64 KEY AND FLORA 



U. Califor'nica Nutt. SPICE WOOD. A large, handsome tree 

 (sometimes shrubby), with smooth bark. Leaves evergreen, glossy, 

 lanceolate-oblong, on short petioles. Flowers yellow, soon falling. 

 Fruit green at first, dark purple or yellow when ripe, about 1 in. 

 long, solitary, or 2 or 3 in a cluster, on a stout peduncle. This grows 

 near or not far from water. Oregon to San Diego. It blooms often 

 in December or even in November. 



PAPAVERA'CE^. POPPY FAMILY 



Herbs or shrubs. Parts of the flower all separate (except 

 the sepals of Eschscholtzia, which are united), and distinct 

 on a top-shaped receptacle. Sepals falling off as the petals 

 expand in the bud. Petals twice as many as the sepals, 

 generally 4. Stamens numerous and conspicuous. Fruit a 

 capsule with parietal placentae. (In Platystemon the seeds 

 are imbedded in the walls of the capsule in rows, each row 

 forming a linear necklace-like follicle.) 



I. ESCHSCHOLT'ZIA, California Poppy 



Annual or perennial herbs. Leaves bluish green, succu- 

 lent, usually cut into fine divisions. Sepals united into a 

 pointed cap, often seen on the opening flower. Petals 4) orange 

 or. yellow. Stamens numerous, with long anthers. Stigmas 

 2-6. Pods long and narrow, ribbed, usually dehiscent from 

 the apex, the valves frequently remaining attached at the 

 sides. Receptacle often surrounded with a rim. 



E. Califor'nica Cham. Annual or perennial, with succulent leafy 

 stems. Flowers with a funnel-form receptacle and a broad or 

 narrow rim. Petals broad, yellow or orange, often the two colors 

 in the same flower. This is the commonest species and is widely 

 distributed. 



H. DENDROME'CON, Tree Poppy 



Shrubs with erect branches. Leaves alternate, lanceolate, 

 entire, stiff. Sepals 2, large. Petals ^, generally large, light 

 yellow. Stigmas 2. Pod similar to that of the preceding, 

 except that the valves are generally dehiscent from the base. 



