MECOTTOPSTS WALLICnil. 23 



days, will be found filled with an intensely sweet fluid. This honey -pore is also 

 well seen in the Crown-Imperial, and other species of Fritillary ; but in that genus 

 it is generally of a circular form. In the Cyclobothras, which are closely allied to 

 Fritillaria, the nectary is bearded in the interior, and is placed at some distance 

 from the base of the petal. 



The bulbs of several of the Siberian Lilies, especially those of L. pomponium, are 

 used as articles of food by the inhabitants of northern Asia, and we have no doubt 

 that the bulbs of all the species might be similarly employed — a hint which may be 

 of service to any future Eobinson Crusoes we may chance to have among our readers. 



Some other remarks on this genus will be found under the head of Lilium 

 colchicum, in our first volume. 



MECONOPSIS WALLICHIL 



Dr. "Waixich's Meconopsis. 

 Linncan Class— Polyandria. Order — Moxogynia. Natural Order — Papaveraceje. 



Few plants are more easily recognised than the Poppyworts, to which our present 

 illustration belongs ; for, notwithstanding the important distinctions between the 

 genera composing the Order, there is a striking general resemblance running 

 through the whole, which enables even those entirely ignorant of Botany to 

 distinguish them at a glance. This applies chiefly to those usually found in gardens, 

 such as the different species of Papaver, Argemone, Meconopsis, Glaucium, JEsch- 

 scholtzia and Hunnemannia, for a few of the genera more rarely met with so 

 nearly approach other orders in their structure, that their relationship is less 

 obvious. 



Every body is familiar with the leading characteristics of the true Poppies, the 

 type of the order ; the two sepals, which fall'off as soon as the flowers expand ; the 

 four crumpled petals ; numerous stamens ; broad, radiating stigmas, seated directly 

 upon the top of the seed vessel, and the milky narcotic juice, are features which 

 will readily recur to the memory. The most unvarying character of the Order is 

 the deciduous nature of the sepals (generally two in number, but in Argemone three), 

 which, taken in conjunction with the milky narcotic juice, effectually distinguishes 

 the Papaveracece from all other plants. The character of the seed vessel is much 

 more inconstant ; in the Horn-poppies ( Glaucium), and also in the Eschscholtzia, it 

 approaches in fonn the pod or siliqua of Cruciferous plants ; and in the curious little 

 annual, Platgstemon californicus, which forms the connecting link between the Poppy- 



