CHAP. I.] PAPAVERACEiE. 263 



but which dries up as the fruit ripens. The 

 leaves of the Opium Poppy {b) differ from those 

 of the Corn Poppy, in being much broader, and 

 only slightly cut or notched; they are also 

 glaucous, that is, of a bluish or sea-green, and 

 they are clasped round the stem at their base 

 (as shown at c). All the Papaveracese abound 

 in a thick glutinous juice, which in the Poppies 

 has the colour and appearance of milk, and 

 which possesses stupifying properties ; but in the 

 Opium Poppy this juice is particularly abundant. 

 Opium is, in fact, procured by wounding the 

 fleshy capsule with a sharp knife, and suffering 

 the milky juice which exudes to dry in the sun ; 

 after which it is scraped off with a blunt instru- 

 ment, and pressed into cakes for sale. The 

 opium of commerce is produced in hot countries ; 

 but even in England, any one who chooses may 

 procure a small quantity of opium, by wounding 

 the fleshy capsule of the common White Poppy 

 when it is about half ripe. A milky juice will 

 issue from the wound, which when dry becomes 

 opium, and would be poisonous if taken in 

 excess. The capsule of the White or Opium 

 Poppy has, when ripe, a little window-like open- 

 ing under each stigma for the discharge of 

 the seeds, which contain abundance of oil, and 

 may be safely eaten, though the rest of the 

 plant is poisonous. 



