BRITISH WILD FLOWERS. 
27 
4. —THE NAKED-STALKED YELLOW POPPY. (Papaver nudicaule, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2681 ; 2d ed., t. 753* ; and our bristly. Peduncles very long, arising from the root. Leaves pinna- 
fig. 4, in PI. 6. tifid, with toothed or cut lobes. {Dec.) 
Specific Character. —Capsule hispid, ohovate-ohlong. Sepals 
Description, &c.—This is a very pretty little plant ; but it has certainly no pretensions to be called a 
native of Britain, and it has only been figured by the mistake of our artist. It is a native of the Arctic regions, 
and has only been found growing wild in one place in the north of Ireland. It is a perennial and flowers in 
July and August. The stem and leaves are densely covered with a brownish pubescence. 
5.— THE WHITE POPPY. (Papaver somniferum, Lin.) 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 2145 ; 2d ed., t. 756 ; and our fig. 1, the calyx and stem. Leaves notched, clasping the stem, glaucous, 
in PI. 6. {Smith.) 
Specific Character. —Capsule nearly globular, smooth as well as 
Description, &c. —This Poppy, like the preceding species, has no just claim to be considered a native of 
Britain ; though, having been long cultivated for medicinal purposes, it has become so far naturalised as to be 
met with growing apparently wild in many parts of England. It is easily distinguished from all the other 
Poppies by the breadth and colour of its leaves, which are of a blue or glaucous green, and the robustness of 
its growth. The flowers are very handsome, and the double varieties are well known in gardens. It is, 
however, only the single ones that are cultivated for opium, poppy-heads, and poppy seeds. The large poppy- 
heads sold by the druggists, which are frequently used to make an inferior kind of opium, are the dry capsules 
of this plant ; while the smaller ones are those of the common Corn Poppy. The best opium is generally 
procured from this species, as in this the dilated disk is much thicker than in any other. On the Continent 
the seeds are not only crushed for oil, but are used for strewing over various kinds of cake, as they are 
considered very nutritious. 
THE HYBRID POPPY. (P. hybridum, Lin.) 
This species is seldom met with except in the southern counties of England, where it is an annual, flowering 
in July. 
GENUS II. 
THE WELSH POPPY. (Meconopsis, Vig.) 
Lin. Syst. POLYANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Sepals two. Petals four. Stamens numer- | Capsule one-celled, dehiscing by four to six valves at the top. Pla- 
ous. Style short. Stigmas four to six, radiating, convex, distinct. | centae narrow, scarcely projecting. Perennials with yellow juice. (Dec.) 
Description, &c. —This genus is distinguished from the Poppy principally by its yellow juice. It has, 
however, also, a short style; while the stigmas of the Poppy are sessile. The name of Meconopsis is derived 
from two Greek words signifying like a Poppy. There is only one species in the genus. 
1.— THE COMMON WELSH POPPY. (Meconopsis Cambrica, Vig .) 
Synonyme. —Papaver Cambricum, Lin. Specific Character. —Capsule smooth, with five or six valves. 
Engravings. —Eng. Bot., t. 66 ; 2d ed., t. 751 ; and our fig. 3, Leaves numerous, stalked, pinnate, cut. {Lindley.) 
in PI. 7. 
Description, &c.— This is a very elegant plant with a somewhat succulent habit of growth. It is common 
in the mountainous districts of England, and particularly in North Wales, where it is very abundant in the 
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