PELS 9-12, hairy on the outer and lower portion, arranged in several 
circles, perfectly distinct ; stigmata linear, erect. The ripe fruit, form- 
ed by the cohesion of the carpellary leaves, oval, bristly, crowned by 
the persistent styles, furrowed; ultimately separating into distinct 
carpels, which are knotted or lomentaceous, — = of one-celled, 
one-seeded joints. 
PopuLar AND GEOGRAPHICAL Novies, Mr. Menzies first met with 
this plant in California ; but for the introduction of it into our gardens, 
we are indebted to the lamented Douglas. The interest of this flower as 
an ornament to our gardens, considerable as it is, falls far short of its 
importance in a botanical point of view. The ternary arrangement of 
the parts of the BONS. a Bo erdes od not common in the order Papa- 
veracex, and more distinct carpels bring it into 
an approximation with tie order Ranunculacee ; which is, perhaps, 
ee nearer by the leaves being oe a like condition of the 
Ranunculus Lingua The lomentaceous 
character of the carpels indicates some allt to the Crucifere. This 
remarkable state of the seed vessel has its prototype in the genus Hype- 
coum, of the order Papaveracex, and the two genera obviously form the 
transition link, through Trollius to the Ranunculacee. The calyx in 
both tribes is generally noted for its fugacious character, which belongs 
unfortunately to our present plant. This disposition to fall off soon 
after the expansion of the flower, has supplied the poet with one of 
his emblems of the fleeting nature of human enjoyments : 
But pleasures are like poppies spread, 
You seize the flower, its bloom is shed ; 
i 
INTRODUCTION ; WHERE GRowN; CuLTuRE. Though seeds were 
sent by Mr. Douglas, in 1834, to the Horticultural Society, where our 
drawing was made, the first plants raised produced only a few seeds 
which failed to vegetate; so that it must have been again introduced. 
It is sufficiently hardy, flowering freely in June and July in the borders, 
where it ripens seeds abundantly. It possesses some odor of an agree- 
able kind. 
DERIVATION OF THE a 
Pratystemon, from rarve, platus, broad, and crnywy, stemon, a stamen, 
referring to the breadth of the filaments. recieve cach from California. 
SynonyMeEs. 
PLatysTEMON cCatirorNicum, Bentham: Trans. of Horticultural Society, 
Vol. I, 7 aed Series, p.405. Lindley: Botanical Register, folio 1679. Hooker: 
Botani Magia: 3579, 
