*Papaver bracteatum (Great Scarlet Poppy).—A remarkably vigorously-growing perennial species from Siberia and N. Russia, with simple, rough, hairy stems more than 4 ft. high, each terminated by a single flower 9 ins. broad, and of a bright deep brick-red colour, with a large black spot at the base of each petal, and 2 or 3 leaf-like bracts at the base of each flower. The radical leaves, which are very deeply divided, form a dense broad tuft resting on the ground. A very ornamental plant for the open parts of pleasure-grounds, flourishing in almost any kind of well-drained soil. It will prove most effective as an isolated plant in the rougher parts of the pleasure-ground. A plant of it would also show to great advantage in a group of green-leaved subjects like the Ferulas. Very closely resembling the preceding is the Armenian species P. orientalis. It is however smaller in every respect, and the flowers want the distinguishing bracts.
Papyrus antiquorum (Egyptian Paper-plant).—A very graceful reed, or rather cyperus, which yielded the material used as paper by the ancient Egyptians. The rootstocks spread horizontally under the mud in places where the plant grows, continuing to throw up stems as they creep along. These stems are triangular and grow from 3 ft. to 8 ft. high; they are quite leafless except at the top, where they bear a large parasol-like tuft of green, gracefully-arching filaments. Shallow parts of pieces of water in a warm position are the most suitable places for this plant. It may, however, also be planted in soil which is kept constantly moist. Multiplied by division of the rootstocks; the pieces to be planted under water, if possible. In gardens south of London this fine plant may be tried in the open air in summer from June till September in warm spots; if not planted in shallow water, or the artificial bog, it should receive a very liberal supply of water in summer.
*Paulownia imperialis.—A Japanese tree of moderate size, with a large, dense, spreading head, and broad, entire or lobed, opposite leaves covered with hoary down. The flowers are nearly 2 ins. long, in terminal panicles, and of a purplish-violet colour. Young plants, say of a year, or in the first spring of their existence as independent plants, will, if cut down to the ground, make a luxuriant growth during the current year, and indeed prove more effective than the Ferdinanda eminens. The stem rises quite vertically and with great vigour, and looks simply a column of noble leaves. Plants growing in an ordinary nursery-quarter were (Sept. 8, 1868) 7 ft. and 8 ft. high from the ground, and the leaves from 20 ins. to 22 ins. in diameter. It was noticeable, too, that those at the top of each shaft were as large as those half-way up and near the base, which is not usually the case; and of course every variation of this kind is valuable, as it helps us to produce variety. Planted in rich ground and treated specially to secure a subtropical effect, greater dimensions than the above may readily be obtained, and older plants when cut down may be expected to produce stronger stems and leaves. They should be cut down every year in winter or spring, and confined to one stem.
*Petasites vulgaris.—A native plant of vigorous growth and striking appearance, forming dense spreading tufts of enormous radical leaves, usually about 2 ft. or 2½ ft. high. The leaves are heart-shaped in outline, and sometimes 3 ft. in width. A suitable subject for planting in any position where the soil is moist and deep, as on the margins of pieces of water or in damp glades. There is a variety (P. v. niveus) which has white, instead of rosy, flowers. This is also quite hardy, but does best in a slightly shaded position in deep clayey or sandy-clay soil.
Phœnix dactylifera (Date Palm).—A handsome palm with a rugged stem, and pinnate dark-green leaves from 6 ft. to 12 ft. long; the divisions linear-lance-shaped, very much pointed, and standing out quite straight. Easily increased from seed. Suitable for the greenhouse in winter and the open garden in summer, from the end of May till the beginning of October. Africa and India.
Phormium tenax (New Zealand Flax).—A hardy plant, with something of the habit of a large Iris, forming tufts of broad, shining, leathery leaves from 5 ft. to 6½ ft. high, gracefully arching at the top. The flowers, of a lemon colour, are borne in erect loose spikes just above the foliage. Generally with us it will be found to enjoy greenhouse temperature, though in genial places in the south and west of England and Ireland it does very well in the open air. Its best use is for the decoration of the garden in summer, a few specimens well grown and plunged in the grass or the centre of a bed giving a most distinct aspect to the scene. The larger such plants are, the better, of course, will be the effect. The small ones will prove equally useful and effective in vases, to which they will add a grace that vases rarely now possess. It is pre-eminently useful from its being alike good for the house, conservatory, and hall-decoration in winter. Multiplied by division of the tufts in summer, and thriving best in a light deep soil. Wherever indoor decoration on a large scale is practised it is indispensable, and it should be remarked that, unless for vase decoration, it requires to be grown into goodly specimens before affording much effect out of doors; but when grown large in tubs, it is equally grand for the large conservatory and for important positions in the flower-garden. In the extreme south of England and Ireland the New Zealand Flax will thrive in the water as well as on dry land; and where this is the case it may of course be used with fine effect as an aquatic. Doubtless, too, the variegated variety of the New Zealand Flax would be a capital plant to try in the open air in nice situations in the south and west of England and Ireland, where the green plant sometimes does so well. In any case it will do finely out of doors for the summer.
*Phytolacca decandra (Virginian Poke).—A vigorous herbaceous perennial, from 5½ ft. to nearly 10 ft. high, with stems of a reddish hue, very much branched above; the branches, leaf-stalks, veins of the leaves, and flower-stalks being also red. The flowers are numerous, in cylindrical spikes, and are at first white, afterwards changing to a delicate rose-colour. In autumn the leaves change to a uniform reddish tinge, which has a fine effect, contrasted with the numerous pendent purple berries. This is a very hardy plant, requiring hardly any attention and growing in almost any kind of soil. Multiplied either by seed or by division. It forms a very free and vigorous mass of vegetation, and, though perhaps scarcely refined enough in leaf to justify its being recommended for flower-garden use, no plant is more worthy of a place wherever a rich herbaceous vegetation is desired; whether near the rougher approaches of a hardy fernery, open glades near woodland walks, or any like positions. N. America.
*Poa aquatica.—A stout, rapidly increasing native grass, growing from 4 ft. to 6 ft. high, with broad, flat leaves and the inflorescence in much-branched handsome panicles, sometimes nearly a foot long. It is not uncommon in England and Ireland, mostly occurring in wet ditches, by rivers, and in marshes. It is one of the boldest and handsomest hardy grasses, for planting by the margins of pieces of artificial water or streams, associated with such plants as the Typhas, Acorus, bullrush, great water-dock, etc.
*Poa fertilis.—Just within the main entrance of the Royal Gardens at Kew a very graceful-looking grass might have been seen isolated on the turf during the past year or two. It is a comparatively dwarf subject, and not at all striking in bloom like the Pampas, but withal very distinct and desirable. It is one of the most elegant grasses, forming dense tufts of long, soft, smooth, slender leaves, which arch outwards and downwards in the most graceful manner on every side, and, in the flowering season, are surmounted by airy, diffuse, purplish or violet-tinged panicles, rising to a height of from 20 ins. to 3 ft., the grassy tufts being usually about half that height. This plant is widely distributed over Southern Europe, Northern Asia, and North America, in wet meadows and on low banks of streams. Of all the dwarf perennial grasses it is perhaps the best for isolation on the grass, where its fine dense and graceful tufts of long hair-like leaves and elegant panicles form a quite distinct-looking and ornamental object.