ill.] 



CRUCIFER^. 



159 



small Scarlet Poppy {P. Rhceas) when grown in gardens : the 

 partial dissepiments of the ovary (opposite to the lobes of 

 the stigma) which are not coherent in the middle : the 

 placentary or ovule-bearing surface, spread over the sides 

 of the projecting plates : the dehiscence of the capsule by 

 pores around the top. 



The yellow-flowered Mexican Poppy {A?'gemone Mexi- 

 cana), with a capsule dehiscing by short valves, is an 

 introduced and very common weed in India. The Opium 

 Poppy is largely cultivated in the north, and occurs as 

 a weed in waste places. The drug opium is the inspis- 

 sated, milky juice collected from punctures in the unripe 

 capsules. The seeds afford a valuable oil. 



8. Natural Order, Cruciferce. — The Crucifer Family. 

 Herbs with alternate, exstipulate leaves. Sepals four. 

 Petals four. Stamens usually tetradynamous. Seeds exai- 

 buminous. 



Type — Mustard or Rape j species of Brassica (either 



will serve). 

 Herbs with alternate, more or less lobed or pinnatifid 

 exstipulate leaves, and terminal racemes of ebracteate, 

 cruciform, yellow flowers. 



