OZOTHAMNUS.

OZOTHAMNUS ROSMARINIFOLIUS.—­Australia, 1827.  A pretty little Australian Composite, forming a dense, twiggy shrub, with narrow, Rosemary-like leaves, and small, whitish, Aster-like flowers which resemble those of its near relative, the Olearia, and are produced so thickly that the plant looks like a sheet of white when the blooms are fully developed.  It flowers in June and July.  In most parts of the country it will require protection, but can be classed as fairly hardy.  Cuttings root freely if placed in sandy soil in a cool frame.

PAEONIA.

PAEONIA MOUTAN.—­Moutan Paeony, or Chinese Tree Paeony.  China and Japan, 1789.  A beautiful shrubby species introduced from China about one hundred years ago.  The first of the kind introduced to England had single flowers, and the plant is figured in Andrews’ Botanists’ Repository (tab. 463) under the name of P. papaveracea.  The flowers are white with a dark red centre.  In the Botanical Magazine (tab. 2175), the same plant is figured under the name of P. Moutan var. papaveracea.  This is perfectly hardy in our gardens, and is the parent of many beautiful and distinct varieties, including double and single white, pink, crimson, purple, and striped.

PALIURUS.

PALIURUS ACULEATUS (syn P. australis).—­Christ’s Thorn, or Garden Thorn.  Mediterranean region, 1596.  A densely-branched, spiny shrub, with small leaves, and not very showy, yellowish-green flowers.  It grows and flowers freely enough in light, peaty earth, but is not very hardy, the tips of the branches being usually killed back should the winter be at all severe.

PARROTIA.

PARROTIA PERSICA.—­Persia, 1848.  Well known for the lovely autumnal tints displayed by the foliage when dying off.  But for the flowers, too, it is well worthy of culture, the crimson-tipped stamens of the male flowers being singularly beautiful and uncommon.  In February it is no unusual sight to see on well-established plants whole branches that are profusely furnished with these showy flowers.  For planting in a warm corner of a rather dry border it seems to be well suited; but it is perfectly hardy and free of growth when suited with soil and site.  It is as yet rare in cultivation, but is sure, when better known and more widely disseminated, to become a general favourite with lovers of hardy shrubs.

PASSIFLORA.

PASSIFLORA CAERULEA.—­Passion Flower.  Brazil and Peru, 1699.  Though not perfectly hardy, yet this handsome climbing plant, if cut down to the ground, usually shoots up freely again in the spring.  The flowers, which are produced very freely, but particularly in maritime districts, vary from white to blue, and the prettily-fringed corona and centre of the flower render the whole peculiarly interesting and beautiful.  P. caerulea Constance Elliott has greenish-white flowers; and P. caerulea Colvillei has white sepals and a blue fringe.  The latter is of more robust growth, and more floriferous than the species.