1954 



* PLATYSTIG'MA lineare. 



Linear-leaved Platystigma. 



POLYANDRIA TRIGYKIA. 



Nat. ord. Papaverace^. 



PLATYSTIGMA. Sepala 3-4, ovata, caduca, pilosa. Petala 6-8- 

 Sfu/niiia numerosa. Filamenta filiformia. Antlierce lineares, biloculares^ late- 

 raliter deliiscentes. Stigmata 3, ovata, acuta, erecto-divergentia. Capsula 

 oblonga, basi attenuata, 1-locularis, 3-angularis, 3-sulcata, 3-valvis, ab apice ad 

 basin dehiscens : valvulis conduplicatis margiiie in plaeentis filiformbus productis. 

 Semina numerosa, minuta, ovoidea, nigra, la^vissima, nitida. Bentham in 

 Hort. Trans. ii. s. vol. 1. quibusdam, mutatis. 



P. lineare. Bentham I. c. Hooker Ic. vol. I. t. 



Annua. Caules densi, subsimplices, teretes, patentim pilosi, fragiles, 

 3-4 poll. alti. Folia linearia, opposila, ant ternatim verticillata, tenera, 

 patentim pilosa. Pedunculi solitarii, axillares et termiiiales, gracillimi, 

 caulibus duptb longiores, patentim pilosi. Ca.\y\ decidints Papaveris more, 

 viridis, 3-4-sepalus, pilosics. Petala serie duplici verticillata, 6-8, con- 

 cava, ovata, subcequaliti ; exteriora liitea, interiora alba. Filamenta Z;«ea»'ta, 

 utrinque infra apicein dentata. 



One of the prettiest of all little annuals,"\vith its graceful 

 cups of white and yellow, resembling those of a Ranunculus, 

 but far more gay. 



It is a native of California, where it was originally found 

 by Douglas, who however sent home no seed. More recently 

 it has been received at St. Petersburg]! from the Russian 

 settlements in California, and thence it has found its way to 

 England. I fear, however, our damp summers will prevent 

 its ripening seed with any certainty. 



Fig. I. is a magnified stamen; 2. an ovary, with the 

 three stigmas; and 3. a transverse section of the ovary, 

 shewing the position of the placentas, with respect to the 

 angles. 



From TrXarus broad, and stigma. 



