22 PAPAVERACE^. ' Meconopsis. 



1. M. heterophylla, Benth. Annual, smooth, slender, 1 to 2 feet high : lower 

 leaves long-petioled, pinnately divided, the segments oval to linear and 2 to 12 lines 

 long ; upper leaves sessile, the segments usually narrow : flowers scarlet to orange, 

 the petals 2 to 12 lines long ; peduncles elongated : capsules smooth, ohovate-oblong 

 or top-shaped, truncate, narrowed below, 6 to 8 lines long, strongly ribbed ; the 

 persistent style a line long. — Trans. Hort. Soc. 2 ser. : i. 408. Hook. Ic. PI. t. 

 272. M. crassifolia, Benth. 1. c. 



A very variable species, in dry soils from San Diego to Clear Lake, flowering in early summer. 



7. DENDROMECON, Benth. 

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

 anthers. Ovary linear, with 2 nerve-like placentas : style short : stigmas 2, short 

 and erect. Capsule linear, nerved, 1-celled, dehiscent the whole length by 2 valves 

 separating from the placental ribs, many-seeded. Seeds oblong or globose, finely 

 pitted, carunculate. — A smooth branching shrub ; with alternate vertical entire thick 

 and rigid leaves, and showy yellow flowers. The only truly woody plant belong- 

 ing to the order. 



1. D. rigidum, Benth. A shrub 2 to 8 feet high, with many slender branches 

 and whitish bark : leaves ovate to linear-lanceolate, 1 to 3 inches long, very acute 

 or mucronate, sessile or nearly so, twisted upon the base so as to become vertical, 

 reticulately veined, the margin rough or denticulate : flowers bright yellow, 1 to 3 

 inches in diameter, on pedicels 1 to 4 inches long : capsules curved, attenuate above 

 into the short stout style, 1| to 2| inches long: seeds large, IJ lines long. — 

 Trans. Hort. Soc. 2 ser. i. 407. Torrey, Bot. Mex. Bound, t. 3. D. Harfordii, 

 Kellogg, Proc. Calif. Acad, v, 102. 



Dry rocky hills of the Coast Ranges from San Diego to Clear Lake, most abundant south of 

 Point Conception ; Santa Kosa Island, Harford. Very variable in its foliage and m the size of 

 the flowers, but all the forms seem referable to a single species. 



8. ESCHSCHOLTZIA, Cham. 

 Sepals coherent into a narrow pointed hood, deciduous from within a dilated top- 

 shaped torus. Petals 4. Stamens numerous, with short filaments and linear 

 anthers. Ovary linear, with 2 nerve-like placentas : style very short : stigmas 

 divided into 4 to 6 linear unequal divergent lobes. Capsules elongated, strongly 

 lO-nerved, 1-celled, dehiscent the whole length by 2 valves separating from the 

 placental ribs, many-seeded. Seeds globose, reticulate or rough-tuberculate. — 

 Smooth glaucous slender annuals ; with colorless bitter juice, finely dissected alter- 

 nate petioled leaves, and bright orange or yellow flowers. 



The very variable Californian plant, first collected by Chamisso, and published by him in 

 1820, has since been described under niunerous names, and has usually been considered as afford- 

 ing basis for 4 or 5 or more distinct species ; but the difi"erences in habit, foliage, and flowers 

 seem to be of too little moment or too inconstant for a recognition of more than varieties among 

 tlie various fomis. There are indications, however, that the seeds may afford characters upon 

 which some of the following varieties may be re-established as species. Mature fruiting speci- 

 mens are at present too rare in our collections to permit a positive determination of the tjuestion. 



1. E. Californica, Cham. Usually 1 to 1| feet high and rather stout, branch- 

 ing : flowers large, 2 to 4 inches in diameter, usually brilliant orange in the centre ; 

 torus dilated and often broadly rimmed : capsule 2| inches long, curved : seeds two 

 thirds of a line in diameter, reticulated ; rhaphe obscure. — Hor. Pliys. Berol. 73, 

 t. 15. E. crocea, Benth. 



