POPPY FAMILY. 207 



excavated, surrounding the base of the pistil, the calvx and corolla in 

 consequence seeming as if perigynous; this receptacle in addition often 

 bears a spreading outer and an erect inner rim. Sepals completely 

 united into a calyptra or extinguisher-shaped bodv which parts from 

 the receptacle and is pushed off hy the expanding petals. Stamens 

 numerous, mostly on the base of the petals; anthers commonly longer 

 than the filaments. Ovary linear; style very short; stiginas com- 

 monly 4, subulate-filiform unequal. Capsule "l-celled, many-seeded, 

 2-valved; dehiscence commonly occurs after the capsule parts from the 

 receptacle and before it reaches the ground, usually beginning at the 

 moment that the base of the capsule is released from the vise-like 

 hollowed receptacle, this action allowing the valves which are elas- 

 tically dehiscent from base to apex, to separate. (Collected at .San 

 Francisco in 1816 by Adelbert von Chamissn, German poet and 

 naturalist, and named by him in honor of his college friend and 

 companion on a scientific voyage around the world. Dr. J. F. 

 Eschscholtz.) 



Eeeeptacle with broad rim, cotyledons 2-oleft; perennial (or some varieties 



annual) 1. E. Califomwa. 



Receptacle destitute of rim or the rim represented by a mere herbaceous ring; 

 cotyledons entire; annuals. 



Stems leafy; petals fan-shaped, longer than broad i. E. csesjrUosa. 



Acaulescent; petals rbomboidal, mostly broader than long ' . . . . 



3. E. r/iombipetala. 



1. E. Californica Cham. California Poppy. Suberect or 

 diffuse, with stems 1 to 2 ft. long; radical leaves ternately several 

 times dissected into linear or oblong segments, on long petioles, the 

 whole leaf J to 1 ft. long; cauline smaller on shorter petioles; pedun- 

 cles 2 or 3 to 6 in. long; petals fan-shaped, J to 2 in. long, vari,'ing 

 from deep orange to straw-color; outer spreading rim of the receptacle 

 J to 2 lines wide; inner erect rim hyaline; capsule 1 to 3 or even 4 

 in. long. 



One of the most common, striking and widely diffused plants of the 

 Californlan flora, abundant in the spring but in many portions of the 

 state found in flower in other or in all seasons. On account of its gor- 

 geous beauty it has been favored with an exceptional number of 

 poetic names mostly derived from Spanish sources, such as ' ' Copa de 

 Oro, " "Torosa," "Amapola," "jDormidera. " The original speci- 

 mens, from which the species was first described, came from the San 

 Francisco sand hills; this form has small flowers and a very narrow 

 rim to the receptacle and is common everywhere in the immediate 

 vicinity of the ocean. The interior form, which is much more robust 

 and may be designated as var. ckocba (E. crocea Benth.), has a very 

 conspicuous rim to the receptacle (often 2 lines wide), and verj' large 

 flowers, the petals as mucb as 2 in. long. It is abundant everywhere 

 in the valleys, on the plains and among the foothills, frequently 

 covering large areas in Apr. and ilay with an extraordinary profusion 

 of golden or deep orange flowers. In the sunshine the sheen of the 

 petals is exceeding striking and brilliant. In the latter part of 5Iay 

 and in June the tips of the petals become yellow and by autumn the 



