54 COMMON WEEDS 



weeds of. two or more feet in height, with deep tap- 

 roots, and branched hairy stems and flower stalks ; the 

 hairs in the former spread outwards from the flower 

 stalk, but in the latter are pressed close to it. The 

 stems exude a milky juice when bruised or cut ; the 

 leaves are pinnatifid or " feathered," bearing segments 

 arranged on each side of a common midrib ; and the 

 scarlet flowers are about 3 inches across. In the case 

 of P. Rhoeas the seed capsule is not much longer than 

 broad, but in P. dubium it is more than twice as long 

 as it is broad. Both seed capsules are smooth, and 

 contain seeds in large numbers, frequently as many as 

 10,000 to 50,000 on one plant. The seeds are very 

 small, and on escaping from the capsule are carried 

 about by the wind ; in addition, they are of an oily 

 character, and when buried .in the soil may retain their 

 vitality for some years, germinating and producing new 

 plants when brought to the surface under favourable 

 conditions. This fact was recognised over a century 

 ago : " The seeds remain underground, retaining their 

 vegetative powers for a long time, and furnishing a 

 fresh crop of Poppies whenever the earth is turned 

 over." 1 It is therefore clear that if the Poppy is per- 

 mitted to shed its seeds, these are so easily spread 

 that it is difficult to keep one farm in a district clean 

 if other farms are neglected. 



These Poppies have received a large number of 

 common names, of which the following may be men- 

 tioned : 2 Corn Poppy, Cornflower, Corn Rose, 

 Canker Rose, Cock Rose, Cop Rose, Copper Rose, 

 Blind-eyes, Headache, Red-weed. 



P. Rhceas occurs throughout the southern and mid- 

 land counties of England, and in Ireland and the 



1 Smith and Sowerby, English Botany, 1799, vol. viii. p. 645. 



2 A. B. Smith, Poisonous Plants of all Countries. 1905. 



