PLATE VIII. 
MECONOPSIS SIMPLICIFOLIA, ay. «7 
Nat. Ord. PaPAVERACES. 
Herba scaposa, tota patentim hispido-pilosa setis scapi decurvis, foliis omnibus radicalibus lanceolatis in petiolum angustatis, 
scapis 1-floris, floribus nutantibus violaceis, capsula lineari-clavata.— Hook. Jil. et Thoms. Flora Indica, v. 1. p. 252. 
Papaver simplicifolium, Don, Prodr. Flor. Nep. p. 196; Wall. Cat. 8125. 
Has. In Himalaya alpina centrali et orientali; Nipalia ad Gossain-than, Wadlich ; Sikkim, alt. 12-14,000 ped. 7. 
Mai. Jun. 
The present is the most beautiful and conspicuous of all the alpine flowers of Sikkim, if not of the 
whole Himalaya, and is very common in rocky and gravelly places, at 12,000 feet elevation and upwards, 
where it expands its delicate blossoms in May, exposed to the violent winds and snow-storms of those inhos- 
pitable regions. It was originally discovered by Dr. Wallich’s collectors in Central Nipal, but has not been 
found further west in the Himalaya. The accompanying Plate is from a drawing of my own. 
There are only two scapigerous species of MJeconopsis in the Himalaya, the present and the I. 
horridula, Hf. et T. The latter has only been found in Sikkim ; it is a smaller plant than that figured here, 
more densely covered with harsh prickles, which pierce the skin when the plant is handled, and has very 
many scapes, with smaller, paler purple flowers ; it is one of the most alpine plants in the world, and I have 
gathered it at upwards of 17,000 feet elevation, where very little other vegetation was to be met with. 
All the Himalayan species of Meconopsis differ from the European Welsh Poppy (JZ. Cambrica) in 
having a much longer style, and would hence be referred by some authors to the American genus Stylo- 
phorum, Nutt. ; but that genus is itself perhaps not really distinct from Meconopsis, and differs in the valves 
of the capsule dehiscing down to the base. 
Meconopsis simplicifolia would no doubt succeed perfectly well in an open border or rockwork, provided 
it be kept damp and cool, and not exposed to too long-continued sunshine. 
OEM nnn nnn nnn nnn nannnnnrn~nnnnAAAAAr 
Pare VIII. Fig. 1. Hairs of the scape. 2. Stamen. 3. Pollen. 4. Ovary. 5. Transverse section of ovary. 6. Ovule :— 
all magnified. 7. Ripe capsule. 8. Seeds :—doth natural size. 9. Seed. 10. The same, with the testa removed. 
11. Longitudinal section of albumen. 12. Embryo :—all magnified. 
