i-loc., with large projecting parietal placentae. The 
flr. is protandrous, the anthers in turn dehiscing just above the pistil 
and then moving outwards. The staminodes are opposite to the 
petals. Each has a solid nectar-secreting base, and ends above in 
a candelabra-like structure, each twig of which is terminated by a 
yellow knob, glistening in the sun and looking like a drop of honey. 
Flies are deceived by this appearance, and have been seen licking 
the knobs. [See Eichler’s Bliithendiag .] 
Parochetus Buch.-Ham. Leguminosae (ill. 4). 1 sp. Mts. of trop. 
As. and Afr. It has cleistogamic and open firs. 
Paronychia (Tourn.) Linn. Caryophyllaceae (11. 4). 40 sp. temp, and 
sub-trop. The small axillary firs, are concealed by the stipules. In 
P. Kapela A. Kern, the head of fruits breaks off as a whole and is 
rolled about by the wind. 
Paronychiaceae. See Caryophyllaceae (11. 4). 
Parrotia C. A. Mey. Hamamelidaceae. 1 sp. Persia, P. persica C. A. 
Mey. Firs. $ , apetalous. 
Parsonsia R. Br. Apocynaceae (n. 5). 10 sp. Malaya, Austr., 
Polynes., N.Z. 
Parthenium Linn. Compositae (v). 9 sp. N. Am., W. Ind. 
Pasania Oerst. =Quercus Tourn. 
Paspalum Linn. Gramineae (v). 160 sp. trop., also in temp. Am., 
where they form a large proportion of the pasture of the Campos, 
Pampas, &c. Good fodder grasses. 
Passerina Linn. Thymelaeaceae. 4 sp. Cape Colony. 
Passiflora Linn. (excl. Tacsonia Juss.). Passifloraceae. 250 sp. chiefly 
Am. ; a few in As. and Austr., 1 in Madag. They are climbing 
plants with axillary tendrils. Some sp. have curious bilobed leaves 
(crescentic or swallow-tailed in shape), the centre lobe not developing. 
At the base of the leaf-stalk there are usually extra-floral nectaries. 
The flrs. spring from the same leaf-axils as the tendrils, solitary or in 
small cymes; the bract is usually ‘adnate’ to the peduncle. The 
receptacle is hollowed into a cup, bearing on its margin 5 sepals, 
5 petals, and a number of efflgurations of the axis — thread-like peta- 
loid bodies, forming a dense mass (the corona) round the central 
androphore, at whose apex is borne the ovary. Five sta. spring from 
the androphore at the base of the ovary, and are bent downwards at 
first; afterwards the styles bend down also. Honey is secreted at 
the base of the androphore. The fruit is a berry; the seed is 
enveloped in a fleshy aril. Many passion-flowers are cultivated as 
