Papaver.] IV. PAPAVERACEjE. 19 



In waste and cultivated places in central and southern Europe to the 

 Caucasus, disappearing in northern Germany. In Britain rather rare, 

 chiefly in sandy and chalky fields in England and Ireland. Fl. summer. 



5. P. Argemone, Linn. (fig. 40). Pale P. — The weakest, and often 

 the smallest of our red Poppies, the segments of the leaves few and 

 narrow, the flowers rather small, of a pale red, often with a dark spot. 

 Filaments of the stamens dilated as in P. hybridum. Capsule oblong, 

 contracted at the base, bearing, especially towards the top, a few stiff 

 hairs or bristles, more erect from the base than in P. hybridum. 



Stations and geographical range about the same as those of P. Rhceas, 

 but much less common in Britain and central Europe. Fl. summer. 



II. MECONOPSIS. MECONOPSIS. 



Ovary ovoid, with a short but distinct style, and a slightly dilated 

 stigma of 4 to 6 rays. Capsule opening at the top in as many short 

 valves, the placentas inside lining the cavity, but not projecting to the 

 centre. 



A small genus, containing, besides the European species, a few others 

 from central Asia and north-western America. 



1. M. cambrica, Vig. (fig. 41). Welsh P. — Stock perennial, form- 

 ing, when old, large tufts with thick, tapering roots. Stems erect, 

 about a foot high. Leaves on long stalks, pale green and slightly 

 hairy, pinnate, the segments distinct or slightly decurrent along the 

 leafstalk, ovate or lanceolate, toothed or pinnately lobed. Flowers 

 rather large, pale yellow, on long peduncles. Capsules narrow, ovate, 

 or oblong, glabrous. 



In rocky woods and shady places, in the hilly districts of western 

 Europe, from Spain to Ireland, Wales, and the western counties of 

 England. Fl. summer. 



III. CHELIDONIUM. CELANDINE. 



Ovary linear, ending in a short style, with a small, slightly 2-lobed 

 stigma. Capsule long, linear, opening from the base upwards, in two 

 valves, the placentas slender. Seeds with a small crest-like appendage 

 next the hilum. 



A genus now reduced to a single species. 



1. G. majus, Linn. (fig. 42). Common Celandine. — Rootstock peren- 

 nial. Stems erect, slender, branching, 1 to 2 feet high, full of a yellow 

 fetid juice, and generally bearing a few spreading hairs. Leaves thin, 

 glaucous underneath, once or twice pinnate, the segments ovate, 

 coarsely toothed or lobed, the stalks often dilated into a kind of false 

 stipules. Flowers small and yellow, 3 to 6 together, in a loose umbel, on 

 a long peduncle. Pod nearly cylindrical, glabrous, 1J to 2 inches long. 



On roadsides and waste places, throughout Europe and Russian Asia 

 except the extreme north. In Britain, chiefly near houses. Frequent 

 in England and some parts of Ireland, less so in Scotland. Fl. all 

 summer, 



IV. RCEMERIA. RCEMERIA. 

 Ovary linear, with a sessile stigma of 3 or 4 short rays. Capsule long 

 and linear, opening from the summit downwards in 3 or 4 valves, the 

 placentas slender. Seeds without any crest-like appendage. 



