PAPAVERACEJE- 



33 



flat, narrowed at base. Fil. about 30, shorter than cor. Ova. long as stam. 

 Style 0. 



C. MAJUS. 



Leaves pumate, lobed, the segments rounded; floicers in umbels. A plant 

 found under fences, by road sides, &c. yielding a yellow juice. Stem 1 — 2 

 feet high with pinnate, glaucous, smooth, spreading leaves. Flowers yellow, 

 in thin, axillary, stalked umbels. Petals elliptical, entire, and like every other 

 part of the plant very fugacious. The juice is used to cure itch, and to destroy 

 warts. May— Oct. Per. Celandine. 



3 . A R G E M O' N E . 



Calyx 3-sepaled, caducous; petals 6; stamens numerous; 



capsules obovate, half-valved. 



From argema, a former name for the cataract of the eye, which was thought 

 to be cured by this plant. A small genus of annuals. Sep. roundish, con- 

 cave, pointed. Pet. roundish, larger than cal. Fil. as short as the cal. Stig. 

 sessile, capitate, 4 — 7-lobed. Caps, opening at tip by valves. 



A. Mexica'na. 



Leaves pinnatifid, gashed, spiny; fiowcrs a.iillary ; capsules 6-valved. A 

 weedy plant in cultivated fields, &c. about 2 feet high, with prickly stems 

 and leaves. It abounds in a milky juice which changes in the air to a fine, 

 briglit, gamboge yellow, and is said to be an active medicine, used for cutane- 

 ous eruptions, jaundice, sore eyes, fluxes, &c. Flowersyellow. Jl. Horn Pojjpij. 



4. PAPA'VER. 



Calyx 2-sepaled, caducous; corolla 4-petaled ; stamens 

 numerous ; capsule 1-celled, opening by pores under the broad, 

 persistent stigma. 



Celtic, papa, pap, that is, a soft food given to children, in which the seeds 

 of the poppy were boiled to induce sleep. The species are all exotics. 



1. P. somni'ferum. 



Calyx and capsules smooth, /ear C5 clasping, gashed, glaucous. This and other 

 species of the Poppy is of a fine appearance, with large brilliant flowers, often 

 cultivated among the ornamental plants of the garden. Every part of it, but 

 more especially the capsule, abounds with a white milky juice, powerfully 

 narcotic, and which, vi'hen hardened inthe air, forms the opium of the shops. 

 The juice is obtained by incisions made in the capsule. For this purpose it 

 is extensively cultivated in Europe, Persia, Turkey and India. Opium acts 

 as a pov.'erful stimulus, followed by narcotic and sedative effects When taken 

 into the stomach it operates directly upon the nervous system, destroying irri- 

 tability and pain in the most distant parts of the body. In large doses, it 

 immediately induces stupor, followed by delirium, convulsions, apoplexy and 

 death. The use of opium as a stimulant cannot be too much reprobated. It soon 

 becomes an inveterate iiabit, impairing the digestive organs and consequent- 

 ly weakening the whole body. Tlie memory and all other intellectual powers of 

 its victims soon fail, they become prematurely old, and soon sink into the grave, 

 objects of loathing and pity. June, July. Ann. Opium Poppy. 



2. P. Rh.eas, 



Capsules smooth, nearly round ; stem many flowered, hairy; leaves cut- 

 pinnatifid. Naturalized and cultivated. About 2 feet high. Flowers very 



