THALAMIFLORJ3. 207 



which are combined with them as an irregular form by some authors. 

 The agreement is great in many respects; but the Fumariaceae have 

 irregular flowers, diadelphous stamens, and a watery juice : the genus 

 Hypecoum, however, has the corolla nearly regular, and its 4 stamens are 

 distinct : and Meconetta, in the present Order, has but 4-5 stamens j so 

 that Hypecoum is midway, as it were, between the Orders. 



The structural points most worthy of note are the varied conformation 

 of the ovary, and the peculiar construction of the stigmas by two lamellae 

 from adjoining carpels. There is a curious enlargement of the receptacle 

 of Exch'scholtzia, with circumscissile separation of the coherent caducous 

 sepals in the form of a conical cap. The stamens and petals, moreover, 

 become perigynous in this genus. The sepals in most cases fall off when 

 the flowers expand, so that they must be observed in unopened flowers. 

 In Eschscholtzia the receptacle is at first flat with two sepals, which 

 become connate, four petals, three rows of stamens, and four carpels, of 

 which two are abortive (M. T. M.). 



Distribution. The group is not a large one ; but the species occur in 

 all parts of the globe, but sparingly out of Europe (in a wild state). 



Qualities and Uses. The milky or coloured juice of Papaveracese is 

 generally powerfully narcotic, sometimes acrid. Papaver sonmifenim, the 

 Opium Poppy (fig. 344), is the most important plant of the Order, the 

 opium consisting of the dried milky juice obtained from the unripe cap- 

 sules (fig. 345). Its native country is unknown ; but it is largely culti- 

 vated in Turkey and the East Indies. Its seeds yield a fixed oil, which 

 is quite harmless and is used both by itself and as a means of adulterating 

 olive-oil ; the oil-cake is also used for feeding cattle. The seeds of 

 Argetnon-e mexicana are narcotic-acrid. The yellow acrid juice of Cheli- 

 donium mqfus, as also that of Bocconia frutescens, is poisonous, and is 

 sometimes used as an escharotic. Sanyuinaria canadensis, the Blood-root 

 or Puccoon, receives the former name from the red juice of its root, which 

 is employed in North America for its emetic and purgative properties. 

 Meconopsis nepalensis is said to be very poisonous, especially in the roots. 



Several plants of this Order are wild in this country, as the four kinds 

 of Red Poppy of our fields, the commonest of which is Papaver Rhceas. 

 P. somniferum is a corn-field weed in many places on chalky soil ; and its 

 numerous double varieties are to be found in most gardens. Glaucimn 

 luteum, the yellow Horned Poppy, grows on our sea-shores ; Clielidonium 

 majus grows about hedges near villages, and is apparently an outcast from 

 gardens ; the other native plants of this Order are less common. Esch- 

 scholtzia, a Californian genus, is now found in every garden ; and Platy- 

 stcmon, Argemone, and other genera are also cultivated here. 



FUMAEIACE^E. THE FUMITORY ORDER. 

 Coh. Parietales, Smth. et Hook. 



Diagnosis. Delicate smooth herbs with watery or colourless juice, 

 dissected leaves, irregular flowers, with 4 partially united petals, 

 6 diadelphous or 4 distinct stamens ; ovary 1 -celled, 1-seeded, or 

 several-seeded with two parietal placentas. 



