1 68 FLOWERS OF THE SEA-COAST 



the maritime coasts except in the counties named. It is found in 

 Ireland and the Channel Isles. 



The Yellow Horned Poppy takes the place on the sea-coast of the 

 Red Poppies inland. It is a halophyte, addicted to salt, and occurs 

 around the whole of the British coast except in the above counties. 

 It grows on rocky coasts as well as in the flat eastern counties, forming 

 beautiful clumps usually on sandy soil. 



It is a very free-flowering plant, whose golden-yellow blooms form 

 a pleasing contrast to the widespreading leaves of a bluish-white 

 colour. The crisped wavy leaves, nearly clasping, conceal the robust, 

 tall, branched stems, and give the plant a cabbage-like habit; the stem 

 is smooth, the leaves stiffly hairy. 



The long capsules or pods, 69 in. long, warted and rough, are 

 curved, the seeds brown, with ridges enclosing squarish areas, and the 

 lobes of the stigma (3) are spreading. The large, yellow, poppy-like 

 flowers are 24 in. across and distinctly characterize the plant. They 

 last two days. 



The stem is 2-4 ft. high. Flowers last from June to October, 

 and the plant is annual or biennial. 



When pollinated by its own pollen the Yellow Horned Poppy 

 bears seed. The flowers are conspicuous and suited to insect visits, 

 the stigma being deeply lobed and serving for an alighting place. 



The Yellow Horned Poppy is dispersed by its own agency. The 

 pods are long and narrow, and the seeds are dispersed by the tension 

 and splitting open of the pods when dry. The seeds are numerous. 



The Yellow Horned Poppy is a halophyte, and requires a saline 

 soil, such as that afforded by a maritime habitat. 



Glaucium was the name given by Tournefort, from the Greek 

 glaucos, alluding to the bluish-green colour of the leaves, and flavum 

 alludes to the yellow flowers. 



The English names are Horned Poppy, Sea Poppy, Spatmore, 

 Squatmore. It is called Squatmore, or Bruisewort, because it was 

 once employed in curing bruises. In the language of the western 

 counties sqiiat equals bruise, and a root is called a more. 



This plant was regarded as a herba mirabilis in ancient times, 

 being called Ficus inf emails. It was one of the plants used by 

 witches in their potions. In the witches' song Ben Jonson says: 



" Yes, I have brought to help our vows, 

 Horned poppy, cypress boughs, 

 The fig tree wild that grows on tombs, 

 And juice that from the larch tree comes". 



