Plaft/s/nnoti. PAPAVERACE/!<:. IQ 



usually l-flowered and tlin flowcr-bud drooping' before expansion. Petals imbricated 

 and commonly crumpled in the bud. Valves of tlio capsule in most cases separat- 

 ing from tlie slender placentne, wbich remain as a kind of frame. — Dendrr/meconxs 

 the sole shrubby plant of the order. Platystemon is exceptional in having the sev- 

 eral carpels all distinct, or at least early separating, and forming as many torulose 

 pod.s, and the upper leaves are disposed to be opposite or in whorls. Esclisrholtzia 

 has I lie two sepals unitcil into a caly|)tra which falls off wliohi, and tho juice is color- 

 h'ss ; it is nearly so in Romneya, in which tlie capsule is Revend-cclled, more truly 

 than ill a popj)y, by the placentae reaching the centre. And Arctomecon ha.s per- 

 sistent petals ! 



An order of 17 gonera mid ahout 50 species, mostly inhabitants of the temperate and warni parts 

 of the nortliern liemisphere. Many have showy flowere, and arc cultivated for ornament. Opium 

 is derived from the milky juice of the poppy (mostly P. somni/crnm, Linn.), and several other 

 species have reputed medicinal value. 



Pa r AVER soMNlFEUUM, Linn,, extensively cultivated for opium, and familiar in gardens as an 

 ornanipntAl annual, is not unlikely to occur spontaneously in some places. P. Uiicza.s, Linn., the 

 Com J'oppi/ of Kurope, miL'ht also have been cxjicctcd in grain-fields, but it has not been reported. 

 The genus is known by the radiate sessile crown of stigmas, forming a cap over the summit of 

 the ovary and cap.sule, the latter opening only by pores under the margin of the crown. 



* Herbs : sepals 2 or 3 and distinct. 

 -I- .\nnuals, with entire leaves, the uppermost opposite or whorlcd. 



1. Platystemon. Filaments very broad. Carpels few to many, hi a circle, distinct or soon 



becoming so, forming as many slender torulose pods, tip|ied with the linear stigmas. 



2. Platystlgma. Kilamonts slightly diluted or filiform. Ovary with 3 placcnUc, tipped with 



3 brontl and tlat or linenr stigmas, becoming a 3-valved capsule. 



-I- -I- Perennials, with lobed or toothed leaves, all alternate. 



:?. Romneya. Sepals 3, winged. Stigmas .several, oblong. Capsule bristly, several-celled, 

 sevoial-valved from the top. Leaves divi<led. 



4. Arctomecoii. Sepals mostly 2: iietals 4, persistent. Stigma thickish, 4 - 6-lobpd. Cap- 

 sule smooth. 1 -celled, 4 - 6-valved at the top. Leaves few-toothed. 



-1- -1- -H Annuals, with lobed or divided leaves. (Papavcr wouM lielong here.) 

 a. Argemone. Stigma 3- 4-lobed, almost sessile. Capsule bristly or prickly. Leaves simple, 



IMickly-toothed. 

 0. MeconopsiB. Sligma 4-8-Ioboil on a rlub-shnpnd style. Capsule nnnnned and smooth. 



Lonvos pinnatoly divided, unarmeii. 



* * Shrub with entire leaves or nearly so. 



7. Dendromecon. Stigmns 2, short and erect on a short style. Cajisule linear, grooved, 



2-valve(l. 



« * * Annual ln'ihs : sepals completely united into a narrow pointivl cap (ralyptra), which falls 

 off entire from a dilated top-shaped rece{)tAcle. 



8. Eschscholtzia. Stignin-lolws 4 to 6, subulate, unci|ual : style very .shoi;J : capsule linear, 



grooved, 2-valved. 



1. PLATYSTEMON, Bonth. 

 Sepals 3. Petitls 6. Stamens many, with flattonod filaments and linear anthers. 

 ('ar]iels 6 to 25, at first united : stigraaa linear, free. Fruit of as many distinct 

 linear indehiscent torulo.se pods, 3 -8-seeded, finally bre.aking transversely between 

 the seeds. — A low villous ]»ale-gieen annual, with entire linear opposite leave.s (the 

 lower alternate), nml loiig-peduncled yellow fiowoi-s. 



1. P. CaliforniCUB, Henth. Slender, brandling, H to 12 inches high, villous 

 with spreading haii-s : leaves 2 to 4 inches long, se.'^silo or rlnsping, broadly linear, 

 obtuse: peduncles 3 to 8 inches long, erect : the sepals villous; petals pale yellow 

 shading to orange in the centre, 3 to 6 lines long : carpels C> t<) 2!y, aggn?gat<?d 



