444 PAPAVERACEA. 
tion thus formed is ultimately absorbed, and appears to be 
necessary for the healthy condition of these plants. 
Sarracenia.—The rhizome, rootlets, and leaves of Sarracenia purpurea 
were formerly vaunted as a specific in small-pox, but from extensive tria's 
in the hospitals of this and other countries, they have been found to be 
entirely useless.—S. variolaris and S. flava are reputed to be diuretic and 
mildly purgative, and useful in dyspepsia, headache, &c. The properties, 
however, of all the species seem to be unimportant. 
Order 2. PAPAVERACEX, the Poppy Order.—C haracter. — 
Herbs or shrubs, usually with a milky juice (white or coloured). 
Leaves alternate, exstipulate. Sepals usually 2 (fig. 883) or 
rarely 3, caducous (fig. 471). Petals 4 (figs. 883 and 884), or 
rarely 6, or some multiple of 4, or very rarely wanting ; usually 
crumpled in estivation (fig. 883), hypogynous. Stamens gene- 
rally numerous (jigs. 883 and 884), hypogynous (jigs. 32 and 
Fie. 884. Fie. 885. 
Fig. 883. Diagram of the flower of the Poppy, with two sepals, four 
crumpled petals, numerous stamens, and a compound one-celled 
ovary with several parietal placentas projecting into lts interior 
so as to nearly divide it into several cells. Fig. 884. Flower of 
Celandine (Chelidonium majus). sti. Two stigmas on the apex ofa 
lengthened or pod-like ovary.—Fig. 885. Siliqueform or pod- 
shaped capsule (cevatium) of Celandine. 
884) ; anthers 2-celled, innate (fig. 32). Ovary 1-celled, with 
2 or more (figs. 623 and 883) parietal placentas, which project 
more or less from the walls into its cavity, and in Romneya 
actually adhere in the axis ; styles absent (fig. 32) or very short ; 
stigmas 2 (fig. 884, sti), or many (fig. 32, sti), alternate with 
the placentas, and opposite the imperfect dissepiments ; when 
numerous, they form a star-like process on the top of the ovary 
(fig. 32); ovules numerous (fig. 623). Fruit 1-celled, and either 
pod-shaped with 2 parietal placentas (jig. 885), or capsular 
with several placentas ; dehiscing by valves (jig. 885) or pores, 
or sometimes indehiscent. Seeds usually numerous ; embryo in 
fleshy-oily albumen (fig. 775). 
Diagnosis. —Usually herbs with a milky juice. Leaves alter- 
nate and exstipulate. Peduncles 1-flowered ; flowers regular 
and symmetrical. Calyx and corolla with a binary or ternary 
