POPPIES 
the breathing pores of the leaf (stomata), instead of being well distri¬ 
buted over the surface, as in most plants, are here confined to this pale 
patch, where they communicate directly with the air-passages. The 
rolled-up leaf is a young one, and the figure shows the manner in which 
it first makes its appearance at the surface of the water. Fig. 1 shows 
the receptacle and inner row of stamens, after clearing off the floral leaves 
and outer stamens, the scars of their attachment being seen below. Fig. 2 
is a single stamen showing the club-shaped appendage more clearly. 
POPPIES 
Natural Order Papaveracee. Genus Papaver 
Papaver (the classical Latin name). The typical genus of the 
extensive Natural Order Papaveracee, which includes no less than 
sixteen other genera. The species of Papaver are about a dozen, erect 
annual or perennial herbs with milky juice, cut or lobed leaves, and 
honeyless flowers on long stalks, whose anthers mature before the 
stigmaa Sepals, two, falling when the bud opens; petals, four. The ovary 
is one-celled, but divided into several compartments by the growth of 
partitions ( placentas ) from the walls. The stigmas are united into a flat 
or pyramidal rayed disk. They are natives of Europe, North Africa, 
and North Asia; one only is South African and one Australian. 
msU)TJ There appears to be no record of the date when 
Papaver somnifervm , the Opium Poppy, was first intro¬ 
duced to Britain; but we may be sure it was at an early date, for it was 
cultivated by the early Greeks for medicinal purposes, and they were 
acquainted with the production of opium from it. It is believed to have 
been originally a native of the Levant, but it is now very widely 
distributed. There are several places in this country where it is quite 
naturalised. P. orientate was introduced from Armenia in 1714; 
P. nudicaule came from Siberia in 1730; P. setigerum from South 
Europe in 1825, and P. horridum from New Holland a year later. By 
the crossing of certain of these, and by long cultivation and selection, 
many fine varieties, doubles and hybrids, have been obtained. 
Principals edes Most of the species of Papaver are annuals, and a few 
P P 8S * perenniala The latter are not so desirable from a horti¬ 
cultural point of view, for though they make a rich blaze of colour 
during their flowering season, this is so brief that we are apt to grudge 
the large amount of room occupied by them during the greater part of 
the year. For this reason we will keep the two sections distinct. 
