OF ORNAMENTAL PERENNIALS. 
61 
OTHER SPECIES OF PAPAVER. 
There are several other species of perennial poppies, some of which are generally raised from seed, and 
frequently flower the first year. The most interesting of these are the following : 
P. NUDICAULE, Dec. 
This species has yellow flowers, and is a native of Siberia, whence it was introduced in 1730. There are 
two varieties, one with smooth stalks, and the other with short hairy stems. 
P. MICROCARPUM, Dec. 
A species with brownish flowers and very small capsules, a native of Kamtschatka. 
P. PYRENAICUM, Dec; P. AURANTIACUM, Lois. 
There are two varieties of this species, one with red flowers, and the other with yellow ones. Both are 
natives of the Pyrenees, but the year of their introduction is not known. 
P. FLORIBUNDUM, Dec. 
A biennial from the Levant, with red flowers ; introduced in 1815. 
GENUS II. 
ARGEMONE, Tour. THE PRICKLY POPPY. 
Lin. Ssat. POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic CHARACTEa..— Petals 4 — 6. Stamens indefinite. Style almost wanting. Stigmas 4 — 5, radiating, concave, free. 
Capsule obovate, prickly, 4 — 5-valved. (G. Don.) 
Description, &c. — All of the kinds of prickly poppy may be treated as annuals ; but A. granAiJUrra is 
properly a perennial, as it lasts many years, and is generally propagated by dividing the root ; as, though 
when raised from seed, it will flower the first year, it very seldom ripens seed. The prickly poppies are 
always easily known by their leaves, which are covered with prickles, and which in most of the species 
have conspicuously white midribs, whence some botanists derive the name, Argos signifying white. Others 
derive it from Argema, a cataract of the eye ; as the yellow glutinous juice of these plants, particularly of the 
common kind {^Argemone mexicana), is reckoned excellent in all diseases of the eye. 
I. 
ARGEMONE GRANDI FLORA, Swt. THE LARGE-FLOWERED PRICKLY POPPY. 
and our Jig. 5 in 
nerves unarmed. Flowers panicled, polyandrouB ; calyx smooth ; cap- 
sules bluntly-quadrangular, almost unarmed, (G. Don.) 
Engravings. — Swt. Brit. Flow. Card. t. 226 
Plate 15. 
Specific Character. — Leaves sinuated, smooth, spiny-toothed; 
Description, &c. — This very showy plant has panicles of white flowers, which are often four inches across. 
The calyx is in three sepals, and armed with short but very strong spines, each of wliich looks almost like 
a horn. There are six petals, which overlap each other so much as to make the flower look very nearly round. 
The leaves are all green, and only prickly at the margin. The plant is a very showy one, and well deserving of 
cultivation. It is propagated by dividing the root, as it very seldom ripens seeds. It is a native of Mexico, 
whence it was introduced in 1827. It is quite hardy in British gardens. 
