158 Linnean Society. [Nov. 15, 



November 15. 

 E. Forster, Esq., V.P., in the Chair. 



Frederick John Parry, Esq., was elected a Fellow ; and Mr. Samuel 

 P. "Woodward and Mr. John William Salter, Associates. 



Mr. T. S. Ralph, A.L.S., presented numerous fruits and seeds col- 

 lected in the neighbourhood of Aurungabad. 



Read a Note " On the permanent varieties of Papaver orientate, 

 L." By T. Forster, M.B., F.L.S., &c. 



Dr. Forster states, that ever since the introduction of Papaver brac- 

 teatum, Lindl., into England, he has regarded it as a permanent va- 

 riety of P. orientate, of which P. bracteatum, as having fertile seeds, 

 while those of P. orientate are usually sterile, was to be considered 

 the original plant. He retains, however, the name of orientate for 

 the species, both as being the earlier and as being applicable to all 

 the varieties, four of which he now distinguishes as permanent by the 

 following characters : — 



1. P. orientate bracteatum, characterized by its height, its bractese, 

 its large and deep red petals, and its uniformly perfect seeds. 



2. P. orientate prcBCox, the common " Monkey Poppy" of the old 

 gardeners, and the most common variety in England, distinguished 

 by its somewhat depressed capsule and sterile seeds. It flowers along 

 with the former, generally about the 10th of May, the flowers being 

 of a fine deep orange inclining to cinnabar. 



3. P, orientate serotinum, resembling the last except in that its 

 petals incline more to what is called salmon-colour, but principally 

 characterized by its flowering nearly a month later, along with P. 

 somniferum, L., early in June. Dr. Forster has several times tried in 

 vain to make it flower with the commoner sort. The seeds are always 

 imperfect, and the flower and capsule of the same shape as in the 

 last. 



4. P. orientate, capsutd et fioribus tongioribus, which are its prin- 

 cipal distinguishing characters. It flowers in May a few days after 

 the old English sort, but is only met with on the Continent : the 

 petals are of the same colour, but the leaves are rather smaller. 

 Dr. Forster states it to be common in the gardens of Belgium as 

 the only variety cultivated, the two last-named varieties being there 



