Meconopsis. PAP AVERAGES. 21 



Borders of streams near San Diego. The plant is probably several feet high, the stems erect, 

 branching and flexuous, but whether entirely herbaceous or half woody at the base has not been 

 definitely stated. 



4. ARCTOMECON, Torrey. 

 Sepals mostly 2. Petals 4, persistent. Stamens numerous, with filaments 

 slightly thickened upward, and linear anthers. Ovary smooth, 4 - 6-carpelled, with 

 nerve-like placentas, rather few-ovuled : style very short : stigmas 4 to 6, short and 

 thick. Capsule obovoid, 1-celled, 4 - 6-angled, dehiscent above, the 4 to 6 valves 

 separating from the firm persistent placental ribs. Seeds few, shining, very finely 

 lined longitudinally. — A low somewhat hairy biennial or perennial ; with alternate 

 leaves, few-toothed at the apex, and rather large white flowers. 



1. A. Californicum, Torr. Erect and somewhat cespitose, the stems 4 to 12 

 inches high, more or less villous below with long bristly hairs, nearly glabrous 

 above : leaves long-cuneate or oblanceolate, 1 to 2 inches long, 3 - several-toothed 

 (sometimes lobed) at the apex, or the upper entire, crowded at base ; the teeth 

 bristle-tipped : petals oblong-oval to orbicular, 6 to 10 lines long : capsule 3 to 5 

 lines long : seeds nearly straight, li lines long, — Frem. Eep. 312, t. 2. Parry, Am. 

 I^aturalist, ix. 139. 



Discovered by Fremont on the banks of a creek in sterile soil near the southeastern border of 

 the State, but probably in Nevada. It has since been collected only by Farry in S. Utah. 



5. ARGEMONE, Linn. 



Sepals 2 or 3, spinosely beaked. Petals 4 to 6. Stamens numerous, Avitli fili- 

 form filaments and linear anthers. Ovary oblong, with 3 to 6 nerve-like placentas : 

 stigmas nearly sessile, dilated, radiating. Capsule oblong or ovoid, prickly, 1-celled, 

 opening at the top, the 3 to 6 valves separating from the firm parietal ribs. Seeds 

 many, ovoid-globose, pitted, slightly crested on the rhaphe. Stout glaucescent 

 annuals ; with sinuately pinnatifid prickly-toothed leaves, large white or yellow 

 short-pedicelled flowers, and yellow juice. 



A genus of about half a dozen species, all natives of the warmer parts of America. 

 1. A. hispida, Gray. Erect, 1 to 2|- feet high, hispid throughout or armed 

 with rigid bristles or prickles :. leaves 3 to 6 inches long, the lower attenuate to 

 a winged petiole, the upper sessile or auriculate-clasping : flowers white, 2 to 4 

 inches in diameter: capsule oblong, 1-|- inches long, very prickly: seeds a line in 

 diameter. — PL Fendl. 5. A. miuiita, Durand & Hilgard, Pacif. Pt. Eep. v. 5, t. 1. 

 A. Mexicana, var. hisjnda, Torrey, Bot. Mex. Bound. 31. 



Dry hillsides and valleys through Central California, and eastward to Colorado and New Mex- 

 ico. In Southern California it is known as Chicalote. The foliage is pale but not spotted. 



A. Mexicana, Linn., is very similar but is smoother, the leaves arc blotched with wliite, and 

 the flowers are usually yellow. It is native from Texas and Northern Mexico to ( 'cntial Ainerica, 

 but as a weed has spread to almost all warm countries and may have reached Southern California. 



6. MECONOPSIS, Viguier. 



Sepals 2. Petals 4. Stamens numerous, with filiform filaments and oblong 

 anthers. Ovary 1-celled ; placentas 4 to 8, nerve-like or somewhat intruded : style 

 distinct : stigma 4 - 8-lobed. Capsule oblong to ovoid, dehiscing by sliort rounded 

 valves which separate from the stout parietal ribs. Seeds numerous, small, obscurely 

 pitted. — Herbs with yellow juice, dissected leaves, and long-pedicelled flowers. 



A genus of 8 species, 6 of which belong to the Himalaya region, and 1 to Western Europe. 



