Mecompm.] flora ikdica. 251 



basi nigris. Sepala late ovato-oblonga, sparse setosa. FiJamenta subukta. Capsula. 

 \ poll, longa, breve stipitata, obscure v. manifeste 4-5-gona, prsecipue ad angulos his- 

 piila, stigmatis parvi radiis crassis. 



A very remarkable little species, well characterized by tbe short horn or spur to- 

 Vfards the apex of the sepals, and by the fruit. 



P. orieniale, L. (Wall. Cat. 8119 !), P. Rhceas, L. (Wall. Cat. 8120 ?), and P. Ar- 

 genione, L., are all common garden plants in India, and hence occur in various collec- 

 tions. 



3. ARGEMONE, L. 



Sepala 2-3. Petala 4-8. Stamina perplurima. Stigmata 4-7, sub- 

 sessilia v. breve stipitata, radiata, libera. Gapsula obovata, apice val- 

 vulis inter placentas parietales dehiscens. Semina scrobiculata, raphe 

 nuda. — Herbce ramosoe, aculeatm, glaiicescentes, omnes AmericanrE, succo 

 Jlavo, foliis inciso-pinnatifidis dentibus spinulosis, alabastris erectis. 



An American genus, of which one species is naturalized all over India, and in 

 many other parts of the world, abounding on roadsides and in waste places, but never 

 seen far from habitations. The seeds partake of the acrid properties of the plant, and 

 are employed in America, as a suljstitute for Ipecacuanha, and as a purgative. The 

 ilowers, which are always yellow in India, are sometimes white in other countries. 



1, A. Mexicana (L. Sp. PI. 737); foliis sessilibus semiamplexi- 

 caulibus siuuato-piunatifidis albo variegatis, capsula setosa.- — DC. Syst. 

 ii. 85, Prod. i. 120 ; Torr. et Gray, M. N. Am. i. 61 ; TFigJit et A.m. 

 Prod. i. 18 ; Boxb. M. Ind. ii. 571 ; Wight, III. t. 11 ; Wall. Cat. 8126! 



Hab. Per totam Indiana calidam in ruderatis vulgatissima, sed carte 

 introduota. — (Fl. Peb. Mar.) (v. v.) 



Herba suffruticosa, 2-4-pedalis. Caules divaricatim ramosi, teretes, fistulosi v. 

 intus spongiosi. Polia 3-7 unc. longa, secus nervos primarios albo-variegata. Sepala 

 apice oornuta. Flores 1-3 unc. diametro, aurei. Capsula oblonga v. elliptico-ob- 

 longa, f-l^- poll, longa, teres, setosa v. rarius inerrais. Semina. brunnea, turgida, 

 multicostata, profunde cancellata. 



3. MECONOPSIS, Vig. 



Sepala 2. Petala 4 (rarius plura). Stamina perpbirima. Stylus 

 distinctus, ssepius tortus, stigmatibus 4-8 radiantibus cum placentis 

 alternantibus coronata. Capsula obovata v. elliptica, interdum linearis, 

 cylindracea, apice valvis brevibus dehiscens ; placentis plus minus ver- 

 sus axin capsuloe productis. Semina raphe tumida cristata.- — Plerbse 

 perennantes, simpliees v. rarius ramosm, interdum acaules et scapigerce, 

 succo Jlavo, foliis radlcalibus v. radicalibus et caulinis integris lobatis 

 pinnatifidisve, alabastris nutantibns, lloribus amplis, capsulis erectis. 



A small genus, the Himalayan species of which are all confined to the upper tem- 

 perate zone, some ascending almost to the limits of phaenogamic vegetation. The 

 sepals, which are described as valvato by Endlicher, are decidedly imbricated in the 

 Himalayan species. Stylophomm hardly appears to be difi'erent generically, except 

 in the valves of the capsule being dehiscent to the base ; for the style is present in 

 all the species of ileconopsis, and varies extremely in length, and in amount of tor- 

 sion. The only other character attributed to Slylophormn is the crested seeds, but 

 this also is a variable character, the raphe in all being accompanied with a more or 



