40 



WEEDS AND USEFUL PLANTS. 



torn from the ground and possessing the power of transforming men 

 and beasts. * 



Order Y. F AP AYER A' CEiE. (Poppy Family.) 



Herbs vriih a milky or colored juice and regular polyandrous, hypogj'nous Jloicers with 

 the parts in twos or fours ; sejMls caducous ; /cuii a 1-celled pod or capsule Vyiiii 2 or mora 

 parietal placentae ; seeds numerous, often crested ; embryo small, at the base of fleshy 

 and oily albumen. 



Herts with a white juice. Seeds not crested. 



Capsule crowned by the radiate united stigmas. 1. Pafatek. 



Herbs with a j-ellow or orange-colored juice. Seeds crested. 



Stigmas 4-6. Pod and leaves prickly. 2. Argeuoxe. 



Stigmas 2. Pod narrow and smooth. 3. CHELiDOXirir. 



Stigma 2-grooved. Pod oblong, turgid. 4. Saxgxjisakia, 



1. FAPA'YER, L. Poppy. 



[Derivation of the name not well ascertained.] 



Sepals 2. Petals 4 (sometimes multiplied). Stigmas 4- 20, sessile, 

 radiating on tlie summit of the ovary. Capsule oboYoid, opening by 

 chinks or pores under the edge of the crown formed by the stigmas ; 

 placcntce extending into the cavity so as to form incomplete partitions. 

 Flowers nodding before opening. 



1. P. du'bium, L. Stem clothed with slender spreading hairs — 

 the peduncles with bristly appressed hairs ; leaves pinnately dissected, 

 the segments often incised, decurrent ; sepals hairy ; capsules obovoid- 

 oblong, smooth. 



Dubious Pap aver. Poppy. Field-poppy. 



Fi: Pavot batard. Germ. Der Saat-Mohu. Span. Amapola. 



Root annual. Stem 1-2 feet high, somewhat branched below. Leaves 2-5 inches 

 long. Peduncles terminal, 6-12 inches long, flexuose, leafless. Petals pale red or brick 

 dust colored. Stigmas about 7-rayed, on a convex disk. 



Cultivated grounds ; introduced. Native of Europe. Fl. May. Fr. July, August. 



Obs. This has found its way into some districts ; and, if unattended 

 to, may become a troublesome weed — as it and the " Corn Poppy " (P. 

 Rhoeas, L.) are in Europe. The common or Opium Poppy, (P. som- 

 niferum, L. — a smooth species with stem-clasping leaves) — which yields 

 the most efficacious and soothing of all anodynes — is often seen in the 

 flowerbeds of our gardens. I believe there was an attempt made, near 

 New York, some 30 or 40 years ago, to cultivate that species for the 

 purpose of obtaining Opium : but it did not succeed — and perhaps its 

 culture, even if practicable here, is better suited to the Orientals, than 

 to the people of our country. 



2. ARGEMO'NE, L. Prickly Poppy. 



[Greek, Argema, a disease of the eye ; supposed to be relieved by this plant.? 



Sepals mostly 3, prickly. Petals 4-6. Stigmas 3-6, subsessile, radiate. 

 Pod oblong, prickly, opening at the apex by 3 - 6 valves. Seeds crested. 

 Herbs with large showy flowers and yellowish /ftjce. Flower buds erect. 



