PAPAVERACE^-POPPY FAMILY 



Papaveracem is a group of herbs with regular flowers; a calyx 

 of two sepals which fall as the blossom opens; petals four to ten; 

 stamens many; the fruit a many-seeded capsule. The juice is 

 usually milky or colored and either narcotic or acrid. 



The principal garden representatives are Poppy, Plume Poppy, 

 California Poppy, Bloodroot, and Prickly Poppies. 



COMMON POPPY. OPIUM POPPY 



Papdver somniferum. 



Papav'er is the ancient name of unknown meaning. 



Oldest of cultivated poppies, containing the opium-producing variety. 

 Annual. 



Stem. — Three to four feet high, robust, glaucus and glabrous; juice 

 milky. 



Leaves. — Oblong, unequally toothed at base, or deeply cut. Flower 

 stems long and flower buds nodding. 



Flowers. — Naturally single, but in cultivation double as well; the 

 color range extensive and varied. 



Sepals. — Two, which drop as the flower opens. 



Petals. — Four, orbiculate; or many. 



Stamens. — Many.- 



Ovary.— An ovoid, or obovate, or glandular capsule, covered with a 

 disk in which the stigmatic lobes are embedded; these radiate from the 

 centre. When ripe the capsule opens under the lid at the top by trans- 

 verse pores between the placentae; the openings are very small. Seeds 

 many and small. 



Being of many variable colours and of great beautie, although of an evill 

 smell, our gentlewomen doe call them Jone Silver-pin. —Gerard. 



190 



