PAPAVERACE.E. 33 



Chelidonium {Celandine). — This is one of the most free and 

 continuous-flowering genera in the order. It is not of the most 

 showy description, but is ahvays interesting and pretty. It 

 succeeds best in partial shade, and is useful for introducing 

 into open woods and naturalising on shady banks where the 

 vegetation is not of too encroaching a nature. Propagate by 

 seeds in the open ground in March — the double form by divi- 

 sion in spring, or both by the latter means. 



C. majus {Larger Celandine). — It is not so much for the 

 species in its normal form that this plant is selected, as for two 

 varieties of it of more value than itself, floriculturally speaking. 

 The one is C m. Jiore-pkno, a double-flowered variety, dif- 

 fering only from the simple form of the species in that par- 

 ticular. It grows about i8 inches high, in soft rounded outline, 

 producing pale -green pinnately-divided leaves. The flowers 

 are numerous, consisting in the simple form of only two sepals 

 and two petals, but in the double variety the petals are indefi- 

 nitely increased. The other variety is C m. variegata, and is 

 distinguished from the species by having the foHage marked 

 with creamy yellow. There is also a white-flowered variety, 

 which may not be considered much of an acquisition where the 

 others are cultivated, and there are a numl3er of botanically 

 interesting varieties, the species being of a variable nature. 

 Flowers from April and May till October. Native of Britain. 



Meconopsis. — This is a very interesting and beautiful genus. 

 The species are few in number, and, with the exception of the 

 first of the two selected, are very rare plants in cultivation. 

 They delight in a rich, light, sandy loam, and succeed best on 

 rockwork in partial shade. Propagate by division or by seeds 

 in spring : the latter method is the best, and most certain of 

 keeping up stock, especially of the last of the selected species. 



M. cambrica. — This species grows erect, about i foot high, 

 with pinnate, pale-green, slightly hairy leaves on long stalks, 

 the segments deeply cut. Flowers on long stalks, large, pale 

 yellow. Flowers from June throughout the summer. It must 

 have a good depth of soil on rockwork, but well drained, and 

 be well supplied with moisture in the growing season. Native 

 of western Europe, also Ireland, Wales, and western counties 

 of England. 



M. Wallicliii, a species of grand interest and beauty. It 

 grows erect, 3 or 4 feet high, the stems and leaves somewhat 

 glaucous, and densely clothed with long rusty hairs. The 

 lower leaves are 9 inches or a foot long, and stalked, but di- 

 minish in size, and ultimately become stalkless as they ascend 

 the stem. Flowers large, pale blue, nodding on short stalks, 



c 



