230 BRECK'S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 



varieties of Hybrid Gladiolus, which were cultivated by 

 me this present year, but as new varieties are produced 

 annually, some of them are superseding the old sorts, it 

 would not be a perfect guide for years to come, arid 

 I therefore leave it out. 



I find that most of the varieties that have been planted 

 for a number of years retain their distinctive characters ; 

 but in consequence of the severe drought, or some other 

 cause, some of the varieties sported more or less. Some 

 of the yellow sorts were inclined to be mottled or vari- 

 egated with red. The variety, Marie, which, according 

 to the description, should have a ground of pure white, 

 was very much striped with red, so that it was difficult to 

 recognize it without looking at the label. Some other 

 varieties slightly departed from the description. 



GLAUCITJM. HORNED POPPY. 



[The name derived from its glaucous foliage.] 



Glaticitlffl luteum. Sea Celandine, or Yellow Horned 

 Poppy. This is a flower common to every part of Eu- 

 rope, growing on sandy soils, chiefly by the sea shore. 

 The flowers fall the second day after they are blown, but 

 they are large, form a fine contrast with the leaves, 

 which are of a sea-green color, glaucous, with a dew-be- 

 spangled appearance. It is biennial ; the whole plant 

 abounds in a yellow juice, is foetid, of a poisonous quali- 

 ty, and said to produce madness. Ben Johnson mentions 

 the Horned Poppies among the plants used by the witches 

 in their incantations. Probably, that however handsome 

 the plant may be, it will not be sought after with great 

 eagerness. 



