|
In botany, the placenta is a development of cellular tissue at the inner or ventral suture of a carpel, to which the ovules or seeds are attached either immediately or by umbilical cords, as in the pod of the pea. The placenta is formed on each margin of the carpel, and is therefore essentially double. When the pistil is formed by one carpel the inner margins unite in the axis, and usually form a common placenta. When the pistil is composed of several carpels there are generally separate placentas at each of their margins. The term parietal placenta is applied to one not projecting far inwards, or one essentially constituted of the wall of the seed-vessel. The form of placentation forms an important distinction between the various orders of plants.
 Research Placenta
The term placoid fishes is sometimes used to describe the elasmobranchs on account of the nature of their scales. These structures consist of detached bony grains, tubercles, or plates, of which the latter are not uncommonly armed with spines.
Research Placoid Fishes
Placusa is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, found under bark.
Research Placusa
Plagiodera is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae).
Research Plagiodera
Plagionotus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) similar in appearance to the Clytus genus, but more robust and grow to 20 mm long.
Research Plagionotus
Plagiostomata is a name sometimes used instead of elasmobranch to designate cartilaginous fishes, such as the shark and ray.
Research Plagiostomata
The Plagiostomi are a sub-order of fishes of the order Elasmobranchii, distinguished by the bodies of the vertebrae being either bony or at any rate containing osseous elements; the skull gristly or cartilaginous; the mouth a transverse slit, situated on the under surface of the head; and the teeth numerous. The Plagiostomi include three groups: the Cestraphori, represented solely by the Cestracion Phillipi or Port-Jackson shark; the Selachii (sharks and dog-fishes); and the Batides, represented by the skates, rays, and saw-fishes.
Research Plagiostomi
Plaice (Pleuronectes or Platessa), a genus of so-called 'Flat-fishes.' The common plaice {Pleuronectes pintessa or Platessa vulgaris), a well-known food fish, attains an average length of 12 or 18 inches. The dark or upper side is coloured brown, spotted with red or orange; the body is comparatively smooth; the ventral fins are situated on the throat, and are thus jugular in position;
the mouth is of small size, and provided with small teeth. These fishes are all 'ground-fishes,' that is, they feed and swim near the bottom of the sea. They are caught chiefly by means of trawl-nets.
Research Plaice
The Plain Clay (Eugnorisma depuncta) is a moth of the family Noctuidae found in northern and central Europe and western Asia. The Plain Clay has a wing span measuring from 30 to 35 mm and lives in grassy woodlands and upland meadows, flying from July to August.
Research Plain Clay
The Plains Garter Snake is an American species of Garter snake occurring in olive-green, brown, reddish, or greenish-grey colour with a pale mid-dorsal stripe and a dull white, yellowish or greenish-grey belly with a series of regular longitudinal spots.
Research Plains Garter Snake
Planaria is a member of the order tricladida.
Research Planaria
Planarida are the Planarians, a sub-order of flat, soft-bodied annelids, of the order Turbellaria, mostly oval or elliptical in shape, and not unlike the foot of a gasteropodous mollusc. They are for the most part aquatic in their habits, occurring in fresh water or on the sea-shore, but are found occasionally in moist earth. The male and female organs are united in the same individual, and the process of reproduction may be either sexual, by means of true ova, or non-sexual, by internal gemmation or transverse fission.
Research Planarida
The plane-tree (Platanus) is a genus of trees of the natural order Platanaceae. Platanus occidentalis, the American plane-tree or button-wood (the sycamore or cotton-tree of the West), abounds in American forests, and on the banks of the Ohio attains sometimes a diameter of from 10 to 14 feet, rising 60 or 70 feet without a branch. The bark is pale-green and smooth, and its epidermis detaches in portions; the fresh roots are a beautiful red; the leaves are alternate, palmated, or lobed; and the flowers are united in little globular, pendent balls. The wood in seasoning takes a dull red colour, is finegrained, and susceptible of a good polish, but speedily decays on exposure to the weather. The oriental plane (Platanus orientalis), resembles the preceding, and is plentiful in the forests of Western Asia. The Platanus orientalis and Platanus acertfolia, from being able to withstand the effects oif armospheric pollution are among the trees most suitable for planting in towns. The Acer Pseudo-platanus, the common sycamore or greater maple, is called in Scotland the plane-tree.
Research Plane-tree
Plankton is minute plant and animal organisms found in water. It is a source of food for many fish and whales.
Research Plankton
A plant is a living organism which does not have the ability to move, and does not have sensory organs or digestive organs.
Research Plant
Plantaginaceae is a family of flowering plants, all herbaceous in character, and for the most part natives of temperate regions. They bear regular flowers, usually in elongated spikes. The calyx and corolla are each four- partite; the petals being usually chaffy; and there are four stamens, with very long, thread-like filaments.
Research Plantaginaceae
Plantain or Plantago is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the family Plantaginaceae. Plantago major, or Great Plantain, is a common weed, the leaves of which are all radical, oval, and petiolate, and from amongst them arise several long cylindrical spikes of greenish inconspicuous flowers. The root and seed were employed in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery, and external sores; the seeds are collected for the food of birds.
The name plantain is also applied to a tropical plant similar to the banana of the family Musaceae. Musa paradisidca a native of the East Indies, is cultivated in mostly all tropical countries. The stem is soft, herbaceous, 15 to 20 feet high, with leaves often more than 6 feet long and nearly 2 feet broad. The fruit grows in clusters, is about 1 inch in diameter and 8 or 9 inches long. The stem dies down after fruiting; but the root-stock is perennial, and sends up numerous fresh shoots annually. It is easily propagated by suckers. The banana is a closely-allied variety or species. Their fruits are among the most useful in the vegetable kingdom, and once formed the entire sustenance of many of the inhabitants of tropical climates. A dwarf variety, Musa chinensis, produces a fruit in European hothouses. The fibres of the leaf-stalks of Musa textilis of the Philippine Islands supplies Manilla hemp or abaca, from which very strong cordage was made, the finer fibres being used in making cloth.
Research Plantain
The Plantain-eaters are a group of perching birds, of the family Musophagidae. The genus MusophAga of tropical Africa includes the most typical forms. These birds chiefly feed upon the fruit of the banana and plantain. The base of the bill appears as a broad plate covering the forehead. The plumage exhibits brilliant coloration. The members of the genus CorytHaix or Touracos possess a bill of ordinary size and conformation, and feed on insects in addition to fruits.
Research Plantain-Eaters
In zoology, the term plantigrade refers to walking with the entire sole of the foot touching the ground, as for example do man and bears. Hence the plantigrada are carnivorous animals in which the whole or nearly the whole sole of the foot is applied to the ground in walking. This section includes the bears, raccoons, coatis, and badgers. Carnivora which, like the weasels and civets, use only part of the sole in walking, are termed semi-plantigrada.
Research Plantigrade
Plasmodium is a genus of parasitic animals of the suborder haemosporidia. They cause malaria in man.
Research Plasmodium
A plastron is a ventral shield, the lower part of the horny shell of reptiles such as the tortoise.
Research Plastron
Platambus is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae.
Research Platambus
The Platanista is a fresh-water dolphin, differing chiefly from the true Delphinidae in its blow-hole being a longitudinal instead of transverse fissure. It is represented by a single species (Platanista gangetica), which inhabits the estuary of the Ganges. An allied form (Inia Boliviensis) inhabits the rivers of Bolivia.
Research Platanista
Platanus is a genus of trees belonging to the family Plantanaceae. The genus includes the Oriental plane (Platanus orientalis), the London plane (Platanus acerifolia).
Research Platanus
Plateosaurus was a dinosaur of the Triassic period. Plateosaurus was about eight metres long with strong hind legs and shorter arms furnished with broad hands with a large curved thumb claw. Plateosaurus had a long neck and tail and a long, light skull with small leaf-shaped teeth, suggesting a herbivore.
Research Plateosaurus
Platycerium is a genus of mostly tropical ferns, commonly known as stag- horn ferns on account of their curiously forked fronds.
Research Platycerium
Platycerus is a genus of small stag beetles (Lucanidae).
Research Platycerus
Platycis is a European genus of net-winged beetles of the family Lycidae, ranging from five to ten millimetres in length.
Research Platycis
Platyelmia ('Flat-worms') is a division of the class Scolecida, and so called from the flattened shape of their bodies, in contradistinction to Nematelmia - a group including worms with rounded bodies. They are represented by the tape-worm, 'flukes,' etc.
Research Platyelmia
Platypodidae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera, related to the bark beetles (Scolytidae) .
Research Platypodidae
Platypsyllus is a genus of small beetles of the family Leptinidae. There is only one species,
Platypsyllus castoris - the Beaver Beetle, which lives in the fur of beavers where it feeds on the parasitic mites.
Research Platypsyllus
The platyrrhina are a suborder of Anthropoidea. The nostrils face forwards. The internasal septum is broad and they have three premolars. The tail may be prehensile.
Research Platyrrhina
Platysoma is a genus of beetles of the family Histeridae, found in Europe but not Britain. They have wide tibia with a toothed outer edge, and deep S- shaped grooves on the first pair of tibiae. Both the larvae and the adults feed on bark beetles and fly larvae under bark.
Research Platysoma
Platystethus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, most of the species having two distinct spines on the head of the adult males. They live mostly in dung and on muddy river banks.
Research Platystethus
Platystomos is a genus of beetle of the family Anthribidae, reaching twelve millimetres in length, found on beech and alder stumps.
Research Platystomos
Plectognathi is a sub-order of Teleostean fish, distinguished by the maxillary and intermaxillary bones on each side of the jaw being firmly united together by bony union. The head is large, and the union of its bones firmer than in any other Teleostean fish; the body is generally short, the skin horny, the fins small and soft. As examples of the chief fishes included in this group one may cite the trunk-fishes, the file-fishes, the globe-fishes, the sun-fishes, etc.
Research Plectognathi
Plectophloeus is a genus of light reddish brown coloured beetles of the family Pselaphidae.
Research Plectophloeus
Plegaderus is a genus of tiny beetles of the family Histeridae. They live beneath bark in rotten wood and feed on the larvae of bark beetles.
Research Plegaderus
Plesiosaurus was a genus of long-necked Plesiosaur. Plesiosaurus was a marine reptile (very similar to a dinosaur, and libing at the same time but in the sea) that lived during the Mesozoic Period. It had a long neck, short tail, small head and four paddle-like limbs. Remains of a Plesiosaurus have been found in a quarry at Harbury in Warwickshire, England.
Research Plesiosaurus
Pleurobrachia is a member of the sub-Phylum ctenophora family.
Research Pleurobrachia
Pleuronectidae is the group of fishes included in the section Anacanthini of that order, and represented by the soles, flounders, brill, turbot, halibut, plaice, etc. The scientific name Pleurouectidae therefore corresponds to the popular designation of 'Flat-fishes' applied to these forms.
Research Pleuronectidae
Pleurophorus is a genus of dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae found chiefly under cow dung and decaying vegetation.
Research Pleurophorus
The Pleven is a Bulgarian breed of riding and competition horse developed since 1898 from Arabian Horse mares and local Russian stallions and later Gidran stallions, the breed being recognised in 1951. The Pleven stands between 15.2 and 16 hands high and is chestnut in colour with natural carriage and presence and a natural jumping ability.
Research Pleven
Plica is a diseased state of plants characterised by the excessive development of small entangled twigs, instead of ordinary branches.
In zoology, plica refers to the bend of a bird's wing.
Research Plica
Plover is a general name for birds of the sub-family Charadridae. The typical plovers belong to the genus Charadrius. They inhabit all parts of the world. They are gregarious, and most of them are partial to the muddy borders of rivers and marshy situations, subsisting on worms and various aquatic insects; but some of them affect dry sandy shores. Their general features are a long, slender bill which is straight and compressed; nostrils basal and longitudinal; long and slender legs, with three toes before, the outer connected to the middle one by a short web; middle-sized wings. Most of the Plovers moult twice a year, and the males and females are seldom very dissimilar in appearance. The various species pass so imperceptibly into one another that their classification is often attended with difficulty. All nestle on the ground. They run much on the soil, patting it with their feet to bring out the worms, etc. The golden plover (Charadrius pluvialis), also called yellow and whistling plover, is the best known, and its flesh and its olive-green dark-spotted eggs are considered a delicacy by epicures.
Research Plover
Plum (Prunus) is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Rosaceae, sub-order Amygdaleae. About a dozen species are known, all inhabiting the north temperate regions of the globe. They are small trees or shrubs, with alternate leaves and white flowers, either solitary or disposed in fascicles in the axils of the leaves. The common garden plum (Prunes domesstica), introduced from Asia Minor, is the most extensively cultivated, and its fruit is one of the most familiar of the stone-fruits. The varieties are very numerous, differing in size, form, colour, and taste. Some are mostly eaten fresh, some are dried and sold as prunes, others again are preserved in sugar, alcohol, syrup, or vinegar. They make also excellent jams and jellies, and the syrup from stewed plums forms a refreshing drink for invalids, and a mild aperient for children. Perhaps the most esteemed of all varieties is the green gage. A very popular and easily grown sort is the Prunus damascena or damson. The wood of the plum-tree is hard, compact, traversed with reddish veins, susceptible of a fine polish, and is frequently employed by turners and cabinet-makers. The sloe or black-thorn (Prunus spinosa) is a species of wild plum bearing a small, round, blue-black, and extremely sour fruit. Its juice is made into prune-wine, which is chiefly employed by distillers, wine and spirit merchants, etc, for fining, colouring, purifying, and mellowing spirits.
Research Plum
Plumbaginaceae or Plumbagineae is a natural order of exogens, consisting of (chiefly maritime) herbs, somewhat shrubby below, with alternate leaves, and regular pentamerous, often blue or pink flowers. As garden plants nearly the whole of the order is much prized for beauty, particularly the Statices. The common thrift or sea-pink (Armeria maritima), with grass-like leaves and heads of bright pink flowers, is a familiar example. The type of this order is the genus Plumbago. It consists of perennial herbs or undershrubs, with pretty blue, white, or rose-coloured flowers in spikes at the ends of the branches. Plumbago europoea was formerly employed by beggars to raise ulcers upon their bodies to excite pity. Its root contains a peculiar crystallizable substance which gives to the skin a lead-grey colour, whence the plant has been called leadwort.
Research Plumbaginaceae
Plumbago is a genus of plants belonging to the family Plumbaginaceae.
Research Plumbago
The plume-moths (Pterophorida), are a small family of moths remarkable for having their wings split up into a number of plumes, usually the fore wings into two and the hind wings into three. The White Plume-moth (Pterophorus pentadactylus) is a pretty insect with snowy white wings, and is common in gardens.
Research Plume-moths
The Plumed Prominent (Ptilophora plumigera) is a moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 32 and 40 mm found in deciduous and mixed forests across Europe and Asia flying in October and November.
Research Plumed Prominent
Plump is the collective noun for a group of woodcock.
Plump is the collective noun for a group of wildfowl.
Research Plump
In botany, a plumule is that part of the seed which grows into the stem and axis of the future plant. In the seeds of the bean, horse-chestnut, etc, the plumule is distinctly visible, but in plants generally it is scarcely perceptible without the aid of a magnifying glass, and in many it does not appear until the seed begins to germinate. The first indication of development is the appearance of the plumule, which is a collection of feathery fibres bursting from the enveloping capsule of the germ, and which proceeds immediately to extend itself vertically upwards.
Research Plumule
The Plymouth Rock is a breed of chicken.
Research Plymouth Rock
Poa is a genus of hardy grasses, with panicles of awnless many-flowered spikelets.
Research Poa
Pocadius is a genus of sap-beetle (Nitidulidae), the adults of which live in puff-balls.
Research Pocadius
The pochard are various diving ducks found in Europe and North America, especially the genus Aythya. They are marine in habits, and feed upon crustaceans, worms, molluscs, and aquatic plants. The flesh of several is much prized as food. A typical form and one of the best known is the common pochard, called also dunbird, red-headed poker, red-headed widgeon or duck. The head and neck are bright chestnut; eyes red; bill long; a broad, transverse, and dark-blue band on the upper mandible; length 16 to 17 inches; weight 1 to 2 pounds. Other species are the long-tailed duck; the scaup pochard the tufted pochard and the canvas-back duck of North America so highly esteemed by epicures.
Research Pochard
In botany, pod is a general term applied to various forms of seed-vessels of plants, such as the legume, the loment, the siliqua, the silicle, the follicle, the capsule, etc.
Pod is the collective noun for a group of peas.
Pod is the collective noun for a group of whiting.
Pod is the collective noun for a group of whales.
Pod is the collective noun for a group of seals.
Research Pod
Podabrus is a genus of soldier beetle (Cantharidae) found mainly in mountainous regions.
Research Podabrus
Podiceps (Grebe) is a genus of birds of the family Colymbidae characterized by a straight conical bill, no tail, a short tarsus, flattened toes which are separate but broadly fringed at their edges by a firm membrane and legs set so far back that on land the Grebe adopts the upright stance of a penguin. They are excellent swimmers and feed on small fish, frogs, crustaceans and insects.
Research Podiceps
The Podicipediformes are an order of birds. These are the Grebes. They are water birds. They don't have webbed feet, instead each toe is fringed separately. They build floating nests directly on the water.
Research Podicipediformes
Podistra is a genus of soldier beetle (Cantharidae).
Research Podistra
Podocarpus is a large genus of evergreen trees of the pine family. They are chiefly natives of tropical countries and bear succulent leaves and fruit. They yield excellent timber, especially the
Podocarpus totana of New Zealand and the Podocarpus cupressina of Java.
Research Podocarpus
The Podophthalmata ('stalk-eyed') are a division of the Crustacean class, primarily distinguished by compound eyes supported upon movable stalks termed peduncles. This division includes the orders Stomapoda and Decapoda, the former of which is represented by the 'locust', 'glass', and 'opossum' shrimps, whilst the latter includes the familiar crabs, lobsters, common shrimps, hermit crabs, and their allies.
Research Podophthalmata
Podophyllum is a genus of hardy herbaceous perennial plants belonging to the family Berberidaceae. They bear solitary, nodding, white flowers, followed by indehiscent berries.
Research Podophyllum
Poduridae are a family of apterous (wingless) insects belonging to the order Thysanura, distinguished by the possession of an elastic forked caudal appendage, which is folded under the body when at rest, and by the sudden extension of which they are enabled to effect considerable leaps; hence their popular name of spring-tails. Their scales are favourite test objects for microscopes.
Research Poduridae
Poecilonota is a rare genus of jewel beetle (Buprestidae).
Research Poecilonota
The pogge or armed bullhead (Agonus cataphractus) is a small British fish characterized by an angular head and body and an armature of bony plates. It is related to the bullhead, and is sometimes eaten.
Research Pogge
Pogonocherus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae) represented by three scarce British species. The British species all have tufts of black hair on their elytra.
Research Pogonocherus
Pogonus is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae. They are found in Britain and Europe and north Africa and are from 5 to 9 mm long and live near the sea or on salty ground inland.
Pogonus luridipennis has a yellowish brown elytra, other species are generally a uniform metallic greenish colour.
Research Pogonus
Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) is a plant of the spurge family native to Mexico and Central America. It has variously lobed leaves and brilliant scarlet, pink or white petal-like bracts.
It is named after Joel Poinsett, American minister to Mexico, who first introduced it.
Research Poinsettia
The Pointer is a breed of short haired hunting dog, descended from a Spanish breed crossed with the foxhound, trained to point game - locate game and stand still indicating the location. The breed originates from around the start of the 18th century, and although essentially a working dog can settle in the home if given plenty of exercise.
Research Pointer
Poison ivy also known as poison oak and poison vine (Rhus radicans) is a vine or shrub of the family Anacardiaceae, having trifoliate leaves and whitish berries. It causes severe dermatitis when touched by people sensitive to it.
Research Poison ivy
Poison-nut is a name for Strychnos nuxvomica, an evergreen tree of the natural order Loganiaceae, the seeds of which yield strychnine. It is also a name for the Tanghinia venenifera, of the natural order Apocynaceae, the fruit of which is a drupe inclosing a kernel extremely poisonous. It used to be employed in Madagascar as an ordeal-test of guilt or innocence, the result generally being the death of the suspected person.
Research Poison-Nut
The chief British narcotic vegetable poisons are those derived from the plants Monk's-hood or Wolf's-bane, Deadly Nightshade, Belladonna or Dwale, Henbane, and Thorn-apple. The first of these (Aconitum Napellus) is intensely poisonous, owing to the presence of an alkaloid known as aconitin; the chief antidotes are atropin, belladonna, and digitalis.
The Deadly Nightshade (Atropa Belladonna) owes its poisonous properties to the active principle atropin. Physostigmin, the principle in the Calabar Bean, ig employed as an antidote, and stimulants should be freely given. Similar treatment is prescribed in the case of poisoning from the Thorn - apple (Datura Stramonium), while the Common Henbane (Hyoscyamus niger) is another powerful poison.
A considerable number of common British plants contain irritant or narcotico-irritant poisons. Among these is the Cuckoo-pint or Wake-robin (Arum maculatum), the remedy for which is castor-oil, hot coffee, stimulants, and warm poulticing. Several well-known members of the order Umbelliferae contain a poison whose action starts in the lower limbs; these include the Common or Spotted Hemlock (Conlum maculatum), the Water Hemlock (Cicuta virosa), the Hemlock Water Dropwort (OEnanthe crocata), and the Fool's Parsley (AEthusa Cynapium). Among their antidotes are oak bark decoction, tannic and gallic acids, hot tea or other similar substances, and tincture of belladonna. A similar antidote is given in the case of Meadow Saffron (Colchicum autumnale), in addition to white-of-egg drink, gum-water, barley-water, etc.
For the Woody Nightshade or Bittersweet (Solanum dulcamara), castor-oil, stimulants, etc, are prescribed, in addition to the emetics to be employed in all cases. The berries of the Common Privet have also proved fatal. The well-known Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea) owes its poisonous character to a powerful principle digitalin: tincture of aconite, used with various stimulating drinks, is an antidote, and a recumbent position should be maintained. Other poisonous plants are the Cypress Spurge (Euphorbia Cyparissias), the Pasque-flower (Anemone Pulsatilla), the Mezereon (Daphne Mezercon), the Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia), and Laburnum (Cytisus Laburnum). Mistakes are often made in distinguishing edible from poisonous fungi. The edible kinds mostly grow solitarily in dry, airy places, while poisonous varieties grow in clusters in woods and damp, dark places. Bright-coloured species should generally be avoided.
Research Poisonous Plants
The Poitevin or Mulassier is a French breed of heavy horse, renowned for being bad tempered, uncooperative, unattractive and poor workers. They do however produce excellent mules, and it is for this that they are bred. The Poitevin stands 16 hands high, is dun, grey, bay, black or palomino in colour and has coarse feathering to the legs. Poitevin mares are bred with Baudet de Poitou donkeys to produce Poitevin mules which are strong, tough, enduring and with a good disposition.
Research Poitevin
Pokeweed (Phytolacca decandra) is a North American branching herbaceous plant of the order Phytolaccaceae, which is naturalized in some parts of Europe and Asia. Its root acts as a powerful emetic and cathartic, but its use has narcotic side effects. Its berries are said to possess the same quality; they were employed as a remedy for chronic and syphilitic rheumatism, and for allaying syphiloid pains. The leaves are extremely acrid, but the young shoots, which lose this quality by boiling in water, are eaten in the United States as asparagus.
Research Pokeweed
The Poland is a breed of chicken.
Research Poland
The Poland China is a breed of domestic pig which originated in Poland and China.
Research Poland China
The Polar bear (Thalarctos maritmus) is a large white bear - almost as large as the giant brown bears - found in arctic regions around the north pole where they live on the ice floes of the open ocean and feed on seals.
Research Polar bear
The polecat (from the French poule-chat meaning chicken-cat) is an Old World weasel (Mustela putorius) with a brown back and dark belly and two yellow face patches. The body is about 50cm long and it has a strong smell from anal gland secretions. It is native to Asia, Europe, and north Africa. Polecats are mainly nocturnal in habit, sleeping in a tunnel under logs or tree roots during the day and hunting at night. Their diet consists mainly of frogs, small rodents, rabbits, birds and occassionaly insects and snakes. They get their name from their liking for hunying chicken on farms.
Research Polecat
Polemoniaceae is a family of herbaceous plants whose flowers usually have five-cleft calyxes, five-lobed regular corollas, five stamens, and a three- celled ovary. The pollen is usually more or less blue in colour. They consist for the most part of gay-flowered herbaceous plants, natives of temperate countries, and particularly abundant in the north-western parts of America. They are of no economical importance. Some are cultivated for their beauty, the well-known phlox being one. Polemonium coeruleum, known as Greek valerian or Jacob's ladder, is the only British species.
Research Polemoniaceae
Polianthes is a genus of plants belonging to the natural order Amaryllidaceae. They are natives of the East Indies and South America, and in Britain require the aid of artificial heat, under shelter of frames and glasses, to bring them to flower in perfection. The Polianthes tuberosa or tuberose is well known for its delicious fragrance.
Research Polianthes
The pollack is a marine fish (Pollachius virens or Gadus pollachius) of the cod family valued for food and as a source of oil. It grows to a length of 75 cm, and is of a greenish colour with a dark spot near the pectoral fin and no barbels. The pollack is found close to the shore on both sides of the north Atlantic, being found off the coasts of Cronwall and Devon in Britain, Norway and North America.
Research Pollack
The pollan (Coregonus pollan) is a fresh-water fish of the family Salmonidae, found in the Irish lakes.
Research Pollan
Pollard is the name given to a tree the head of which has been lopped off about 8 or 10 feet from the ground, in order to induce it to send out bushy shoots, which are cut periodically for basket-making, fuel, fencing, or other purposes.
Research Pollard
The Polled Hereford is a breed of cattle.
Research Polled Hereford
The Polled Welsh Black is a breed of cattle.
Research Polled Welsh Black
Pollen is the male element of flowering plants; the fine dust or powder which by contact with the stigma effects the fecundation of the seeds. To the naked eye it appears to be a very fine powder, and is usually inclosed in the cells of the anther; but when examined with the microscope it is found to consist of hollow cases, usually spheroidal, filled with a fluid in which are suspended drops of oil from the 20,000th to the 30,000th of an inch in diameter, and grains of starch five or six times as large. Impregnation is brought about by
means of tubes (pollen-tubes) which issue from the pollen-grains adhering to the stigma, and penetrate through the tissues until they reach the ovary.
Research Pollen
The Pollen Beetle (Meligethes aeneus) is a sap-beetle (Nitidulidae). They are so named after the larvae habit of eating pollen, and are also a pest of crops such as oilseed rape where they also nibble the flowers causing damage to the plant.
Research Pollen Beetle
Pollination is the supplying of the fertilizing pollen to the stigma of a flower.
Research Pollination
Polyadelphia is the name given by Linnaeus to the eighteenth class of his sexual system, in allusion to the stamens being collected into several parcels.
Research Polyadelphia
In botany, Polyandria is the name given by Linnaeus to a class of hermaphrodite plants having many stamens, or more than twenty, arising immediately from below the ovary.
Research Polyandria
Polyanthus is a beautiful and favourite variety of the common primrose (Primula vulgaris), a native of most parts of Europe, growing in woods and copses in a moist clayey soil. The leaves are obovate, rectangular, toothed, rugose, and villous beneath. The flowers are in umbels on a scape or flower-stalk three to six inches or more in length. In addition to propagating from seeds polyanthuses may also be readily increased by division.
Research Polyanthus
The polychaeta are the bristle worms. They are a class of marine Phylum annelida with obvious segmentation. The head usually bears tentacles and palps.
Research Polychaeta
The polycladida is a marine order of Turbellaria. The gut has numerous caeca which ramify through the body. Numerous simple eyes are usually present.
Research Polycladida
Polycotyledonous Plants are those plants of which the embryos have more than two cotyledons or seed-lobes. Instances occur in plants of the cruciferous order, and in coniferous plants.
Research Polycotyledonous Plants
Polycystina is a group of Protozoa, a division of the Rhizopoda, order Radiolaria, consisting of minute organisms allied to the Foraminifera, but their shells are of siliceous matter, while those of the latter are calcareous. The bodies of the Polycystina are composed of a brownish sarcode-matter apparently containing yellow globules, which protrudes in the form of elongated filaments (pseudopodia) through apertures in the shells. The Polycystina inhabit the sea-depths, and are abundantly represented as fossil organisms, as in the 'infusorial earth' of Barbadoes.
Research Polycystina
Polydrusus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) represented by eleven British species.
Research Polydrusus
In botany, polyembryony is a phenomenon occurring, sometimes regularly and sometimes abnormally, in the development of the ovules of flowering plants, consisting in the existence of two or more embryos in the same seed.
Research Polyembryony
Polygala is a genus of plants of the natural order Polygalaceae. The species abound in milky juice, and are found in most parts of the world. The root of Polygala Sewya (senega or seneca root or Virginian snake-root) is a stimulating diuretic, useful in pneumonia, asthma, and rheumatism. Polygala vulgaris, or milkwort, is a British plant, common in dry pastures.
Research Polygala
Polygalaceae is a family of plants, usually with milky juice, especially in their roots.
Research Polygalaceae
POLYGALACEAE
Polygalaceae is a natural order of herbs or shrubs, with alternate, exstipulate, simple leaves; irregular hermaphrodite flowers; diadelphous or monadelphous stamens; anthers opening at the apex by a pore or chink. Nearly half the species are comprised in the genus Polygala, and are very generally distributed. The plants of this order are mostly bitter, and acrid or astringent.
Research Polygalaceae
Polygonaceae is a family of herbaceous plants, characterised by the presence of an ochrea - a membranous sheath enclosing the stem at each of the joints, and bearing spikes or panicles of small flowers, often unisexual.
Research Polygonaceae
Polygonatum is a genus of plants belonging to the family Liliaceae characterized by the flowers having six-cleft corollas, and by the fruit being berries. Polygonatum multiflorum is the Solomon's Seal, which occurs native in Britain.
Research Polygonatum
Polygonum is a genus of herbaceous plants, of the natural order Polygonaceae. They are found in the temperate regions of Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia. They are herbaceous, rarely shrubby plants, with alternate stipulate or exstipulate leaves, and spikes of small pink flowers. Several British species are known by the name of persicarias.
Research Polygonum
The polygordius are archiannelida.
Research Polygordius
Polygraphus is a genus of beetle of the family Scolytidae that breeds behind the bark of coniferous trees.
Research Polygraphus
Polygynia is one of the orders in the fifth, sixth, twelfth, and thirteenth classes of the Linnaean system, comprehending those plants which have flowers with many pistils, or in which the pistils or styles are more than twelve in number.
Research Polygynia
Polymastigina are an order of Zoomastigina. They are flagellates with four or more flagella.
Research Polymastigina
Polyp is a term which has been very variously and indiscriminately applied to different animals. It has thus been used to designate any animal of low organization, such as the sea-anemones, corals, and their allies; or it has been employed to indicate animals, which, like the coelenterate zoophytes or Hydrozoa, and the molluscoid Polyzoa, bear a close resemblance to plants. It is now generally applied to any single member of the class Actinozoa, represented by the sea-anemones, corals, and the like; or any member (or zooid) of a compound organism belonging to that class. The term polypide is employed to designate each member or zooid of the compound forms included in the Polyzoa. The name polypidom applies to the entire outer framework or skin-system of a compound form such as a hydrozoan zoophyte. The word polypite refers to each separate zooid or member of a compound zoophyte or hydrozoon. The polypary of a hydrozoon specially refers to the horny or chitinous skin secreted by the Hydrozoa.
Research Polyp
Polyplacophora is an order of the Amphineura class of molluscs.
Research Polyplacophora
Polypodiaceae is a natural order of ferns, which may be taken as the type of the whole. They constitute the highest order of acrogenous or cryptogamic vegetation, and are regarded as approaching more nearly to cycadaceous gymnosperms than to any other group of the vegetable kingdom. They are usually herbaceous plants with a permanent stem, which either remains buried or rooted beneath the soil, or creeps over the stems of trees, or forms a scarcely movable point of growth, round which new leaves are annually produced in a circle, or it rises into the air in the form of a simple stem, bearing a tuft of leaves at its apex and sometimes attaining the height of 40 feet, as in the tree-ferns.
Research Polypodiaceae
Polypodium is a genus of ferns, generally with sori on the back of the lobes. The genus includes some of the most handsome ferns.
Research Polypodium
Polypody (Polypodium vulgare) is a perennial fern of the order Polypodiaceae, common to Britain and Europe. It has a creeping, slightly flattened, branched rhizome, which bears numerous red-brown scales. Every year new fronds rise alongside the old ones. The fronds are simple, long- stalked, smooth and pinnately divided with lanceolate segments, rounded at the tip. Clusters of spore cases are arranged in two rows on the undersides of the upper segments, coloured orange at first and then later brown.
Research Polypody
Polyponis is a genus of parasitical fungi. The Polyponis destructor is one of the pests of wooden constructions, producing what is sometimes termed dry-rot, although the true dry-rot is a different plant (Merulius lacrymans). Polyponis igniarius is known by the name of amadou, touch-wood, or spunk.
Research Polyponis
Polyporaceae is a family of fungi that become corky or woody with age, often forming shell-like growths on trees.
Research Polyporaceae
Polyporus is a genus of hymenomycetous fungi with over a hundred British species. They for a type of the family Polyporae in which the hymenium, or spore-bearing surface, lines the interior of closely-packed tubes on the under side of the pileus. The species are chiefly found growing on trees and stumps, with only a few species living on the ground, and many are stalkless.
Research Polyporus
Polypterus is a genus of fish inhabiting the Nile, Senegal, and other rivers of Africa, and included in the Ganoid order of the class. They form types of a special family, the Polypteridae. Their most singular characteristic is the structure of the dorsal fin, which instead of being continuous is separated into twelve or sixteen strong spines distributed along the back, each bordered behind by a small soft fin. In the young there is an external gill. The Polypterus bichir attains to a length of 4 feet.
Research Polypterus
Polystoma is a member of the family Monogenea.
Research Polystoma
Polythalamia is a group of Protozoa occupying compound chambered cells of microscopic size. In some instances each cell of the common shell presents only one external opening, but more commonly it is punctured with numerous minute pores or foramina, through which the animal can protrude filaments. Their remains constitute the bulk of the chalk and tertiary limestone.
Research Polythalamia
Polytrichum is a genus containing numerous species of acrocarpus mosses with a rigid habit.
Research Polytrichum
Polyzoa is a class of Molluscoida or Lower Mollusca, generally known by the popular names of 'sea-mosses' and 'sea-mats.' They are invariably compound, forming associated growths or colonies of animals produced by gemmation from a single primordial individual, and inhabit a polyzoarium, or aggregate of cells, corresponding to the polypidom of the composite hydroids. The polypide, or individual polyzoon, resides in a separate cell or chamber, has a distinct alimentary canal suspended freely in a body cavity, and the reproductive organs contained within the body. The body is inclosed in a double-walled sac, the outer layer (ectocyst) of which is chitinous or calcareous, and the inner (endocyst) a delicate membranous layer. On the ectocyst are seen certain peculiar processes called 'bird's-head processes', or avicularia, from their shape, the use of which is unknown. The mouth-opening at the upper part of each cell is surrounded by a circlet of hollow ciliated tentacles, which perform the function of respiration, and are supported on the lophophore; and the cell may be closed by a sort of valve called the epistome.
All the Polyzoa are hermaphrodite. In many cases there are ovicells or sacs into which the fertilized ova pass. From these proceed free-swimming ciliated embryos which develop into polypides. Continuous gemmation exists in all.
The Polyzoa are classed into three groups: Ectoprocta, Entoprocta, and Aspidophora. The Ectoprocta are divided into two orders of Phylactolcemata, with a crescentic lophophore and an epistome; and Gymnoloemata, or Infundibulata, with a circular lophophore and no epistome. They are all aquatic in their habits; the marine Polyzoa being common to all seas, but the fresh-water genera are mostly confined to the north temperate zone.
Research Polyzoa
Pomaceae or Pomeae is a division of the natural order Rosaceae, to which the apple, pear, quince, and medlar belong. It differs from Rosaceae proper in having an inferior ovary. The fruit is always a pome, with a crustaceous core or bony stones.
Research Pomaceae
Pome is the name given to a form of indehiscent fruit in which the epicarp and mesocarp, together with the calyx, form a fleshy mass, the endocarp forming scaly-walled cells enclosing the seeds. The apple and pear are examples.
Research Pome
The pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a shrub or small tree from 8 to 20 feet high native to south west Asia introduced into Italy. It was called by the Romans malum Punicum, or Carthaginian apple. It bears a chambered, many seeded globose fruit about the size of an orange with a tough, usually red rind and surmounted by a crown of calyx lobes. The leaves are opposite, lanceolate, entire, and smooth; the flowers are large and of a brilliant red colour.
Research Pomegranate
The pomeranian or spitz dog, is a breed of toy dog, about 15 centimetres high, weighing about 3 kg. It has long straight hair with a neck frill, and the tail is carried over the back. The breed attained popularity in Britain after Queen Victoria kept one as a pet. A sturdy, alert and good-tempered breed of dog they do have a tendency to bark at the slightest sound.
Research Pomeranian
Pompiloidea is a super-family of insects of the sub-order Apocrita, order Hymenoptera. The members are mostly black in colour with a red or yellow coloured part of the abdomen. The female excavates underground cavities for the larvae to grow in, and feeds them paralysed spiders.
Research Pompiloidea
Pond weed (Potamogeton) is a genus of aquatic herbaceous plants belonging to the family Naiadaceae. They bear spikes of small olive-green flowers containing four sepals, four stamens, and four carpels.
Research Pond Weed
The Poney Mousseye is a breed of small Cameroon pony, standing up to 12 hands high and occurring in various colours, but mostly grey. They have great stamina and endurance and are unusually resistant to the sleeping sickness spread by the tsetse fly that also lives around the river Logone. The Poney Mousseye is a placid, good natured and gentle pony good for riding.
Research Poney Mousseye
A pony is a small sub-variety of horse less than 14.2 hands tall. Ponies have long been bred in large flocks and herds in various parts of the world, chiefly for purposes of riding and of lighter draught work. Among well-known breeds are the Welsh, Shetland, Iceland, Exmoor, New Forest, and Scotch Highland.
Research Pony
The Pony of the Americas is a new American breed of pony developed during the 1950s from an Appaloosa mare and a Shetland Pony stallion. The breed was further refined with Welsh and Arab stock and is a popular and versatile children's pony with a good nature. They stand between 11 and 14 hands high and have a spotted coat.
Research Pony of the Americas
The poodle is a breed of gun dog, including the standard poodle (above 38 centimetres at the shoulder), the miniature poodle (below 38 cm), and the toy poodle (below 28 cm) varieties. The dense curly coat, usually cut into an elaborate style, is often either black or white, although greys and browns are also bred. The poodle probably originated in Russia, was naturalized in Germany, where it was used for retrieving ducks and gained its name and became a luxury dog in France. They were first known in Britain during the 17th century.
Research Poodle
Poophagus is a genus of Snout Beetles (Curculionidae) that live on bog plants growing beside water, often watercress.
Research Poophagus
Poplar is a popular name for hardy deciduous trees of the genus Populus belonging to the family Salicinaceae. They are fast growing trees characterised by their columnar pattern of growth, and have both barren and fertile flowers in catkins, stamens four to thirty, leaves alternate, broad, with long and slender footstalks flattened vertically, the leaves having generally more or less of a tremulous motion. Poplars thrive under a variety of conditions as regards soil, etc, but do best in damp situations. The timber of the poplar is white, light, and soft, and not very valuable. Populus fastgiata, the common Lombardy poplar is well known as a tall tree with slender branches almost upright; it reaches a height of 100 to 150 feet. Populus nigra is the common black poplar. Populus tremula is the aspen. Populus alba, the white poplar, often attains a height of 100 feet. Populus balsamifera is the balsam-poplar or tacamahac of the United States; Populus monilifera, the cotton-wood of America; Populus candicans, the Ontario poplar.
Research Poplar
The Poplar Admiral (Limenitis populi) is a species of butterfly of the brush- footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) family, found in deciduous forests in lowlands and mountain valleys across Europe from France to Japan.
Research Poplar Admiral
The Poplar Hawkmoth (Laothoe populi) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 65 and 90 mm found in Europe and Western Asia flying from May to August in one or two generations.
Research Poplar Hawkmoth
The Poplar Kitten (Furcula bifida) is a puss moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 35 and 45 mm found in Europe and Asia flying from April to July.
Research Poplar Kitten
The Poplar Lutestring (Tethea or) is a moth of the family Thyatiridae with a wing pan of between 35 and 42 mm found in the forest zone of Europe and Asia. Two generations are produced, flying from April to August.
Research Poplar Lutestring
The Poplar sawfly (Trichiocampus viminalis) is an insect of the Typical Sawflies family, Tenthredinidae of the super-family Tenthredinoidea, sub-order Symphyta, order Hymenoptera. The Poplar Sawfly is about 9 mm long and flies during May and is often found in avenues of Poplar trees.
Research Poplar Sawfly
The Poppy (Papaver) is a genus of hardy plants of the family Papaveraceae, with showy, usually red, but also yellow and white flowers. The species of poppy are herbaceous plants, all bearing large, brilliant, but fugacious flowers. The white poppy (Papaver somniferum) yields opium. Most of the species are natives of Europe, and four are truly natives of Britain. They often occur as weeds in fields and waste places, and are frequently also cultivated in gardens for ornament. The seeds of the white poppy yield a fixed harmless oil employed for culinary purposes; and the oil-cake is used for feeding cattle. The roots of the poppy are annual or perennial; the calyx is composed of two leaves, and the corolla of four petals; the stamens are numerous, and the capsule is one-celled, with several longitudinal partitions, and contains a multitude of seeds.
Research Poppy
The poppy anemone (Anemone coronaria) is a south European plant of the buttercup family with tuberous roots and a solitary, poppy-like red, blue or white flower.
Research Poppy anemone
The porbeagle (Lamna cornubica) is a shark occurring in the North Atlantic and which frequently strays into British coastal waters. The second anal and dorsal fin are both small, the lower lobe of the tail is well developed, and the sides have a prominent longitudinal keel. The gill openings are wide and the spiracle minute. The shark reaches a length of three metres and feeds chiefly on fish. The teeth are lanceolate.
Research Porbeagle
Porcelain Crab (Porcellana) is a name for certain Crustacea, typical of the family Porcellanidae, small smooth crabs, of which two are British: Porcellana platycheles the hairy, and Porcellana longicornis the minute, porcelain crab.
Research Porcelain Crab
A porcupine is any rodent with quills on its body, belonging to either of two families: Old World porcupines (Hystricidae) are terrestrial in habit and have long black-and-white quills. This family includes the genus Hystrix; or New World porcupines (Erethizontidae) which are tree-dwelling, with prehensile tails and much shorter quills.
The best-known species of which belong to the genus Hystrix. The body is covered, especially on the back, with the so-called quills, or dense solid spine-like structures, intermixed with bristles and stiff hairs. There are two incisors and eight molar teeth in each jaw, which continue to grow throughout life from permanent pulps. The muzzle is generally short and pointed, the ears short and rounded. The anterior feet possess four, and the hinder feet five toes, all provided with strong thick nails.
The common or crested porcupine, Hystrix cristata, found in Southern Europe and in Northern Africa, is the best-known species. When fully grown it measures nearly two feet in length, and some of its spines exceed one foot. Its general colour is a grizzled dusky black. The spines in their usual position lie nearly flat, with their points directed backwards; but when the animal is excited they are capable of being raised. The quills are loosely inserted in the skin, and may, on being violently shaken, become detached - a circumstance which may probably have given rise to the purely fabulous statement that the animal possessed the power of actually ejecting its quills like arrows or darts at an enemy. These animals burrow during the day, and at night search for food which consists chiefly of vegetable matter.
Of the American species, the Canadian or North American porcupine (Erethizon dorsata) is the best known. It is about two feet long and of slow and sluggish habits. The quills in this species are short, and are concealed amongst the fur. The ears are short, and hidden by the fur. The tail is comparatively short. The genus Cercolabes of South America possesses a distinctive feature in the elongated prehensile tail, adapting it for arboreal existence. These latter forms may thus be termed 'tree porcupines'. In length the typical species of this genus averages 18 inches, the tail measuring about 10 inches.
Research Porcupine
The Porcupine-fish (Diodon hystrix) is a fish of the order Plectognathi, found in the tropical seas. It is about 14 inches long, and is covered with spines or prickles.
Research Porcupine-fish
The Porgie (Pagrus argyrops) is a fish of the family Sparidae, with a rectangular body, scaly cheeks, and one dorsal fin, found off the coasts of the United States. It is one of the most important food fishes, and attains a length of 18 inches and a weight of 4 lbs. The name is also given to the Menhaden.
Research Porgie
Porhydrus is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae. One species, Porhydrus linearus, is found in Britain. It is about 3 mm long with a very finely granular elytra between the punctures.
Research Porhydrus
Poroshora is a member of the Gregarinida order.
Research Porosphora
Porphyrio is a genus of birds of the rail family, including the Porphyrio hyacinthinus (purple or hyacinthine gallinule), a bird found in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and remarkable for the structure of its beak and the length of its legs. It feeds on seeds and other hard substances, and lives in the neighbourhood of water, its long toes enabling it to run over the aquatic plants with ease. It is about 18 inches long, of a beautiful blue colour, the bill and feet red.
Research Porphyrio
A porpoise is any small whale of the family Delphinidae that, unlike dolphins, have blunt snouts without beaks. Common porpoises of the genus Phocaena can grow to 1.8 metres long; they feed on fish and crustaceans.
Research Porpoise
The Portland Moth (Ochropleura praecox) is a local and rather rare moth of the family Noctuidae found in sandy regions throughout Europe and Asia where its single generation flies from July to September.
Research Portland Moth
Portuguese Man-of-War is the popular name of certain marine animals, allied to the Medusidae or jelly-fishes, and included in the class Hydrozoa.
Research Portuguese Man-of-War
The Portuguese water dog is a breed of medium-sized dog with a profuse black or brown coat and webbed feet. They were bred to assist Portuguese fishermen.
Research Portuguese water dog
Portulaceae is a family of shrubs and herbaceous plants with succulent stems and leaves and irregular flowers usually with two sepals, five petals, three or more stamens, and a one-celled ovary.
Research Portulaceae
Pot marigold (Calendula officinalis) is an annual herb of the family Compositae, grown in gardens since the Middle Ages for its bright orange or yellow single or double flowers, which are decorative from summer to autumn. The basal leaves are spatulate and stalked, the stem leaves lanceolate, alternate and sessile. All parts of the plant are roughly hairy. The terminal and solitary flowerheads have sterile, tubular disc-florets and fertile, ligulate, spreading ray-florets. The fruit is a rough curved achene.
Research Pot Marigold
Potamonectes is a genus of predacious diving beetles of the family Dytiscidae. Four species occur in Britain. They are densely punctured dorsally and have black stripes down their yellow to yellowish-red coloured elytra.
Research Potamonectes
The potato (Solanum tuberosum) is a perennial plant of the family Solanaceae. It has angular herbaceous stems, and grows to about 80 centimetres tall. The leaves are pinnate, the flowers pretty, large, numerous and disposed in corymbs, and coloured violet, bluish, reddish or whitish. The fruit is globular, about the size of a gooseberry, reddish-brown or purplish when ripe, and contains numerous small seeds. The tubers which are eaten are abnormally dilated underground shoots, their increase in size being the result of cultivation. Their true nature is revealed by the 'eyes' which are leaf buds, and if a tuber is planted in the ground a young plant will sprout, the starchy matter of the tuber supplying nutriment until it throws out roots and leaves and so attains an independent existence. The potato is a native of western South America, where it grows wild chiefly around the Andes, producing small, tasteless, watery tubers.
The potato was first introduced into Europe by the Spaniards after the conquest of Peru, by whom it was spread over the Netherlands, Burgundy, and Italy before the middle of the 16th century. Sir Hohn Hawkins, Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh are all credited with introducing the potato to England in 1565. Although the potato was widely cultivated in Europe, it was first grown for food on a large scale by the Irish and during the 18th century became a popular food with the poorer classes in Germany, but in France there existed so violent a prejudice against it that it did not come into general use until towards the end of the century.
Research Potato
The potato fly (Anthomyia tuberosa) is an insect found chiefly in diseased potatoes. The adult resembles the house fly in appearance, the larva is maggot-like and is furnished with bristles.
Research Potato Fly
Potentilla (commonly known as Cinquefoil) is a genus of herbaceous perennials of the family Rosaceae, found chiefly in the temperate and cold regions of the northern hemisphere, containing about 120 species. They are tall or procumbent herbs, rarely under shrubs, with digitate or unequally pinnate leaves, and for the most part yellow or white flowers. several species are British.
Research Potentilla
Poterium is a genus of plants of the family Rosaceae and sub-family Sanguisorbidae. Poterium Sanguisorba, or salad-burnet, which grows on dry and most frequently chalky pastures, is the only British species. It is valuable for fodder, and is used in salad. It has pinnate leaves and tall stems surmounted by dense heads of small flowers.
Research Poterium
The potto is an arboreal, nocturnal, African prosimian primate Perodicticus
potto belonging to the loris family. It has a thick body, strong limbs, and grasping feet and hands, and grows to 40cm long, with horny spines along its backbone, which it uses in self-defence. It climbs slowly, and eats insects, snails, fruit, and leaves.
Research Potto
The pouched mouse, pocket mouse or kangaroo rat (Dipodomys) is a genus of North American rodents belonging to the family Geomyidae, and characterized by the elongated tail and hind limbs, the slender form, and the presence of large cheek pouches.
Research Pouched Mouse
Poultry is a general name for all birds bred for food, or kept for their eggs. The birds most commonly included under this designation are the common fowl (chicken), the peafowl, the guinea-fowl, the turkey, goose, and duck. There is this great difference between the varieties of the domestic fowl, that some are disposed by constitution to continue laying throughout the whole season without sitting; while others after having laid from twelve to fifteen eggs sit obstinately, and cease to lay. Among the breeds traditionaly most popular in Britain were those known as Dorking, Game, Hamburg, Cochin, Brahma, Scots Gray, Polish, Spanish, etc.
The keeping of poultry for profit was greatly neglected in Britain until the early part of the 20th century, and even as late as the Edwardian period many eggs were imported from France, Belgium, Denmark and Germany.
Research Poultry
The pouter is a variety of fancy pigeon with a very projecting breast.
Research Pouter
The powan is a fish found in Loch Lomond, Scotland. It is of the same genus as the polland and the vendace. Also known as the fresh-water herring.
Research Powan
The Powder-post Beetles are the Lyctidae family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The females lay their eggs in cracks in wood with the aid of their very long ovipositors. The larvae eat dry sap-wood and destroy it in the same way as the Death-watch beetle. The common powder-post beetle (Lyctus brunneus) is a serious pest of seasoned wood and is found chiefly in wood-yards, carpenter's workshops and houses.
Research Powder-post Beetle
The Powdered Quaker (Orthosia gracilis) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 35 and 40 mm flying from April to June.
Research Powdered Quaker
The Prairie Dog or Praire Marmot is a small rodent animal, the wistonwish (Cynomys ludovicianus), allied to the marmot as well as to the squirrel, and found on the North American prairies west of the Mississippi and east of the Rocky Mountains. These animals live gregariously in burrows, and are characterized by a sharp bark, like that of a small dog, whence their popular name. They are about 30 cm in length exclusive of the tail, which is rather short. Their burrows are quite close together, and have a mound of excavated earth near the entrance, on which the little animals are wont to sit and look around them. These communities are termed 'villages'. A. second species, Cynomys columvianus, inhabits the region west of the Rockies. The prairie-dog is not to be confounded with the prairie-squirrel, to which it is allied.
Research Prairie Dog
Prairie-hen is the popular name of the pinnated grouse of the United States (Tetrao cupido). The neck of the male is furnishbd with neck-tufts of eighteen feathers, and is remarkable also for two loose, pendulous, wrinkled skins, which somewhat resemble an orange on inflation. The prairie-hen is much prized for the table.
Research Prairie-Hen
Prasocuris is a genus of leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) often found on umbelliferous plants standing in or beside water.
Research Prasocuris
Prawn is a name given to several shrimp-like, stalk-eyed decapod crustaceans of the family Palaemonidae, some of which are used as food. The British prawn (Leander serratus) is common on the British coasts, particularly where there are submerged rocks in shallow water. The British prawn is about ten centimetres in length, and clad in a translucent, jointed shell of a greenish-grey colour which turns red when the prawn is cooked. The carapace, which covers the combined head and thorax, is extended forwards in a long sword-like rostrum, strongly toothed on its upper and lower edges. There are two pairs of antennae, the inner pair each bearing three long lashes, and the outer pair each with a single lash extending back far beyond the broad tail fan. Both pairs of legs are armed with pincers. The prawn swims through the water by means of six pairs of swimming feet (pleopods) situated under the hind body; and can dart back suddenly when threatened by spreading the tail and flexing the hind body. The British prawn feeds upon the small green seaweeds and the entomostraca that frequent them.
Research Prawn
The Pretty Chalk Carpet (Melanthia procellata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 27 and 32 mm found in central and southern Europe, Asia Minor and southern Asia. Two generations are produced flying from May to September.
Research Pretty Chalk Carpet
The Pretty Marbled Moth (Lithacodia deceptoria) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 20 and 22 mm found in Europe and Asia. A single generation flies from May to July.
Research Pretty Marbled Moth
The Pretty Pinion (Perizoma blandiata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 15 and 18 mm found in northern and central Europe, Asia Minor and Asia flying from May to August.
Research Pretty Pinion
Pria is a genus of sap-beetle (Nitidulidae). The larvae develop in deadly nightshade.
Research Pria
Prickly Ash is a name given to several prickly shrubs of the USA, genus Xanthoxylum, family Rutaceae. They have an aromatic and pungent bark which is used as a remedy for toothache, giving rise to the name of toothache- tree.
Research Prickly Ash
Prickly Pear or Indian fig (Opuntia vulgaris or Opuntia Ficus-Indica) is a fleshy and succulent plant of the family Cactaceae, destitute of leaves, covered with clusters of spines and consisting of flattened joints inserted upon each other. The fruit is purplish in colour, covered with fine prickles and edible. The flower is large and yellow. It is a native of the tropical parts America from where it has been introduced into Europe, Syria and China. It is easily propagated, and is sometimes used as a hedge plant. It attains a height of about 190 centimetres.
Research Prickly Pear
Pride is the collective noun for a group of lions.
Research Pride
Primate is the family of mammals that includes humans, apes, monkeys, lemurs bushbabies, lorises and tarsiers. Primates have complete, but unspecialised dentition. A large and complex brain. The eyes are well developed and directed forwards, with the orbit being closed behind by the union of the frontal and jugal bones. They are generally arboreal animals, with a single chamber uterus producing few offspring which require parental care for a long time after birth.
Research Primate
The primrose (Primula) is a genus of mostly hardy herbaceous plants belonging to the family Primulaceae. They bear flowers with a tubular or bell-shaped calyx and an infundibuliform or salver-shaped corolla.
Research Primrose
Primulaceae is a family of herbaceous plants, mostly inhabitants of the cooler parts of the world. They bear flowers usually with a five-cleft calyx, five petals, five stamens, a one-celled ovary, one style, and a capitate stigma.
Research Primulaceae
Priobium is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae.
Research Priobium
Prionus is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae), between two and four centimetres in length.
Research Prionus
Prionychus is a genus of nocturnal beetle of the family Alleculidae.
Research Prionychus
Pristonychus (formerly known as Laemostenus) is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, often found under stones, in cellars, stables and other dark places.
Research Pristonychus
Privet (Ligustrum) is a genus of hardy shrubs and small trees of the family Oleaceae. They bear terminal panicles of white flowers, followed by berries. The common privet (Ligustrum vulgare) is a native of Europe growing to two metres high. The leaves are ellipticolanceolate, entire and smooth. The flowers are slightly odorous, white at first but soon changing to a reddish- brown. The berries are dark purple, approaching black in colour.
Research Privet
The Privet Hawkmoth (Sphinx ligustri) is a moth of the family Sphingidae with a wing span of between 90 and 120 mm distributed throughout the Palaearctic flying from May to July.
Research Privet Hawkmoth
The proboscidea are an order of Eutheria distinguished, as implied by this name, by the possession of the characteristic proboscis or trunk. They are large animals of the ungulate type. The two upper incisors are modified to form tusks. Canines and Premolars are lacking. Of this order the elephant alone exists; but there are several extinct animals comprised in it, such as the mammoth and the mastodon.
Research Proboscidea
Proboscis is the term applied to the longer or shorter flexible muscular organ formed by the elongated nose of several mammals. Although seen in a modified degree in the tapirs, etc, the term is more generally restricted, and applied to indicate the flexible 'trunk' of the elephant.
Research Proboscis
The Proboscis monkey or Kahau (Nasalis larvatus) is a monkey nearly related to the langur, but entirely confined to the island of Borneo. The peculiarity of the species is the great elongation of the nose of the adult male which reaches the proportions of a proboscis. In the female and young males this peculiarity is much less marked.
Research Proboscis Monkey
The Procellariiformes are an order of birds. These are the tube-nosed swimmers. They are sea birds of about 100 species. They have a horn sheathed bill, tubular nostrils and webbed feet.
Research Procellariiformes
Procerus is a genus of beetles of the family Carabidae, found mainly in south-east Europe and the Near East, though one species, the black coloured
Procerus gigas extends into Austria where it stalks its prey - chiefly edible snails - by night, and sometimes by day, and has a lifespan of some three years.
Research Procerus
Procompsognathus was a dinosaur of the Triassic period. It was a small carnivore about 120 centimetres long that walked on its hind legs. It had a small head with large eyes and pointed, curved teeth.
Research Procompsognathus
Proctotrupoidea is a super-family of insects of the sub order Apocrita of the order Hymenoptera. They are tiny, ranging from 0.5 mm to 4 mm long and the larvae are parasitic on various insects.
Research Proctotrupoidea
Prokaryote or procaryote is the biological term for an organism in which the genetic material is not enclosed in a cell nucleus. Bacteria are
prokaryotes. It is believed that eukaryotic cells probably evolved as symbiotic associations of prokaryotes.
Research Prokaryote
Promerops is a genus of insessorial birds, many of which are remarkable for the beauty of their plumage. They have a longish bill, an extensible tongue, and feed upon insects, soft fruits, and the saccharine juices of plants. One species, Promerops superba, is a native of New Guinea; another, Promerops erythrorhynchus, is a native of Africa.
Research Promerops
The pronghorn, prong buck or prong horn antelope (Antilocapra americana) is a ruminant mammal constituting the family Antilocapridae, native to the west USA. It is not a true antelope. It is light brown and stands about one metre high. It sheds its horns annually and can reach speeds of 100 kph.
Research Pronghorn
Prosaurolophus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. It was a large, duck-billed dinosaur, about eight metres long. The head of Prosaurolophus was low, and had a small crest running from the tip of the snout.
Research Prosaurolophus
Prosobranchiata is an order of gasteropods comprising the whelks, periwinkles, etc, mostly marine, though some inhabit fresh water.
Research Prosobranchiata
Prosopis is a genus of tropical leguminous trees of the sub-order Mimoseae, having their pods filled between the seeds with a pulpy or mealy substance. Some of them yield useful products, as resin or tannin, food for cattle, etc.
Research Prosopis
Prosternon is a genus of click beetle (Elateridae) characterised by whorled patterns of pubescence on the elytra and pronotum.
Research Prosternon
Proteaceae is a family of mostly trees and shrubs which occur principally in Australasia and South Africa. They have hard dry opposite or alternate leaves, and often large heads of showy and richly-coloured flowers, which render them favourite objects of cultivation. The typical genus Protea is African and contains numerous species. Banksia is a well-known Australian genus bearing the popular name of honeysuckle.
Research Proteaceae
Proteinus is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae, represented by five species in Britain, which live on fungi and carrion.
Research Proteinus
Protoceratops was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Remains of Protoceratops were first discovered in Mongolia in 1922 and these remains included complete nests of eggs with skeletons of young and old. The adult Protoceratops was 180 centimetres long, walked on all fours, had a pointed beak and a small neck frill. Unlike later related dinosaurs, Protoceratops was devoid of horns but had thickened bony areas on top of the snout and above the eyes.
Research Protoceratops
Protococcus is a genus of single-celled Algae. The British species Protococcus viridis forms a yellowish-green stratum on trees, damp walls and shallow pools. Protococcus nivalis (red-snow) appears on the surface of snow, tinging extensive tracts in the Arctic regions or amongst the Alps, in an incredibly short space of time, with a deep crimson. This plant, which may be regarded as one of the simplest forms of vegetation, consists of a little bag or membrane forming a cell. A large number of these are commonly found together, but each one is separate from the rest, and is to be regarded as a distinct individual.
Research Protococcus
Protomonadina are an order of zoomastigina. They are small colourless flagellates. In the trypanosomes is a single flagellum.
Research Protomonadina
Protophytes is a name given to the lowest organisms in the vegetable kingdom, consisting either of a single cell, or of several cells united by a gelatinous substance but without any essential mutual dependence, and corresponding to the Protozoa of the animal kingdom.
Research Protophytes
Protoplasm is a complex substance consisting of carbon, oxygen, nitrogen, and hydrogen, nearly identical with the white of an egg, and constituting the most elementary living matter in animal and plant structures. It is colourless, transparent, and apparently destitute of structure, and is seen in its simplest form in some of the lowest types of animal life, as in the Protozoa.
When unrestricted by an imprisoning envelope it is endued (as is seen in Amoeba diffluens) with the power of extending itself in all directions in the form of mutable processes which can be withdrawn spontaneously, and it has also the power of passing or flowing in minute masses through closed membranes without these masses thereby losing their identity of form.
Research Protoplasm
Protopterus is a genus of dipnoid fish, containing one species, Protopterus annectans, found in the rivers of tropical Africa, burying themselves in the mud when the rivers dry up during droughts.
Research Protopterus
Protozoa is a sub-kingdom including the most lowly organized members of the animal kingdom. The Protozoa may be defined to be animals composed of a nearly structureless jelly-like substance termed sarcode or protoplasm, not possessing permanent distinction or separation of parts, without a definite body cavity or trace of a nervous system.
The animals present the appearance of a transparent gelatinous cell containing a nucleus. In many, contractile vesicles have been observed which perform the office of a heart. The organs of locomotion are varied. In some of the higher forms movements are effected by means of cilia, in others by long whip-like bristles termed flagella, but the most characteristic organs of locomotion are processes named pseudopodia, consisting simply of prolongations of the sarcodic substance of the body, which can be emitted and retracted at pleasure.
The Protozoa, with the exception of a few inhabiting the bodies of animals, are aquatic in their habits, and they are practically all of microscopic size. They have not the usual reproductive organs, this function being fulfilled by means of simple cleavage or 'fission,' and, except in the higher forms, they have no differentiated mouth, the food being simply absorbed. From this fact the Protozoa have been divided into those that have a distinct external mouth, and those that have no distinct mouth; but this classification has no great value. A better mode of division is into the three classes of Gregarinidoe, Rhizopoda, and Infusoria.
Research Protozoa
Prunella or self-heal is a genus of hardy, perennial herbs of the family Labiate. They bear white or purplish flowers.
Research Prunella
Prunus is a genus of hardy trees and shrubs belonging to the family Rosaceae. They bear racemes or corymbs of white or pink flowers with deciduous sepals, five petals, and numerous stamens. The fruit is a fleshy berry containing a one-seeded stone. The genus includes the cherry, bird-cherry, plum, damson, sloe, bullace, apricot, etc.
Research Prunus
Przewalski's Horse (the Asiatic Wild Horse) is a breed of wild horse of China and Mongolia, the last sighting of a wild Przewalski was in 1968 in the Gobi desert, since then they have become extinct in the wild but have been maintained in zoos and in 2006 were reintroduced to Mongolia, though from a small group of about twelve horses captured in the wild and then bred in captivity.
Przewalski's Horse stands 13 hands high and is sand dun coloured with a lighter belly and muzzle and dark points and often zebra stripes. The mane is coarse and stands upright. They are a wild breed, temperamental, stubborn, aggressive and difficult to train.
Research Przewalski's Horse
Psammodius is a genus of small dung beetle of the family Scarabaeidae with a domed body that widens towards the rear and a pronotum that bears a series of transverse ridges and grooves.
Research Psammodius
Psammoecus is a genus of beetle of the family Cucujidae.
Research Psammoecus
Pselaphidae is a family of very small beetles, ranging from 0.9 to 3.5 mm in length. Their elytra are usually very short, like the rove beetles but the abdomen is less flexible than a rove beetle. The eyes are composed of relatively few, but large ommatidia. Members of the family chiefly eat mites and live in decaying vegetation, in humus and in moss, and many species in ants' nests.
Research Pselaphidae
Pselaphus is a genus of beetles of the family Pselaphidae. They have long maxillary palps, whose terminal segment has a claviform tip and is covered with spines and hairs.
Research Pselaphus
Pseudopodia are temporary projections from the cell of a Protozoan, leucocyte, etc., used for feeding and locomotion.
Research Pseudopodia
Pseudoptilinus is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae, formerly included in the genus Ptilinus, but differing in the shorter processes on the males' antennae and the longitudinal groove in the midline of the pronotum. They develop in fallen lime tree branches.
Research Pseudoptilinus
Psidium is a genus of tropical shrubs and trees belonging to the family Myrtaceae. They bear usually cymes of rather large flowers with more or less bell-shaped corollas. The fruit is a globose or ovoid berry.
Research Psidium
Psittacidae is the parrot tribe, a family of scansorial birds, comprising over 300 species, of which the genus Psittacus is the typical type.
Research Psittacidae
Psittacosaurus was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Psittacosaurus was about two metres long with long hind legs and short arms, indicating it walked on its hind legs like Iguanodon, and had a horny beak, large short snout, a deep jaw and a small frill at the back of the head. One species of Psittacosaurus also had a small horn on its snout. Remains of Psittacosaurus were first discovered in 1922 in Mongolia.
Research Psittacosaurus
Psoralea is a genus of shrubby and herbaceous plants belonging to the family Leguminosae. They usually have compound leaves and heads of racemes or spikes of blue, red or white flowers.
Research Psoralea
Psychidae is the bagworms family of moths, insects of the order Lepidoptera.
Research Psychidae
Psyllobora is a genus of ladybird (Coccinellidae) that feeds on mildew.
Research Psyllobora
The ptarmigan is a Scottish bird of the Tetraonidae family, similar to the grouse. It is essentially a mountain form, feeding on shoots and berries, and unlike many of its allies, is monogamous. The most interesting point about it is the striking seasonal variation of the plumage, which exhibits a marked resemblance to the surroundings. In the colder parts of its range both sexes become white in winter, with the exception of the outer tail feathers, which are black in both sexes, and a black patch in front of the eye in the male. The summer plumage of the male is blackish brown with grey and reddish markings; the greater part of the wings, the median tail feathers, and the abdomen retaining the winter white. The female is reddish, barred with black. In autumn the back becomes greyish.
Research Ptarmigan
Ptenidium is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae. The head and pronotum are usually dark brown or black, while the elytra are often a lighter brown colour.
Research Ptenidium
Pteranodon was a dinosaur of the family Pteranodontidae, of the mid to late Cretaceous period. A pterosaur (flying dinosaur) remains have been found in Kansas, North America. There wera number of species, Pteranodon ingens had a wing span of seven meters, Pteranodon sternbergi was larger. Pteranodon is distinguished by a large crest upon the back of the head, a short neck and powerful but short cervical vertebrae. The jaws were long, pointed and toothless. It is generally thought that Pteranodon fed on fish.
Research Pteranodon
Pteris is a genus of ferns which includes a large number of species widely distributed over the tropics and temperate regions of the world.
Research Pteris
Pterocarpus is a genus of leguminous plants, species of which yield kino, dragon's-blood, red sandal-wood, etc.
Research Pterocarpus
Pteroceras is a genus of molluscs inhabiting the Indian Ocean; the scor pionshells. The head of the animal is furnished with a proboscis and two tentacula, which are short. The shell isrectangular, the spire short, and the operculum horny. Pteroceras Scorpio is known by the name of the devil's-claw. At the least ten recent and twenty-seven fossil species of this genus are known.
Research Pteroceras
Pterodactylus was a dinosaur of the family Pterodactylidae, of the late Jurassic period. Remains of Pterodactylus have been found in Europe and East Africa, but only rarely. There were various species of Pterodactylus with wing spans up to about 50 cm - with one species reaching a wing span of 250 cm, and all characterised by a short tail consisting of a few small caudal vertebrae, and having a long, elongated beak. It is likely that Pterodactylus fed on insects and small fish.
Research Pterodactylus
Pteroloma is a genus of beetles of the carrion beetle, Silphidae, family.
Research Pteroloma
Pterophoridae is the plume moths family of insects of the order Lepidoptera.
Research Pterophoridae
Pteropidae is a family of cheiropterous mammals, called fox-bats from their long and pointed fox-like head. The typical type of the genus is Pteropus.
Research Pteropidae
Pteropoda is a class of molluscs (Phylum mollusca) in which the anterior lobes of the foot are developed in the form of broad, thin, wing-like organs, with which the animals swim at, or near, the surface of the sea. The Pteropoda are divided into two orders: Cymnosomata, which have the body entirely naked and the head distinct from the wings; and Thecosomata, which have a delicate transparent shell of various forms, and the head not distinct from the wings.
Research Pteropoda
Pterospermum is a genus of tropical Asiatic shrubs and trees belonging to the family Sterculiaceae. They bear thick leaves and long flowers, usually with five sepals and five petals.
Research Pterospermum
Pterostichus is a genus of beetles of the ground beetle family, Carabidae, varying in size between 4 and 22 mm. Most species are dark in colour, often black, though some are metallic. Twenty-two species of the genus occur in Britain. One species, Pterostichus melanarius (formerly known as
Pterostichus vulgaris) is a completely black species which feeds mainly on caterpillars but also seeds and can be a pest of strawberries.
Research Pterostichus
Pterygota is a two (some say three) division subclass of Insecta, all members of which undergo metamorphosis, whether slight and incomplete or pronounced and complete. In the first division (Hemimetabola) are the cockroaches, locusts, earwigs, lice, termites etc. In the second division (Holometabola) are the members which undergo a pronounced and complete metamorphosis; the butterflies, moths, beetles, ants, bees, wasps, fleas, gnats and meat-flies etc.
Research Pterygota
Pteryx is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, occurring in two forms: one is darker in colour with well developed wings and large eyes; the other is lighter, wingless and has smaller eyes. Both forms live in rotting wood and under bark.
Research Pteryx
Ptiliidae is the featherwing beetles family of insects of the order Coleoptera. The family contains the smallest known beetles, some measuring 0.5 mm in length. The members of the family all have wings made up of a narrow central strap fringed with long hairs to augment their surface area. Both the larvae and adults feed on fungal spores.
Research Ptiliidae
Ptilinus is a genus of beetle of the family Anobiidae, ranging from three to six millimetres in length.
Research Ptilinus
Ptiliolum is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, found in decaying plant material and excrement.
Research Ptiliolum
Ptilium is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, recognisable by three longitudinal grooves on the pronotum.
Research Ptilium
Ptinella is a genus of featherwing beetles, Ptiliidae, characterised by a remarkable dimorphism in the adult stage. One form of the adult is full- winged and has well developed eyes, while the other form is wingless and eyeless. They live in rotting wood and under bark.
Research Ptinella
Ptinus is a genus of Spider Beetle (Ptinidae). Unusually the male and female differ in both shape and colouration, the male being slimmer and less rounded than the female.
Research Ptinus
Ptomaphagus is a genus of beetles of the family Catopidae. they live chiefly in the burrows and nests of small rodents and on cadavers.
Research Ptomaphagus
Ptosima is a genus of jewel beetle (Buprestidae). The larvae live in various plants of the family Rosaceae, chiefly fruit trees.
Research Ptosima
Puccinia is a genus of rust fungi (mildew), with numerous species.
Research Puccinia
Pudding-berries are the berries of the Canadian dogwood (Cornus canadensis), common throughout North America.
Research Pudding-Berries
The Pudu are two species of very rare and endangered South American deer of the family Cervidae. The two species of Pudu are the southern pudu (Pudu puda) found in the dense temperate rain forests of the Andes of Chile and Aregntina, which is the world's smallest species of deer and the northern pudu (Pudu mephistophiles) found in the Andes of Ecuador, Peru and Columbia.
Research Pudu
The Pueblan Milk Snake (Lampropeltis triangulum campbelli) is a Mexican species of Milk snake named after Jonathan A Campbell. The Pueblan Milk Snake is distinguished by a distinctly mottled snout of white markings forming a vague horseshoe shape upon a black background.
Research Pueblan Milk Snake
The puff-adder (Bitis arietans) is a highly-poisonous African snake found in dry and sandy places, which reaches a length of one metre or more. It is structurally related to the viper, and is yellowish to orange brown above, with black markings, and whitish below. It gets its popular name from its habit of inflating the body when alarmed, and at the same time producing a characteristic puffing sound. The puff-adder is a sluggish animal, and only bites when actually attacked. The natural food consists of small mammals, and the habits are nocturnal.
Research Puff-adder
The puff-ball (Lycoperdon) is a genus of gasteromycetous fungi, several species of which are found in Britain. When they first appear they are masses of solid nearly homogenous, white flesh; but as they grow older the white colour gives way to brown and the solid mass is replaced by a dry and shrivelled rind or casing containing within the spores as a fine brown powder.
Research Puff-Ball
The puff-bird is a South American form related to the jacamar, which gets its English name from the puffy appearance of the soft feathers on the head. The usual colours are black, brown or rufous, with some white markings. The bill is short and stout, with a hooked tip.
Research Puff-bird
The puffer fish is a fish of the family Tetraodontidae. As a means of defence it inflates its body with air or water until it becomes spherical and the skin spines become erect. Puffer fish are mainly found in warm waters, where they feed on molluscs, crustaceans, and coral.
Research Puffer fish
The Puffin or Sea Parrot (Fratercula arctica) is a sea bird of the Auks family, Alcidae, found in the north Atlantic. It is a thickset bird, about 30 cm long, with a curious brightly coloured striped bill which feeds on fish which it catches by diving and swimming underwater.
Research Puffin
The Pug is a breed of small, short haired dog, standing about 28 centimetres high, with a tightly curled tail and a deeply wrinkled face. It is believed that Pugs were brought to Europe from China by employees of the Dutch East India Company where they received Royal patronage in Holland and were adopted as the symbol of the House of Orange. They came to England in 1689 with William of Orange. Pugs are a friendly and easy to care for breed of dog, but have a tendency to put on excess weight.
Research Pug
The Puli is a Hungarian bred of sheep dog, traditionally black in colour but also occurring in grey and standing about 45 centimetres tall. The Puli is a loyal and intelligent breed.
Research Puli
Pulicaria is a genus of plants of the natural order Compositae, sub-order Corymbiferae. Pulicaria dysenterica is the common fleabane.
Research Pulicaria
Pulmobranchiata is an order of gastropod molluscs (also called by some naturalists Pulmonata), in which the respiratory organ is a cavity formed by the adhesion of the mantle by its margin to the neck of the animal. The greater part of them are terrestrial, among these being the snails and slugs.
Research Pulmobranchiata
The puma (Felis concolor) is a large wild cat found in the Americas where it is often also called a panther, painter, cougar and catamount. Next to the jaguar, the puma is the largest American cat, and once ranged from New England and British Columbia to Patagonia. In the adult the upper surface is a uniform tawny colour, except for a dark streak along the middle of the back, and a dark tip to the tail, while the under surface is of a paler tint. he presence in the young, however, of a ringed tail and of spots on the body shows that the puma's ancestors possessed characteristically feline colouration.
Pumas vary greatly in size, sometimes reaching 2.5 metres from nose to the tip of the tail, the tail being usually about a metre long, but usually the body is about a metre long. The puma lives in low-lying plains and on mountain slopes both in forests and in treeless pampas where it feeds on larger animals, typically horses, sheep, deer, larger rodents, birds, rats, mice and fish.
Research Puma
Pump is the collective noun for a group of ducks in flight.
Research Pump
The pumpkin or vegetable marrow (Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima) is several annual, creeping, trailing plants of the gourd genus with heart shaped five lobed leaves and a large egg-shaped or globose yellow-orange edible fruit which is popularly cooked and eaten as a vegetable or in a pie and also hollowed out to make lanterns for Halloween.
Research Pumpkin
Punnet is the collective noun for a group of strawberries.
Research Punnet
Pup is the name for a baby dog.
Pup is the name for a baby shark.
Pup is the name for a baby wolf.
Pup is the name for a baby seal.
Pup is the name for a baby rat.
Research Pup
The Purple Bar (Cosmorhoe ocellata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 20 and 25 mm found in Europe and Asia. Two generations are produced flying from May to September.
Research Purple Bar
The Purple Clay (Diarsia brunnea) is a moth of the family Noctuidae distributed in northern and central Europe across Asia. It has a wing span measuring about 36 mm and produces a single generation that flies from June to August.
Research Purple Clay
The Purple Cloud (Actinotia polyodon) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 23 and 30 mm found in the Palaearctic producing one or two generations flying from May to August.
Research Purple Cloud
The Purple Emperor (Apatura iris) is a species of butterfly of the brush-footed butterflies (Nymphalidae) family, noted for its iridescent, metallic, violet-blue sheen which occurs on the wings of the male. It is found in damp, deciduous forests in the vicinity of streams, rivers and ponds where it settles on tree foliage overhanging the water.
Research Purple Emperor
The Purple Hairstreak (Quercusia quercus) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in Europe and the Near East in oak forests. The butterflies fly in the tree tops from July to August and feed upon honeydew, the caterpillar feeds upon oak leaves.
Research Purple Hairstreak
The Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea), is an occasional visitor to Britain, of which the occipital plumes are glossy black tinged with purple.
Research Purple Heron
The Purple Thorn (Selenia tetralunaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 30 and 38 mm found in Europe and Asia flying in two generations from April to August.
Research Purple Thorn
The Purple Treble-bar (Aplocera praeformata) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 33 and 38 mm found in the mountains of temperate Europe flying from June to August.
Research Purple Treble-Bar
The Purple-Edged Copper (Palaeochrysophanus hippothoe) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae found in most of Europe, but absent from the warmest parts and the British Isles. The butterflies live in damp and peaty meadows and by springs and streams. The caterpillar lives on sorrel and bistort. A single generation is produced in a year and flies from May to July.
Research Purple-Edged Copper
The Purple-shaded Gem (Euchalcia variabilis) is a rare moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 33 and 38 mm found in northern and central Europe flying from May to July.
Research Purple-Shaded Gem
The Purple-Shot Copper (Heodes alciphron) is a butterfly of the family Lycaenidae widespread from western Europe to the Middle East, but absent from northern Europe. It may be found in dry flowery meadows where the caterpillar lives on sorrel and hibernates.
Research Purple-Shot Copper
Purples (also known as ear cockle or peppercorn) is a disease affecting the ears of wheat, produced by the Tylenchus scandens or Vibrio tritici, a species of thread-worm. The infected grains of wheat at first assume a dark-green colour, which soon deepens to a black, and become rounded like small peppercorns. The husks open, and the diseased grains are found to contain no flour, but a moist substance of white colour and of cottony consistence. A single grain of wheat may contain 50,000 young vibrios. These forms may be dried, and restored again on the application of moisture. Dilute sulphuric acid, in the proportion of 1 of acid to 100 parts of water, destroys the vibrio effectually.
Research Purples
Purpura is a genus of carnivorous gastropods, whose members, like the species of Murex, yield a purple dye. The species have strong, heavy shells and mostly live on rocky coasts.
Research Purpura
Purpuricens is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
Research Purpuricens
Purse-crab is a name for decapod crustaceans of the genus Birgus, allied to the hermit-crabs. A species, Birgus latro (the robber-crab), found in the Mauritius and the more eastern islands of the Indian Ocean, is one of the largest crustaceans, being sometimes two to three feet in length. It resides on land, while paying a nightly visit to the sea,, often burrowing under the roots of trees, lining its hole with the fibres of the coconut husk and living on the nuts, which (according to some writers) it climbs the trees to procure, and the shells of which it certainly breaks with great ingenuity.
Research Purse-Crab
The Purse-Web Spider (Atypus affinis) is a species of British spider. The spider lives inside a subterranean silken tube a small part of which lies on the surface of the soil. When an insect walks over the tube the spider rushes up the tube, upside down, sinks its fans into the prey, devours it and then repairs the tube.
Research Purse-Web Spider
Purslane is a plant of the genus Portulaca (Portulaca oleracea), with fleshy succulent leaves, naturalized throughout the warmer parts of the world. Purslane was formerly more used than at present, at least in Britain, in salads, as a pot-herb, in pickles, and for garnishing.
Research Purslane
The Puss Moth (Cerura vinula) is a puss moth of the family Notodontidae with a wing span of between 45 and 70 mm found in the temperate Palaearctic in damp biotopes, flying from April to July.
Research Puss Moth
Putchock or puchuck is the root of Aplotaxis Lappa, a composite plant growing on the Himalayas in the vicinity of Cashmere. In China it forms the main ingredient of incense sticks, in Upper India it is used as a medicine for various ills ranging from coughs to cholera.
Research Putchock
Puya is a genus of tropical South American herbaceous plants belonging to the family Bromeliaceae. They bear usually racemes of showy flowers.
Research Puya
Pycnogonidea or Pantopoda (the sea-spiders) are a group of marine arthropods. They are spider-like organisms, having four well-developed walking legs, often of great length. The body consists of an unsegmented proboscis, a trunk of four segments, and an unsegmented abdomen. Gills are absent and there are typically three appendages in front of the legs, the first a small pair of chelate limbs, then two pairs of slender appendages.
Research Pycnogonidea
Pycnota is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae closely resembling the genus Atheta. They live mainly in moles' nests and occasionally in birds' nests.
Research Pycnota
The Pygmy Marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea) is the smallest New World primate. The pygmy marmoset has grey-brown coloured fur, and a faintly ringed tail. They live in family groups of between five and ten, the male carrying the young on his back, handing them back to the mother for feeding. They live in trees in the tropical rainforests of West Brazil, East Peru, South East Columbia, and East Ecuador and are active during the day, particularly morning and late afternoon. At night they sleep in holes in the trees. They move using all four feet, running along the branches. Opportunist feeders, they feed mainly on the sap or gum from trees, and have specially adapted teeth for gouging holes in the trees to make the sap flow, but they also eat fruit, buds and insects.
Research Pygmy Marmoset
The pygmy shrew (Sorex minutus) is a bi-coloured shrew, with a gradation between the flanks and underside and no seasonal variation in colouration. It is distinguished from the common shrew by the third uni-cuspid tooth as large as, or larger than, the second; the ears almost, or completely hidden in fur; the tail hairs denser and longer than those of the Common Shrew and so the tail appearing thicker. The pygmy shrew lives in areas with good ground cover, such as heaths, grasslands, sand dunes, woodland edge, but is uncommon in woodland, feeding on invertebrates found in leaf litter (mostly beetles, spiders and woodlice but not earthworms). The nest is a small ball of grass in dense cover.
Research Pygmy Shrew
The pygmy white-toothed shrew, or Savi's pygmy shrew or Etruscan shrew (Suncus etruscus) is a minute South European shrew recognisable by Four uni-cuspid teeth; white teeth; large, protuberant ears; long hairs scattered through the pelage, especially on the tail and snout; greyish brown black pale grey underside from the neck to the abdomen. The animals live in open terrain, grassland, scrub, gardens, and deciduous woodland being found under logs and boulders and frequently in dry stone walls and ruins and eat invertebrates up to the size of grasshoppers. Social animals, they form pairs during the breeding season and tolerate juveniles for a long time in the nest. The breeding season is between March and April and September and October.
Research Pygmy White-Toothed Shrew
The Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is a very rare European mammal found only in the Pyrenees. It has thick-set, round body, short neck and a long proboscis-like snout. The large hind-feet are edged with stiff bristles, and the long tail is flattened at the end like a rudder. The forefeet are partly webbed, the hind feet webbed which aids in its swimming. The soft, dense, water-proof fur is dark brown or black above and grey or tan below. The Pyrenean Desman lives beside swift-flowing, cold mountain streams and canals but is very sensitive to human disturbance and pollution, and will not live near signs of human activity. It builds a nest of dry grass and leaves in the river side in natural holes, vacated water vole burrows and enlarged crevices.
Research Pyrenean Desman
The Pyrenean Mountain Dog or Great Pyrenees is a large shepherd dog bred from mastiff stock in the Pyrenees to guard sheep against wolves and later used to smuggle contraband across the mountains. The Pyrenean Mountain Dog stands about 70 centimetres tall, has a thick, shaggy coat generally white in colour, and is good-natured though wary of strangers.
Research Pyrenean Mountain Dog
Pyrenomycetes is a family of ascomycetous fungi with flask-like fructifications. open at the top for the discharge of the spores. Some species are parasitic on plants, others on insect larvae, while several species are saprophytes.
Research Pyrenomycetes
Pyrethrum is a genus of herbaceous composite plants, the distinctive features of which are that the pappus consists of an elevated membranous border, and the achenes are angular but not winged.
Research Pyrethrum
Pyrochroa is a genus of Cardinal Beetle (Pyrochroidae) ranging from fourteen to eighteen millimetres long.
Research Pyrochroa
Pyrosoma is a genus of phosphorescent Molluscoida, of the group Tunicata, compound ascidians inhabiting the Mediterranean and Atlantic. They unite in great numbers, forming a large hollow cylinder, open at one end and closed at the other, swimming in the ocean by the alternate contraction and dilatation of its component individual animals.
Research Pyrosoma
Pyrrhidium is a genus of longhorn beetles (Cerambycidae).
Research Pyrrhidium
Pyrus is a genus of ornamental and fruit trees belonging to the pomeous section of the family of Rosaceae.
Research Pyrus
Pythidae is a family of beetles of the order Coleoptera. Many of the members are classified in the family Salpingidae by some authors. Both adults and larvae live under the bark of trees or in the passage of bark beetles and prey on other insects.
Research Pythidae
The Pythonia (Python) is a subfamily of reptiles of the family Boidae, suborder Serpentes (snakes). The subfamily consists of six genera and twenty-two species found in tropical Africa, Asia and the Australias. They are not venomous, but kill their prey by compression. The pythons belong exclusively to the Old World, and are of enormous size, sometimes attaining a length of 30 feet. They are found in India and in the islands of the Eastern Archipelago, in Africa and in Australia. A rudimentary pelvis and traces of hinder limbs exist in the pythons, these structures terminating externally in a kind of hooked claw. The head exceeds the neck in thickness, and the mouth is extremely large. Aided by their prehensile tails and rudimentary hinder limbs, the pythons suspend themselves from the branches of trees and lie in wait near water for animals which come to drink. The genus Python contains various species, the best known of which is the West African python (Python seboe), common in menageries. The female python hatches her eggs by the heat of her body.
Research Pythoninae
In botany, a pyxidium is a capsule with a lid, as seen in the henbane and in the fruit of the monkey-pot tree.
Research Pyxidium
|
Abbreviations
Nature
