SPERMATOPHYTA— LAURACEAE 479 



Sassafras variifolinvi (Salisb.) Ktze. Sassafras 



Leaves oval and entire, mucilaginous, or 2-6 lobed to about the middle and 

 often as wide as long, membranous, pinnately veined, petioled; stamens about 

 equaling the calyx-segments; fruiting pedicles red, much thickened below the 

 calyx. 



Distribution. From E. Mass. to S. E. Iowa, Kansas and southward. 



Poisonous properties. It is said to be poisonous; its bark however is used 

 medicinally as a tonic and its wood is valuable. 



RHOEADALES 



Mostly herbs with regular and perfect flowers ; sepals and petals usually 

 present ; polypetalous ; stamens free ; ovary superior, free from the calyx, com- 

 pound, composed of 2 or more united carpels. It contains the families Reseda- 

 ceae,, Cruciferae and Papaveraceae. The mignonette {Reseda odorata) is a well 

 known, cultivated, fragrant plant of the family Resedaceae, which also includes 

 the dyers weed {R. luteola), the latter contains the substance luteolin. 



Families of the Order Rhoeadales 



Sepals generally 2 ; endosperm fleshy Papaveraceae. 



Sepals or divisions 4-8; endosperm none. 



Capsule 2-celled ; sepals and petals 4, flowers regular, stamens, usually 



tetradynamous Cruciferae. 



Capsule 1-celled; sepals and petals 4, flowers regular or irregular 



Capparidaceae. 



Papaveraceae. Poppy Family 



Annual or perennial herbs, with milky or colored juice; leaves alternate, 

 stipules none ; perfect, regular, or irregular flowers ; sepals 2, occasionally 3, 

 falling when the flower expands; petals 4-12, spreading, soon falling; stamens 

 inserted under the pistils, distinct; pistil 1, many ovuled, chiefly 1-celled; fruit 

 a capsule containing numerous oily seeds. Genera 24-26, species about 200. 

 Widely distributed chiefly in north temperate zone. 



Comparatively few of the plants of this family are weedy and quite a num- 

 ber are medicinal and poisonous. The common poppy (Papaver somniferum) 

 is used in medicine. It is found as an escape near buildings, especially in sections 

 where Germans have settled, undoubtedly due to the fact that they cultivate it 

 for its beauty as an ornamental plant, and use the seeds in culinary operations. 

 The poppy is largely cultivated in China, Smyrna, Joppa, and several countries 

 of Europe and India, for the opium. Opium yields a large number of alkaloids. 

 The more important of these are inorphin, and codein. A perfectly harmless 

 oil equal to olive oil is obtained from the seed. The seed is also fed to birds. 

 The red poppy (Papaver Rhoeas) is sometimes cultivated. A syrup is made 

 from the petals, and also a coloring matter used in red ink. The California 

 poppy {Eschscholtzia californica) is a valuable soporific, and analgesic "free 

 from the disadvantages of opium." The Indians, according to Chesnut, use it 

 to stupify fish. Celandine (Chelidonium ma jus) native to Europe, has been 

 naturalized in places in the East and is occasionally somewhat weedy. The 

 juice of this plant is yellow, while that of the common cultivated poppy is 

 white, and that of the blood root {Sangiiinaria canadensis) is reddish. The 



