134 



PAPAVERACE.E. II. ARGEMONE. 



employed with laxatives, and often prevents ileus and inflam- 

 mation, by relieving the spasm. Even in ileus it is sometimes 

 used to allay the vomiting, the spasms, and the pain. It is of 

 acknowledged use in different species of tetanus ; affords relief 

 to the various spasmodic symptoms of dyspepsia, hysteria, hypo- 

 chondriasis, asthma, rabies canina, &c. and has been found useful 

 in some kinds of epilepsy. In syphilis it is useful in combating 

 symptoms, and in counteracting the effects resulting from the 

 improper use of mercury. It is found useful in certain cases of 

 threatened abortion and lingering delivery, in convulsions during 

 parturition, and in after pains and excessive flooding. The ad- 

 ministration of opium to the unaccustomed is sometimes very 

 difficult. The requisite quantity is wonderfully different in dif- 

 ferent persons, and in different states of the same person. A 

 quarter of a grain will in one adult produce effects which ten 

 times the quantity will not do in another ; and a dose that might 

 prove fatal in cholera or colic, would not be perceptible in many 

 cases of tetanus or mania. When given in too small a dose it is 

 apt to produce disturbed sleep, and other disagreeable conse- 

 quences ; but sometimes a small dose has the desired effect, while 

 a larger one gives rise to vertigo and delirium ; and with some 

 constitutions it does not agree in any dose or form. Its stimu- 

 lant effects are most certainly produced by the repetition of small 

 doses, its anodyne by the giving of a full dose at once. In some 

 it seems not to have its proper effect till after a considerable time. 

 The operation of a moderate dose is supposed to last in general 

 about eight hours from the time of taking it. Externally opium 

 is used to diminish pain, and remove spasmodic affections. It is 

 found particularly serviceable in chronic ophthalmia, when accom- 

 panied with morbidly increased sensibility. Opium is exhibited 

 in various ways, or in combination with aromatics, astringents, 

 camphor, soap, emetics, bitters, distilled waters, mucilage, syrups, 

 acids, carbonate of ammonia, ether, acetate of lead, potass, and 

 unctuous substances, &c. ; but made up in substance in the form 

 of a pill, lozenge or electuary are its most efficient forms. 



Sleep-bearing, or Common, or Opium Poppy. Fl. July, Aug. 

 PI. S-4-feet. 



23 P. CAUCA'SICUM (Bieb. fl. taur. 2. p. 5.) capsules ovate- 

 oblong, smooth ; stem much branched, and is, as well as the pe- 

 duncles, beset with deciduous bristles ; leaves glaucous, pinna- 

 tifid ; lobes ovate-oblong, each terminated by a bristle. O- H. 

 Native of gravelly places towards Caucasus, about the falls 

 of the Terek, and about the bottom of mount Kasbeck ; at 

 the falls of Chodjal ; also in Iberia about Tiflis. Sims, bot. 

 mag. 1672. A glaucous branching plant. Petals very fuga- 

 ceous, colour of those of Glaucium corniculatiim, and about the 

 size of those of P. Rhce'as. Capsules small, crowned by a 

 5-8-angled stigma. 



Caucasian Poppy. Fl. June, Aug. Clt. 1813. PI. 1 foot. 



24 P. ARMENIA ACUM (Lam. diet. 1. p. 247.) capsules elliptical- 

 oblong, and are, as well as the calyx, smooth ; stem much 

 branched, smoothish ; leaves pinnate ; lobes linear, each termi- 

 nated by a bristle. O-H. Native of Armenia. Argemone 

 Armeniaca, Lin. spec. 727. Very like P. Caucdsicum. Flowers 

 red ; stigma pyramidal. The Argemone Armeniaca of Sab. hort. 

 rom. 4. t. 66. has the calyx 3-valved, and hispid capsules ; and 

 therefore differs from this plant. 



Armenian Poppy. Fl. June, July. Clt. 1815. PI. 1 f.? 



25 P. FU'GAX (Poir. diet. 5. p. 118.) capsules ovate, and are, 

 as well as the calyx, smooth ; stem much branched, twiggy, and 

 is, as well as the peduncles, nearly smooth ; leaves pinnatifid ; 

 lobes lanceolate, each terminated by a bristle. Q. H. Native 

 of Persia, on mount Elwend. Petals fugacious, of a pale car- 

 mine colour. Capsule crowned by a 4-5-angled pyramidal 

 stigma. 



/"ttgactotw-petalled Poppy. Fl.Jun. July. Clt. 1827. PI. 1 ft. 



26 P. TURBINA'TUM (D. C. syst. 2. p. 84.) capsules turbinate, 

 and are, as well as the calyx, smooth ; stem few-flowered ; pe- 

 duncles with a few spreading bristles ; leaves pinnatifid ; lobes 

 ovate, entire, not terminated at top by a bristle. Q. H. Na- 

 tive of the East, between Bagdad and Kermancha. Petals almost 

 like those of P. dubium, and of the same colour. Stigmas 6-7- 

 rayed. Herb glaucous. 



Zwr&maZe-capsuled Poppy. Fl. June, July. PI. 1 foot. 



+ A species not sufficiently known. 



27 P.? INTEGRIFOLIUM (Vig. diss. 38.) I/ ? O 1 Native of 

 Spain. Bocc. mus. p. 77. t. 65. f. 1. Barr. obs. p. 47. t. 1191. 

 Perhaps this is a variety of P. Rhcfas ; but, according to the ob- 

 servations of Bertoloni, it is nothing more than a bad figure of 

 Seribla JEthnensis before flowering. 



Cult. Shewy plants with flowers of various hues. The pe- 

 rennial species may be increased by dividing the plants at the 

 roots, but the common and best way is by seeds. The annual 

 kinds may be sown in the open border, about the middle or end 

 of March, where they are intended to remain, as they do not bear 

 transplanting. They all thrive best in a light rich soil. The P. 

 nudicaule and varieties, microcarpum, rubro-aurantiacum, pyre- 

 ntiicum and varieties, and P. alpinum, are beautiful little plants, 

 and should be kept as alpines, in pots ; or otherwise they are very 

 apt to damp off in the winter, especially in the neighbourhood of 

 London. 



II. ARGEMO^NE (from argema, cataract of the eye, which 

 is derived from apyoj, argos, white. The name apye/iwi-j/ was 

 given by the Greeks to a plant, which was supposed to cure ca- 

 taract of the eye.) Tour. inst. 239. t. 121. Lin. gen. no. 649. 

 Gsert. fruct. 1. p. 287. t. 60. Lam. ill. t. 452. Juss. gen. 236. 

 D. C. syst. 2. p. 85. prod. 1. p. 120. 



LIN. SYST. Polyandria, Monogynia. Sepals 2 or 3, concave, 

 mucronate. Petals 4-6. Stamens indefinite. Style scarcely any. 

 Stigmas 4-6, radiating, pitted, free. Capsules obovate, 1 -celled ; 

 valves 4-6, opening at the top ; placentas linear. Seeds spherical, 

 scrobiculate. Annual glaucous herbs, abounding in a yellow juice, 

 and covered with stiff prickles. Leaves sessile, repand-sinuated ; 

 usually spotted or painted with white ; recesses spiny-toothed. 

 Peduncles axillary, always erect. Flowers from yellow to white. 



1 A. MEXICANA (Lin. spec. 727.) leaves profoundly repand- 

 sinuated, spiny, blotched with white ; flowers solitary ; calyx 

 smooth; capsules prickly, 3-4-valved; petals 4-6 ; stigmas 4-5. 

 O- H. Native of Mexico, Louisiana, and from Florida to Canada, 

 West Indies, Brazils, Africa, St. Helena, Ascension, East Indies, 

 Sandwich Islands, &c. Curt. bot. mag. t. 243. Sab. hort. rom. 

 4. t. 6.5. Mill. fig. 1. t. 50. A. spinosa, Mcench. raeth. 227. 

 A. versicolor, Sal. prod. 376. Ecthrus trivialis, Lour, cochin. 1. 

 p. 421. This plant is called by the Spaniards in Mexico Figo 

 del inferno, or Devil's Jig. In the West Indies it is called Yellow 

 thistle. An oil is expressed from the seeds of this plant, which 

 is used in Mexico for shining wood. The yellow juice with which 

 the plant abounds, when reduced to a consistence, is not distin- 

 guishable from gamboge. In very small doses it is probably of 

 equal efficacy, given in dropsies, jaundice, and cutaneous erup- 

 tions. It is esteemed very detersive, and generally used in dis- 

 eases of the eyes ; but the infusion is looked upon as a sudorific 

 and resolutive. The seeds are said to be a much stronger nar- 

 cotic than opium. 



Mexican Poppy. Fl. July, Aug. Clt. 1592. 



2 A. ALBIFI.6RA (Horn. hort. hafn. 469. Sims, bot. mag. t. 

 2342.) leaves sessile, feather -nerved ; petals usually only 3. 

 O- H. Native of Georgia and Louisiana. Flowers white. A. 

 Mexicana /3, albiflora, D. C. syst. 2. p. 86. prod. 1. p. 120. 



