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Pterocarpus Indiens, Roxburgh.
The Lingo of China and India. A tree of considerable
dimensions, famed for its flame-red wood. I t furnishes also
a kind of dragon-blood resin.
Pterocarpus Marsupium, Roxburgh.
India, ascending in Ceylon and the Circars to at least 3000
feet altitude ; hence this tree would doubtless grow without
protection in those tracts of our colony, which are free of
frost. I t exudes the best medicinal kino, which contains
about 75 per cent, of tannic acid. The foliage is deciduous.
P. santalinus (Linné fil), which provides the Saunders or red
sandal-wood, is also indigenous to the mountains of India.
Pterocarya fraxiuifolia, Kunth. , , . . . ..r ^ .
From Central Asiatic Russia to Persia. A kmd of Walnut-
tree, which with P. stenoptera (Cas. de Cand.) on Dr. Hance’s
recommendation, should be adopted as trees for both ornament
and timber, and so perhaps also the Japanese species.
Ptychosperma Alexaudræ, P. v. Mueller. ^
The Alexandra-Palm. Queensland^ as well in tropical as
extra-tropical latitudes. The tallest of Australian Palms,
and one of the noblest forms in tbe whole empire of vegetation.
I t exceeds 100 feet in height, and is likely destined to
grace any shady moist grove free from frost in this and other
countries, as it seems less tender than most palms. The
demand for seeds has already been enormous.
Ptychosperma Guuuiughami, Hermann Wendland.
East Australia, as far south as Illawarra ; thus one of the
most southern of all Palms. This also is a very high species,
destined to take here a prominent position in decorative plantations.
Several species occur in Fiji and other islands of the
Pacitic Ocean, and again others might be obtained from India,
but they are probably not so bardy as ours. Thongli strictly
speaking of no industrial value, these Palms are important
for horticultural trade, and are objects eminently fitted for
experiments in acclimation.
Ptychosperma disticha, Miquel. (Areca disticha, Griffith.)
Assam, up to 4000 feet.
Ptychosperma elegans, Blume. (P. Seaforthia, Miquel;
Seaforthia elegans, R. Brown.)
Littoral forests of tropical Anstralia. Also a lofty magnih-
cent Eeatber-Palm. lbs leaflets are erose. I t may prove
bardy.
Pueraria tuberosa, Candolle. ^
South Asia, up to 4000 feet. A tall woody twiner, its
large tubers are edible and might improve by culture.
Púnica Granatum, Linné.
The Pomegranate. North Africa and West Asia, in the
Himalayas up to 6000 feet. Well-known for its showy
habit, rich coloured flowers, peculiar fruit, and medicinal
astringency, but much overlooked regarding its value as a
hedge-plant.
Pycnanthemum incanum, Michaux.
North America. A perennial herb, in odour resembling both
Pennyroyal and Spearmint. I t likes to grow on rocky woodland,
and on such it might be easily naturalised.
Pycnanthemum montanum, Michaux.
The Mountain-Mint of North America. A perennial herb of
pleasant aromatic mint-like taste. These two particular
species have been chosen from several North American
kinds to demonstrate, th a t we may add by their introduction
to the variety of our odorous garden-herbs. They may also
be subjected with advantage to distillation.
Pyrularia edulis, Meissner.
Nepal, Khasia, Sikkim. A large umbrageous tree. The
drupaceous fruit is used by the inhabitants for food. A few
other species occur in Upper India, one on the high mountains
of Ceylon and one in North America. The latter, P.
púbera (Mich.) can be utilised for the oil of its nuts.
Pyrus coronaria, Linné.
The Crab-Apple of North America. This showy species is
mentioned here as worthy of trial-culture, since it is likely
that it would serve well as stock for grafting. I t seems
unnecessary to refer here to any of the forms of Pyrus
communis (L.), P. Mains (L.), P. Cydonia (L.) and P.
Germánica (J. Hooker.) (Mespilus Germánica, L.), but it may
passingly be observed, that curious fruits bave been produced
latterly in North America by the hybridisation of the Apple
with the Pear. A bitter Glycosid, namely Phlorrhizin, is
obtainable from tbe bark of a.pple and pear trees, particularly
from that of tbe root, while a volatile alkaloid, namely
Trimethylamin, can be prepared from the flowers.
Pyrus Japónica, Thunberg.
Japan. One of tbe prettiest of small hedge-bushes. Under
favourable circumstances it will produce its quince-like fruit.
Pyrus nivalis, Jacquin.
The Snow-Pear. Middle and South Europe. This would be
adapted for orchards in our higher mountain-regions. The
fruit becomes soft and edible through exposure to snow. P.
amygdaliformis (Villars) is probably tbe wild state of this
tree.
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