20 THALAMIFLOILK. 



stamens. Stamens numerous, in several rows. Stigmata rayed. 

 Nectary in the centre of the stigmata, mamillary. 



ORDER IX. PAPAVERACE^E. 



Calycine sepals 2, leafy, deciduous. Petals hypo- 

 gynous, irregularly plicate previous to evolution, either 

 4, or a multiple of that number. Stamens hypogy- 

 nous, 8, 12, or some other multiple of 4. Ovary 1 : 

 style short, or none : stigmata 2, or many. Capsule 

 1 -celled with several placentae, or pod-shaped with 2 

 parietal placentae. Seeds GO , very rarely (and that 

 from abortion) solitary : albumen between fleshy and 

 oily : embryo minute : cotyledons plano-convex, ovato- 

 oblong. 



The greater number of the plants composing this Order are 

 annuals. The leaves are alternate : peduncles axillary and 

 terminal : flowers usually large, of a white, yellow, or red, but 

 never of a blue colour. All parts abound with a milky juice, 

 usually white, rarely yellow or tinged with red, of a gum- 

 resinous nature, to the taste acrid and bitter, and possessing, 

 especially when white, a narcotic property. The seeds of all 

 the species are oily, and are in no degree narcotic. 



I. ARGEMONE. 



Calycine sepals 2-3, concave, mucronate, rough 

 with aculeiform hairs. Petals 4-6. Stamens co. 

 Ovary ovate, crowned with 4-7 radiating persistent 

 stigmata. Capsule 1 -celled, dehiscent at the apex. 

 Seeds spherical, scrobiculate. De Cand. 



Name from agysuot, the disease cataract of the eye, for which 

 the juice of this plant was supposed to be a remedy. 



1. Argemone Mexicana. Mexican or Gamboge 

 Thistle. 



Papaver spinosmn, Auctorum Antiq. A. Mexicana, Bot. 

 Mag. 243. De Cand. Syst. II. 85. 



HAB. Common, especially in the plains. 



