20b PAPAVERACE^. (POPPY FAMILY.) 



twice as many free petals in two sets, indefinite, usually numerous, free stamens, and a 

 compound pistil. In Eschscholtzia the sepals are united, and the stamens adhere to the 

 claws ot the petals. 



This small but interesting order of plants, with the exception of one species, is con- 

 fined to the northern hemisphere. Fifteen species, belonging to eleven genera, are natives 

 of the United States, and several Eui-opean species have become naturalized. Esch- 

 scholtzia and Platystemon are the most widely distributed of the California genera. 



Romneya Coulteri is a half shrubby plant, with smooth pinnatifid leaves and very large white flowers 

 (3, 4, or tven 6 inches across) , a native of the coast from San Diego to Santa Barbara County. 



Arctomecon is another white-flowered plant, with somewhat hairy, nearly entire leaves; the petals 

 persistent; found in south Kevada and Utah. 



Canbya, a recently discovered plant of south-east California, is the smallest of the order, being 

 scarcely an inch in height. The small white petals are persistent. 



Papaver Somniferum, a native of Asia, furnishes opium, which is the dried juice of the plant. A 

 variety of this' species is cultivated in this State for the seeds, from which is expressed poppy oil, \ised 

 by artists. This oil is also used as a substitute for olive oil in the preparation of salads, etc. 



* Herbs iclih entire leaves, the uppermost ichorled or opx>osite, sepals 3. 



Filiform stigmas 6 to many (pistil hollow) Platystemon. 1 



Flat stigmas 3 Platystigma. 2 



* * Herbs with divided or lobed leaves. 



Slightly lobed stigma, style distinct; sepals 2 Meconopsis. 3 



Filiform stigmas unequal; sepals united to form a conical cap Eschscholtzia. 4 



Entire plant bristly with prickles; sepals 3, each with a horn Argemone. la 



* * * Shrub with entire leaves. 

 Buds globular; stigmas 2 Dendromecon. 5 



la. ARGEMONE, L. 



Sepals 2 or 3, spinosely beaked. Petals 4 or 6. Stamens numerous, with linear 

 anthers. Leaves sinuately pinnatifid, prickly toothed. 



1. A. hispida, Gr. (Chicalote). Erect, armed with rigid bristles and prickles; leaves 

 3 to 6 inches long; flowers, nearly white, 2 to 4 inches in diameter; capsule IJ inches 

 long. 



1. PLATYSTEMON, Benth. Cream-Cups. 



Sepals 3. Petals 6. Stamens many, with flattened filaments and linear anthers. 

 Torulose carpels at first united; stigmas free. 



1. P. Californicus, Benth. Slender, branching, 6 to 12 inches high; villous, with 

 spreading hairs; leaves 2 to 4 inches long, sessile or clasping, broadly linear^ obtuse. 



