Meconopsis.] tlora indtca. 251 



basi nigra, Sepala late ovato-oblonga, sparse setosa. Filamenta subulata. Capsula 

 \ poll, longa, breve stipitata, obscure v. manifeste 4-5-gona, prwcipue ad angulos his- 

 pida, stigmatis parvi radii s crassis. 



A very remarkable little species, well characterized by the short horn or spur to- 

 wards the apex of the sepals, and by the fruit. 



P. orientate, L. (WaU. Cat. 8119 !), P. Rhceas, L. (Wall. Cat. 8120?), and 1\ Ar- 

 gemone, L., are all common garden plants in India, and hence occur in various collec- 

 tions. 



2. ARGEMONE, L. 



Sepala 2-3. Petala 4-8. Sto hia perplurima. Stigmata 4-7, sub- 

 sessilia v. breve stipitata, radiata, libera. Capsula obovata, apice val- 

 vules inter placentas parietales dehisceus. Semina scrobiculata, raphe 

 mida. — Herbse ramosa, aculeatce, glaucescentes, omnes Americana, succo 

 Javo, foliis inciso-pinnatijidis dentibas spinulosis, alabastris erectii. 



An American genus, of which one species is naturalized all over India, and in 

 many other parts of the world, abounding on roadsides and in waste places, but never 

 seen far from habitations. The seeds partake of the acrid properties of the plant, and 

 are employed in America, as a substitute for Ipecacuanha, and as a purgative. The 

 flowers, which are always yellow in India, are sometimes white in other countries. 



1. A. Mexicana (L. Sp. PL 727) ; foliis sessilibus semiaroplexi- 

 eaulibus sinuato-pinnatifidis albo variegatis, capsula setosa.— DC. Syst. 

 ii. 85, Prod. i. 120 ; Torr. et Gray, FL N. Am. i. 01 ; Wight et Am. 

 Prod. i. 18; Roxb.Fl.Ind.il. 571; Wight, 111. t.ll; Watt. Gat. 8126! 



Hab. Per totam Indium calidam in ruderatis vulgatissima, sed certe 

 introducta. — (FL Feb. Mar.) (v. v.) 



Herba suffruticosa, 2-4-pedalis. Canles divaricatim ramosi, terete*, fistulosi W. 

 intus spondosi. Folia 3-7 nnc. longa, secus wrm primanos albo-vancgata. Jyepafa 

 apice cornuta. Floret 1-3 unc. diainetro, aurei. Capsula obionga v. ellip tico-ob- 

 louga, f-l£ poll, longa, teres, setosa v. rarius inermis. Semina brunnea, turgida, 

 niulticostata, profunde cancellata. ' 



MECONOPSIS, Vic 



o - 



Sepala 2. Petala 4 (rarius pluia). Stat « perplurima. SfyltU 

 (li inctus, saepius tortus, stigmatibus 4-8 radiantibus cum placent.s 

 alternantibus coronata. Capsula obovata v. elliptica, interdum linearis, 

 cylindracea, apice valvis brevibus dehiscens; pUccnU* plus i minus ver- 

 sus axin capsulae productis. Semina raphe tumida enstata.— llerbas 

 perennantes, simplices v. rarius ramosa, interdum. acaules et scapiger*, 

 succo flaw, foliis radicalibm v. radicalibus et caulims integris lobati* 



fijid 



A small genus, the Himalayan species of which are all confined to the upper tern- 



& ' ,. ', \ *_ A i. rt i; m ;f c «f iilifpnofrainic vegetation, lbe 



perate zone! some ascending almost to the limits of |*«»Ff«^»«- 

 sepals, which are described as valvate by Eudlicher, are decidedly ••"bncotej 



in the 



et-pais, wmenare described as vaivaiu uj jvh»«*-.| -— • „ Q ~„alW pr^.f 



Himalayan species. Xtylopkonm hardly appears to be */ e X' X^v^nfS. 

 in the valves 1 of the capsule being dehiscent to the base; tor tfce«£k r*J £«*» * 

 all the specie of MeLopsis, and varies extremely ,n length, and in ™ou ,t of tor- 

 sion. The only other character attributed to ^phorum » the crested seed, but 

 this also is a variable character, the raphe in all being arcompan.cd *>th a more or 



