NAT. ORDER. 



Rhcedes. 



PAPAVER RH^AS. RED OR CORN POPPY. 



Class XIII. PoLYANDRiA. Order I. Monogynia. 



Gen. Char. Corolla four-petalled. Calyx two-leaved. Capsule 

 one-celled, opening by pores under the persistent stigma. 



Spe. Char. Capsule glabrous, globose. Stem hairy, and many- 

 flowered. Leaves pinnatifid, incised. 



The root is annual, simple, fibrous ; the stalk is upright, branched, 

 having hairs standing at right angles with the stem, which rises from 

 one to two feet in height ; the leaves are pinnated, toothed, hairy on 

 both sides, and at the base sheath-like ; the peduncles are slender, 

 furnished with hairs like the stem, and each supports a single flower , 

 the calyx consists of two leaves, which are ovate, rough, concave, and 

 deciduous ; the corolla is composed of four petals, which are large, 

 spreading, roundish, unequal, of a bright scarlet color, and marked at 

 the base with a shining black spot ; the Jilaments are numerous, slen- 

 der, purplish, and furnished with roundish, compressed antherae ; the 

 germcn is egg-shaped, and truncated at the top ; there is no style ; 

 the stigma is convex and radiated — the radii of a purple color, and 

 permanent ; the capsule answers the description given of the germen ; 

 it is smooth, marked with several longitudinal projecting lines, which 

 are in number equal to the radii of the stigma, and at the top it is 

 (colloped ; the radii are numerous, minute, and of a purple color. 



This plant is quite common in cornfields, and flowers in June and 

 July. It is a native of Europe, but has been introduced and culti- 



