FLO WEEING PLANTS OF THE SEA-SIDE 421 



the well-known poppies of corn-fields. The general characteristics 

 of the order are two deciduous sepals, four petals, many stamens 

 inserted below the ovary, and the ovary one-celled with membranous 

 divisions. The plants of this species usually contain a milky juice, 

 have alternate leaves without stipules, and the flowers, which are 

 regular, generally nod when in bud. The Horned Poppy is a very 

 conspicuous plant, usually growing quite alone on some inaccessible 



FIG. 312. THE SEA KALE 



portion of the cliff, or among the pebbles or shingle not far from 

 high-water mark. Its stem is glaucous and branched, and the 

 large waved and deeply-cut leaves, which clasp the stem, are also 

 of a glaucous hue. The flowers are rendered conspicuous by 

 their large yellow petals, which, however, last only for a day, and 

 are succeeded by the hornlike seed-pods that sometimes reach a 

 foot in length. 



We will conclude our list of sea-side flowers by a brief mention 

 of the Lesser Meadow Eue (Thalictrum minus), a variety of which 



