340 COLLEGE BOTANY 



extensively for ornamental purposes but is in bad repute because 

 it bears the secial stage of the rust fungus (Puccinia graminis), 

 which attacks the wheat, oats, grasses and related plants. 



Berberis thunbergii is the Japanese species of barberry which 

 is used extensively throughout the country as an ornamental 

 shrub. It is smaller, more compact and more beautiful than the 

 B. vulgaris and is immune to the rust. 



The may-apple or mandrake (Podophyllum peUatum] (Fig. 

 177) belongs to this family and is a familiar plant. The upright 

 shoots grow from an underground stem and bear the large um- 

 brella,-like leaves and solitary white flowers. It is used to some 

 extent in medicine. 



LAUBACE^E (Laurel Family). Trees or shrubs; flowers 

 regular and in clusters ; fruit a one-seeded berry or fruit ; leaves 

 simple and alternate. This family is represented by the well- 

 known Sassafras tree (Sassafras officinale) and the allspice or 

 spice bush (Lindera benzoin). 



PAPAVERACE^E (Poppy Family). Herbs, with milky, some- 

 times colored juice; roots fibrous, stems underground or aerial; 

 leaves alternate and without stipules ; flowers regular, terminal, 

 sometimes solitary, with parts in two or four ; sepals usually two, 

 falling early ; petals four to twelve, imbricated, falling early 

 stamens numerous ; pistil style syncarpous, by union of the car- 

 pels, short ; stigma two or more ; fruit a dry capsule. 



The family includes the poppies (Papaver), of which there 

 are many species. One of the most important is P. orient&le, 

 from which the opium and morphine of commerce are obtained. 

 The medicinal value of this plant for producing sleep and re- 

 lieving pain was known fully 400 years B.C. In more recent 

 times its use as a narcotic became so great that it has been neces- 

 sary to restrict its cultivation and most countries have vigorous 

 laws for the control of its sale and use. There are several other 



