P e n n i s e tu m A r n h em ic u m , F. v. Mueller.
North-Australia and Queensland. This grass remains strong and
green through the hottest months, forming compact tussocks. All
kinds of pasture-animals are very fond of it [Molineux].
P e n n i s e tu m o e n c h ro id e s , Richard.
Africa and South-Western Asia. Perennial. The Unjum or
Dhaman or Anjam. A t Allahabad this is regarded as a first-rate
fodder-grass [Dr. Stewart]. Well adapted for silos [General Sir
H. Macpherson]. I t is a spreading grass adapted also for desert-
regions. In its own countries One of the best of grasses for green
fodder and hay ; so nutritious as to have led to the native saying :
“ What Ghi (or Ghee, i. e., clarified butter) is to man, th a t the
Dhaman is to a horse ” [Prof. Robert Wallace].
P e n n i s e tu m l a tif o lium , Sprengel.
Extra-tropical South-America. A tall perennial nutritious grass,
forming large tufts, easily spreading from the roots or seeds. I t is
of quick growth.
P e n n i s e tu m ty p h o id e u m , Richard.* (Penicillaria spicata, Willdenow;
Panicum cccrvlcum, Miller.)
The Bajree or Pearl-Millet or Bulrush-Millet. Tropical Asia,
Nubia and Egypt. An annual, requiring only about three months to
ripen its millet-crop in warm countries. The stems are thick and
reach a height of 6-10 feet, several being produced from one root,
and each again forming lateral branches ; the maximum-length of a
spike is about a foot and a half ; Colonel Sykes saw exceptionally
15 spikes on one plant and occasionally 2,000 seeds in one spike.
Togetlier with sorghum this is the principal cereal, except rice, grown
in India by the native races. This grass requires a rich and loose
soil, and on such it will yield upwards of a hundred-fold. I t furnishes
hay of good quality, though not very easily dried, and is also valuable
as green fodder. In the United States cultivated as fa r north as
Pennsylvania, aud it matures seeds even as far north as Christiania
in Norway [Schuebeler], Thrives fairly well at P o rt Phillip. Not
much affected as a summer-plant by great heat nor drought iu the
interior of Australia. Its fast growth prevents weeds from obtaining
a footing. In very exceptional cases and under most favorable circumstances
as regards soil and manure, the first cutting is in six or
seven weeks, the stems up to seven feet high, giving a t the rate of
30 tons green feed, or 6|- tons of hay per aere ; in six or seven weeks
more a second cutting is obtained, reaching 55 tons per acre of green
feed, the grass being nine feet high ; a third cut is got in the same
season. Farm-stock eat it greedily. One plant of pearl-millet “ is
worth three of maize for fodder.” Some of the many other species
of Pennisetum are doubtless of rural value. A plant allied to P .
typhoideum occurs in China, namely P . cereale (Trinius). This also
affords millet or corn for cakes.
P e rm is e tm n v iU o sum , R. Brown.
Abyssinia. A grass of decorative beauty, forming ample tufts ;
it is recommended by Dr. Curl for permanent pasture in New Zealand.
With numerous other grasses it was introduced into Australia by the
writer of this work. Proves fruitful in Norway to lat. 67° 66'
[Schuebeler].
P e n t z i a v i r g a t a , Lessing.
South-Africa. A small eushion-like bush, recommended for establishment
in deserts for sheep-fodder. I t has the peculiarity, th a t
whenever a branch touches the ground, it strikes roots and forms a
new plant ; tbis enables the species to cover ground rapidly [Sir
Samuel Wilson]. Valuable also for fixing drift-sand in water-rills,
by readily bending over and rooting, thus forming natural little catch-
dams to retain water [MacOwan]. Mutton from sheep depasturing
on this plant proves particularly palatable. Several other species
occur in South-Africa. Systematically these plants are allied to the
Tansy.
P e r i a n d r a d tilc is , Martius.
Sub-tropioal Brazil. The sweet root of this shrub yields a kind
of liquorice.
P e r i l l a a r g u t a , Bentham.
Japan. An annual herb. An infusion of this plant is used for
imparting a deep-red colour to table-vegetables and other substances.
In Jap an the seeds are pressed for oil. P . ocimoides, L., of Upper
India, probably serves similar purposes. Some species of Perilla are
suitable for ribbon-culture. P . Nankinensis affords its aromatic
flowers as a condiment in China and Japan. ,
P e r s e a g r a t i s s im a , Gaertner.
'The Avocado-Pear or rather “ Aguaoate,” called in Peru “ Palta.”
From Mexico to Peru and Brazil in forest-tracts near the coast ; but
its real nativity, according to A. de Candolle, restricted to Mexico.
A noble evergreen spreading tree. Adverse to dro u g h t; likes humid
soil. Suggestively mentioned here as probably available for mild
localities outside the tropics, inasmuch as it has become naturalised in
Madeira, the Azores and Canary Islands. 'The fruit attains sometimes
a weight of 2 lbs., and is generally sliced for salad, and o f
delicious taste and flavor. Its pulp contains about 8 per cent, of
greenish oil. In Jamaica it is cultivated up to 4,000 feet [W. Fawcett]
. I t matured in littoral Eastern Australia, somewhat outside the
tropics [E d g a r]. I t also ripened its fruit abundantly near Moreton-
Bay. Lives unprotected as far south as Po rt Jackson [C. Moore],
The seeds have come into medicinal use a t the instance of Dr.
Froehling, particularly through the efforts of Messrs Parke and
. and Davis, to whom we mainly owe the recent introduction of many
other valuable new drugs into medicine.