28 Geographical Distribution of Plants. 



Order — Papaveraceae. 



From the genus Papaver, the poppy, Jussieu, the reviver, if not 

 the founder of the natural system of botany, drew the name for 

 this order of plants, of -which Torrey has given nine or ten genera, 

 as pertaining to North America. These genera contain but one 

 or two species each, with the exception of Esehscholtzia or Chry- 

 seis, of which there are five enumerated by him, natives of Califor- 

 nia. The milky juices of the Papaveracese may serve sometimes 

 as a guide to the young collector, when he is at a loss in deter- 

 mining the place of a plant, possessed of two deciduous sepals, 

 four cruciform petals, and hypogynous stamens. 



The Papaver nudicaule is the most northern plant of the poppy 

 kind. It is found by travellers along the whole extent of our 

 northern coast from latitude 64° on the eastern side of McKeuzie 

 river, and from 68° on the western side to the ocean. We hear 

 of it also on the islands of the Arctic Sea, in Greenland and Spitz- 

 bergen. It therefore closely encircles the great polar basin by an 

 arc of 180° of longitude, or half the circumference of the 

 whole arctic region. It was found as an alpine production by 

 Drummond at great heights on the Rocky Mountains, from lati- 

 tude 52° to latitude 55°. We have good reason to conclude, that 

 following the great ridges northwards, this plant may keep its 

 climatal altitude, descending by degrees in its elevation until it 

 reach the coast level, thus keeping up a strict and decided .con- 

 nection along 20° of latitude, between its arctic and highest alpine 

 habitats. This most interesting little plant, hardy yet slender, 

 endures the storms, and braves all the inclement weather of the 

 boreal regions, and like the Esquimaux, courts not the shelter of 

 the woody district. It prefers the bleak coast and dreary barrens, 

 indifferent to all the rude treatment it receives from the boisterous 

 elements. It is decreed by nature that each of her subjects shall 

 occupy a certain position on the earth's surface, and every thing- 

 has been arranged and kindly fitted by her for such her purpose. 

 This is the only poppy truly native of North America. Those 

 species seen in uncult'vated waste ground in Canada and the States 

 have been introduced. 



The Sanguinaria Canadensis or bloodroot, common in the milder 

 parts of Canada, is not to be met with north of the Province. 

 Torrey assigns it place as far south as Florida, and west to the 

 Mississippi. In Canada the flowers rise as soon as the snow is 

 gone, about the end of April ; further south, March is the month 



