363 



Order PAP AVERAGES or Poppy Tribe. 



523. The common British species of this order are well 

 known as the plague of the farmer, coming up as rank weeds 



in his corn-field ; and another 

 species is important as yield- 

 ing a product, which, used with 

 discretion, is one of the most 

 valuable medicines we possess, 

 but which, by the folly of Man, 

 has become the bane of mil- 

 lions. If any of the common 

 species of Poppy be examined, 

 they will be found to bear a 

 considerable general resem- 

 blance to the Ranunculacese. 

 The leaves are much divided, 

 and the stamens are numerous, 

 arising from under the carpels. 

 Unlike the Crowfoot and its 

 allies, however, the carpels are 



no t separate from One another, 



but are united together into 

 no styles are present ; and the stigmas 



FIG. 136.-LEAF AND FLOWER OF THE 



NAKED-STALKED POPPY, exhibiting the four 

 petals, numerous stamens, and single ovary. 



a single ovarium ; 

 are elevated hairy 

 lines, which spread 

 equally from the 

 top of the ovary, 

 forming a sort of 

 star-like crown. If 

 the ovary be open- 

 ed, it will be found 



tO Contain but One 



ppll or cavitv * _ 



* ' 



several little par- 



titions, however, project from the sides towards the centre ; and 



FlG . 137. PARTS OF THE FLOWS* ENLARGED ; 1, a flower 

 ^ud, Bowing the two sepals which enclose it ; 2, the ovary 

 with its radiating stigmas ; 3, the ovary cut open. 



BB'2 



