Meconopsis and Ccithcartia. 361 
This species in habit and general appearance agrees almost as closely with 
M. napciulensis as does M. Oliveriana with M. chelidonifolia. In the present 
instance, indeed, the parallelism extends to the ovary and the fruit, which are, 
when quite ripe, barely distinguishable. There is a slight difference in tomentum ; 
there are fewer long barbellate hairs on the leaves of M. Wallichii than on those 
of M. napciulensis , and usually, though not always, the sepals of M. Wallichii have 
only a close-felted stellate tomentum, the long barbellate hairs being absent. This, 
however, is neither a sufficiently distinct nor a sufficiently constant character 
to warrant the separation of the two, and the most definite distinction lies in the 
colour of the flowers, blue in M. Wallichii, red in M. napaulensis. Though it 
is reported that, when the two are grown side by^side, seed produced by plants 
of M. Wallichii may result in plants with flowers like those of M. napaulensis , it 
is remarkable that intermediates have not been recorded. It is further to be observed 
that M. Wallichii has never been collected in central or eastern Nepal where 
M. napaulensis appears to be common, and that, on the other hand, M. napaulensis 
does not extend eastward from western Sikkim into the area in which M. Wallichii 
is a characteristic species. In horticulture the two must always be distinguished ; 
it seems, therefore, preferable to continue to treat them as specifically separable. 
This species was originally introduced to European gardens by Sir Joseph 
Hooker more than half a century ago. It is now perhaps the most familiar and 
most thoroughly established of all the Asiatic species of Meconopsis. Apparently 
always monocarpic. 
The Robustae form a distinct and natural group ; all of the species have tall 
leafy stems rarely less than 4-5 feet, often as much as 8-10 feet high, with 
numerous flowers disposed in laxly raceme-like or paniculate cymes. The flowers 
are ‘ papaveroid/ no tendency to an increased number of petals has ever been 
observed in the group ; the capsules, styles and stigmas are typical of the genus. 
The group stands almost alone in the fact that as a rule they do not flower till the 
second year from seed, and that during the two intervening winters the rosette of 
leaves persists. Apparently all die after flowering. 
The synonymy, as will be seen from the citations under the various species, has : 
been much confused. This is perhaps hardly to be wondered at when the distribution 
within the group of its characteristic features is taken into consideration. Disregarding 
for the moment the colour of the petals, we find that while all are beset with barbellate 
hairs four of the Robustae have also a close-felted stellate tomentum. By this 
character therefore we obtain two sub-groups consisting of (1) M. robusta itself 
without this felted tomentum, and (2) M. superba, M. paniculata , M. napaulensis and 
M. Wallichii with it. If, however, we neglect the tomentum and consider the 
character of the ovary and capsule we have again two sub-groups; (1) including 
M. robusta, M. superba, and M. paniculata, with eight or more valves, with a short 
style thickened considerably at the base and with persistently adpressed setae ? and 
(2) including M. napaulensis and M. Wallichii with seven or fewer valves, with 
a longer and more slender style, and with ultimately spreading setae. If, on the other 
hand, we consider the character of the foliage apart from the tomentum, we find again 
two sub-groups ; (1) including M. superba and M. paniculata , with the leaves slightly 
