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Piqueria (A. Piquer, Spanish physician of 18th century). Compositae. Under the name of Stevia serrata or S. serratifolia, florists grow Piqueria trinervia. Cav. (Fig. 2985), for its small white fragrant fls. and for bedding. It is native in Mcx., Cent. Amer., and Hayti. It is perennial. The genus contains about 20 species of herbs or bushes, all of Trop. Amer. They have exclusively tubular fls. in densely cymose heads, the heads containing 3-5 whitish fls.; torus plane or convex, naked; pappus none or very short: achene 4-5-angled. It resembles a small eupatorium in foliage and fls. The small heads are borne in small panicled corymbs, each cluster terminating a slender axillary branch or peduncle. The lvs. are opposite, lanceo- late to oblong-lanceolate, serrate - dentate, very short- stalked. There is a dwarf, compact form, var. nana, Hort., and also one with broadly white-edged lvs., var. variegate, Hort., Fig. 2986, which are much used for bedding out. The Cent. American var. luxurians, O. Kuntze, has slightly larger heads but does not appear to have been intro. into horticulture. The piqueria endures both sun and shade, and thrives with even indifferent treatment. For fls. it is much prized in winter, when delicate white sprays are not abundant. It demands the general treatment given zonal geraniums. Prop, by cuttings with great ease, and may begin to bloom when only 2 or 3 in. high. It often blooms in the cutting-bed. It also grows readily from seeds, which are handled by seedsmen. Frequent pinching will keep the plants within bounds and contribute to floriferousness. Plants allowed to grow as they will soon become straggly and wiry. For winter bloom the plants may be handled in pots or grown in beds. A Stock of compact pot-plants kept in
a cool corner is very useful for filling vacancies in the house.
Cultivation of piqueria (by Wm. Scott).—Usually the best way to produce good flowering plants of stevia in midwinter is to save a few old plants after the flowers are cut at New Years. Cut off the old stems 5 or 6 inches above the pots and stand the plants in any cool house. The plant needs the coolest house at all times; 40° at night during the winter will grow it better than a higher temperature, but, for all that, it does not endure the slightest frost. About March 1, these old plants will have sent out any number of small growths from the base of the stems. These root very readily in a cool propagating-house. They should then be grown along, first in 2 and afterward in 3 inch pots, until the first of June, when they should be planted out in the open ground. It need not be very rich ground, for they are very rampant growers. Give every plant 2 feet of space. They seldom need any artificial watering in summer, but they should have frequent pinching to produce bushy plants. The more shoots, the more flowers will be secured. Before there is any danger of frost in the fall, the plants should be lifted and put into 6-, 7-, or 8-inch pots. They lift well, and if stood in the shade and kept syringed for a few days they will show no bad results of the lifting. A position at the north side of a shed or wall is much better for them for the next month than under glass, but always have them in a position where they can be protected in case of a frost. By the end of October, if frost- is escaped, put them in the lightest and coolest house available. If kept cool the very desirable sprays of flowers will be in perfection at Christmas, and that is the time they are most valuable. Although classed as a common cheap flower, there is a grace about stevias that makes them indispensable for many flower arrangements.
L. H. B.
PIRCUNIA: Phytotacca.
CH
The above text is from the Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture. It may be out of date, but still contains valuable and interesting information which can be incorporated into the remainder of the article. Click on "Collapse" in the header to hide this text.
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