DICOTYLEDONS PAPAVEEACEJE DIAGRAM 10 181 



FAMILY PAPAVERACE.&, DIAGKAM 10. 



The name of this family is derived from the Latin word for 

 poppy. Contrary to the families which we have just been notic- 

 ing, it includes plants with a coloured corolla, which is bright red 

 in the corn poppy. The calyx is formed of two parts, which fall 

 off when the bud opens. The corolla has four petals, and the 

 stamens are very numerous. The pistil is already very large, and 

 is of the same form as the- fruit which will 

 succeed it, the so-called poppy-head. Several 

 holes open at the top of the ripe capsule, to 

 allow the seeds, which are very small, to 



escape. On closely observing them, their 

 Poppy flower. ,, ., , v . . 



surface is seen to be as it were chagrined; 



they are bean-shaped, and very numerous. 



Some kinds of poppy are cultivated for their seed, from which 

 oil is extracted ; but the chief use of the plant is in medicine. 



The poppy-heads contain a substance which produces sleep and 

 relieves pain. In hot countries incisions are made in the stalk of 

 poppies in flower, and a white juice like that of the spurge exudes 

 from them. It turns brown on exposure to the air ; it is scraped 

 off and sold under the name of opium. This substance is much 

 used by doctors : and it has the property, like the poppy-head, of 

 causing sleep, and relieving attacks of pain. 



The celandine, which grows by road-sides, belongs to the poppy 

 family, and may be known by its yellow and very acrid milk, 

 which is sometimes used to burn off warts. 



Other curious plants of the same family are the white and 

 yellow water-lilies which unfold their leaves and flowers on the 

 surface of ponds and slow rivers. The buds grow at the bottom 

 of the water, and rise to the surface to open. But the flower 

 closes every evening, and sinks under water for the night. Next 

 morning it rises again to the surface, and opens afresh till 

 evening. 



