34 PAPAVERACE^ 



extreme case ; and yet I question whethei* some, if not all the species of the 

 genus Papaver (of Decandolle) would not ultimately disappear from our native 

 flora, if the whole kingdom were al)andoned to the uncultivated state from 

 which it has been reclaimed for so many generations. I scarcely remember 

 to have seen a specimen of a true Papaver in an uncultivated district, unless 

 P. argemdne be an exception." Several of our Poppies have followed the 

 Englishman in colonization, and their scarlet flowers wave above the fields of 

 Australian corn, and are as unwelcome to the agriculturists in that land as 

 in ours. 



2. Round Rough-headed Poppy (P. hyhidum). — Capsule nearly 

 globose ; bristles spreading ; leaves twice pinnatifid. Plant annual. This 

 plant is by no means frequent, but is found on some chalky or sandy corn- 

 fields, in June or July. Its flower is of deep scarlet. It is more often seen 

 in the southern counties of England ; in Scotland it does not occur. 



* * Capsules smooth. 



3. Long Smooth-headed Poppy (P. diibium). — Capsule oblong; 

 bristles on the flower-stalks, closely pressed to them ; leaves sessile, and once 

 or twice pinnatifid. Plant annual. This scarlet flower is not unfrequent in 

 corn-fields during June and July. It is very handsome, though its broad 

 petals are of paler scarlet than those of the common Eed Poppy, and the 

 blossom is not so large. 



4. Common Red Poppy (P. rAaas).— Capsules nearly globose ; bristles 

 spreading ; leaves pinnatifid, cut. Plant annual The farmer cannot praise 

 our common Poppy, but the lover of beauty rejoices in its grace, and in the 

 richness of scarlet tint which harmonises so well with the verdure around it. 

 A black spot often stains the base of its petals, and its foliage is of bright 

 green. Country people call the plant Corn-rose, or Red-weed, or Headache, 

 and Cheese-bowl ; the French term it Le Pavot, LCEillette, and Le Coquelicot. 

 It is Der Molm of the German farmer, and the Maankop of the Dutch ; while 

 this, or some similar species, is the Papavero of the Italian, and the Ador- 

 midera of the Spaniard. Though so common in England, it is rare in the 

 West of Scotland. It is easily distinguished from the Long Smooth-headed 

 species, which often grows with it, both by its short capsule and by the 

 spreading hairs of its flower-stalks. Agnes Strickland enumerates it among 

 her " Flowers of the Corn-field " : — 



' ' And we'll pause and gather a glorious wreath 



From the flowers that are shelter 'd the corn beneatli : 



There are velvet campions, both white and red, 



And poppies, like morning-glories spread, 



That flash and glance with their scarlet sheen, 



The bending ears of the wheat between ; 



And mark, when it bows to the breeze's sway, 



How it shows the cockle in rich array, 



And the lowly bind, with its delicate tinge, 



And the azure succory's silken fringe ; 



The modest scabious, of meeker blue, 



And silvery galium, of virgin hue ; 



The gay fluellin, and ox-eye bold, 



And their gaudy neighbour, the marygold. 



This poppy is cultivated in France and Germany for the oil expressed 



