APPENDIX. 



of the prickles of the Aculcatas. M. decora came from the Eastern Himalaya, 

 and was at first supposed a mere albino of M. aculeata : but proves in reality a 

 perfectly distinct and most desirable species, though probably of biennial ten- 

 dencies. 



M. eximia belongs to the Mekong-Salween Divide, and is a monocarpic 

 little Poppy, very close in habit to my own M. lepida of the Primulina Group, 

 but obviously differing in its fat capsule, and in the vesture of bristlish hairs 

 in which the whole growth is vested, stem and leaves and pods and all. It is 

 a lovely ornament of the open alpine pasture-lands, with nodding flowers of 

 rich blue-purples, with greyish-yellow anthers. 



M. Forrestii, again, is similar in style — some 6 to 15 inches in height, with 

 pale-blue flowers. In bloom the flower-stems stand widely out from the main 

 stalk, but in fruit the whole growth develops even to the height of 2 feet, 

 and the capsules on their stems stand straight up along the spike, pressed 

 close to the central trunk. The anthers are orange yellow, in the specimens, 

 though described as being blue, and this lovely Poppy also we shall owe to 

 Forrest, though whether we retain it or no depends upon ourselves. For, like 

 the others of the Primulina Group, it is biennial. 



S. Guglielmi-Waldemari is merely a state, unknown in cultivation, of M. 

 aculeata, q.v. 



M. impedita holds a medium position between the groups of M. bella and 

 M. primulina. In appearance it comes much nearer to the former, a biennial 

 tuft of solid, deeply lobed and feathered little leaves in dense clusters, emitting 

 a number of remarkably graceful stems, some 6 to 15 inches high, each bearing 

 a beautiful pendulous flower of deep blue, with yellow anthers and almost in- 

 variably 4 petals. M. impedita haunts open stony ridges of barren limestone, 

 and approaches M. Henrici not only in its length of style, but in its biennial 

 temper. M. Morsheadii is best taken for the present as a mere variety of M. 

 impedita, but rather thinner in the texture of the leaves, and with larger blooms 

 of paler colouring. 



M. latifolia has at last emerged from under the shadow of M. sinuata, of 

 which it was once considered a mere variety, and may as such be often seen 

 grown in gardens. In reality it is a distinct and most beautiful species, in 

 appearance suggesting an M. Wallichii of rather smaller dimensions, with pen- 

 dulous flowers of lovely pale azure, and golden anthers to enhance them. Not 

 less notable is the foliage, not so softly hairy as in the Eobusta Group, yet not 

 quite so harshly as most of the Aculeatas ; and cut, not lobed, into deep and 

 handsome featherings. The dark purple-black stigma at once marks out 

 this splendid Poppy from M. aculeata, while the shape of leaves and capsule 

 separate it definitely from M. sinuata, which is not yet in cultivation at all. M. 

 latifolia throws out such odd growths at the base, and in the lower leaf -axils 

 up the stem, that there seems a fair hope that it may prove perennial, or learn 

 to become so. 



M. lepida, one of the choicest treasures of my travels, will be found in the 

 Appendix devoted to their trophies. 



478 



