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POPPY.— PAPAVER. 



Natural order, Rhoedce. A genus of the 

 Polyandria Monogynia class. 



In mythological language, we may style 

 this somniferous plant Morpheus' s Labora- 

 tory, or an Alembic whose tubes and retorts 

 are formed of the branches, to convey the 

 opiate which he there distils into the droop- 

 ing and receiving bud, for the use of Somnus 

 his sire, whose palace is said to be a cave, 



" Around whose entry nodding poppies grow, 

 And all cool simples that sweet rest bestow ; 

 Night from the plants their sleepy virtue drains, 

 And passing, sheds it on the silent plains." 



Thus Ovid describes it, and he also tells 

 us, that when Iris visited the cavern of the 

 drowsy god to ask the aid of Morpheus, 



" She scarce awake her eyes could keep, 



Unable to support the fumes of sleep." 



The ancient statuaries, with propriety, 



