purple or red or orange flowers. M. punicea is the only 
species, so far known, in which the flowers after expansion 
remain pendulous. It further differs from the other known 
species, except M. integrifolia and M. Oliveriana, both of 
which have yellow petals, in the absence of a style. The 
divaricately radiating stigmatic lobes are characteristic of 
the group Grandes, of which M. punicea is a member. 
Meconopsis punicea was first collected in Northern Tibet 
in 1884 by the late General Przewalski; it was obtained 
again in Northern Szechuen, in 1885, by Mr. G. N. 
Potanin. More recently it has been met with by Mr. — : 
K. H. Wilson, who gathered it in September, 1903, in 
grasslands about Sungpen, in Western China, at from 
11,000-14,500 ft. above sea-level. Plants were raised 
by Messrs. James Veitch & Sons from seed communicated — 
by Mr. Wilson. The plant figured, which flowered in the 
Rock Garden at Kew in June, 1906, was raised from seeds 
presented to Kew by Messrs. Veitch & Sons. This species 
is a biennial, flowering in the second year from seed, the 
crown of leaves dying down during the winter that pre- 
cedes flowering. It thrives best in moist soil in a shaded 
situation, and ripens its seeds under cultivation. 
Descr.—A monocarpic herb. Stem 0. Leaves tufted, 
radical, sparsely hairy, ovate-lanceolate, apex acute, mar- 
gin entire, tapering gradually into a rather broad petiole, 
7-12 in. long, 14-2 in. wide, green above and below. 
Flowers large, striking, remaining pendulous after they 
open; peduncles slender, simple, 1-flowered, beset with 
spreading or reflexed hairs, 16-20 in. long. Sepals 2, 
oblong-ovate, 14 in. long, hirsute externally. Petals nor- 
mally 4, occasionally in cultivation the outer stamens 
replaced by 4-5 additional petals, very dark pink, 4 in. 
long, 24 in. across, ovate-oblong. Stamens indefinite, 
several-seriate, the outer series sometimes replaced by 
additional petals, filaments flattened, glabrous, free. 
Ovary of 4-6 carpels, densely adpressed-hirsute, ovate, 
¢ in. long; stigma sessile, 4—6-lobed, the lobes divaricate 
and radiating ; placentas intruded; ovules numerous. Cap- 
sule ovate when ripe, 1 in. long, } in. wide; seeds with 
reticulated testa.—D. Praty. 
Figs. 1 and 2, stamens ; 3, pistil, enlarged ; 4, an entire plant, about one-sieth — 
natural size, 
