PAPAVER 201 



PAPA'VER continued. 



fleeting, for if the blooms are nipped off just 

 as the calix splits early in the morning, the 

 petals will unfold and expand in water. The 

 height of the " Shirley " poppies is about 2J ft. 

 Syn., P. commuta'tum. 



P. Iceviga'tum is a poppy inhabiting the Caucasus. 

 1823. The flowers are rich deep crimson, 

 each petal having a black blotch at the base 

 and a touch of white. Height 2 ft. 



P. pawni'num, the Peacock Poppy, is a species 

 something after the style of P. Rhceas. The 

 flowers are glossy scarlet with grey eye edged 

 with black. Height 1 ft. Afghanistan, 1883. 



P. somni'ferum, the Opium Poppy, French, or 

 Pceony-Flowered. This plant has been in 

 cultivation from the earliest times on account 

 of its product, opium. It is a plant with 

 large wavy glaucous leaves. The Indian and 

 Persian variety has white petals and white 

 seeds, while that cultivated in Asia Minor has 

 purple petals and black seeds. In English 

 gardens many coloured varieties are found, 

 the blooms being very large and showy, not 

 to say gaudy. That known as Danebrog, 

 Danish Flag Poppy or Victoria Cross, is very 

 striking. It is single, having four blotches 

 forming a white cross in the centre on a 

 brilliant scarlet ground. Giant White, Snow- 

 drift, or White Swan, double, pure white and 



