94 ERYTHEA. 



forms or species, as shown by the key below. " The general 

 characters derived from habit and foliage are somewhat vari- 

 able in each, and certain of the forms simulate others in a 

 remarkable manner. If these general characters are to be 

 relied on, there is nothing to be said against the view, that 

 would reduce the number of species of Argemone to two, 

 viz: A. fruticosa, and a second composite and very variable 

 species," 



The following key I give in translation: 



KEY TO THE SPECIES AND VARIETIES OF ARGEMONE. 

 Shrubby; leaves holly-like; capsules opening almost to the base; (petals 



yellow) I. A. fruticosa Thurb. 



Herbaceous; leaves thistle-like; capsules opening a third from the top. 



Flowers yellow 2. A. mexicana L. 



With hardly any style. Var. typica (A. mexicana L.^ 

 With style distinct. Var. ochroleuca (A. ochroleuca Sweety. 

 Flowers white:— 



Bracts disposed along the floral branches: — Capsules spiny, with 



thin valves, horns of the sepals smaller 3. A. alba Lestib. 



Leaves and flowers smaller, spines spreading upward. Var. 



typica (A. alba Lestib). 

 Leaves and flowers larger, spines spreading downward. Var. 

 glauca (A. glauca Nutt.^ 

 Capsules with thick coriaceous valves scarcely armed, horns of 



the sepals elongated 4. A. grandiflora Sweet. 



Bracts aggregated under the flowers; — 



Capsules with their valves sparsely aculeate, horns of the sepals 



smooth without 5. A. intermedia Sweet. 



Flowering branches elongated, horns of the sepals pyramidal. 



Var. typica (A. intermedia Sweet). 

 Flowering branches very short, horns of the sepals terete. Var. 

 stenopetala (^4. stenopetala Prain). 

 Capsule with thick valves very densely aculeate, horns of the 



sepals aculeate without 6. A. platyceras Link & Otto), 



Buds globose : — 



Leaves and stem very spiny but glabrous, petals truncate at the 

 apex. Var. typica {A. platyceras Link & Otto.) 



