36 
PAPAVERACEAE 
the plant, whence the spices of commerce. Important species are Cin- 
namomum zeylanicnm Nees (Cinnamon Tree), C. camphora N. & E. 
(Camphor Tree) and Sassafras officinale N. & E. (Sassafras). Branch- 
lets of Laurus nobilis L., the classical Laurel, were used by the Greeks 
and Romans to crown victors. 
1. UMBELLULARIA Nutt. 
Evergreen. Flowers small, in simple umbels. Sepals 6. Stamens 9, 
the 3 inner with a stalked orange-colored gland on each side of the 
filament at base and alternating with scale-like staminodia. Anthers 
4-celled, 4-valved. Ovary 1-celled, 1-ovuled. (Latin umbellularia, a little 
umbel.) 
1. U. californica Nutt. Cx\lifornia Laurel. Tree 5 to 14 m. high, or 
on hilltops a shrub 1 to 4 m. high; leaves oblong; drupe 2.4 cm. long, 
brown-purple when fully ripe.—Mountain streams or (near the coast) 
in valleys. Also called Bay Tree and Pepperwood. The wood is heavy, 
hard and strong, takes a high polish and is used for furniture and the 
finest interior finish. 
2. PERSEA Gaertn. 
Evergreen. Flowers perfect, small, in panicles. Calyx deeply 6-parted. 
Stamens 9; staminodia 3. (Greek name of an Egyptian tree.) 
1. P. gratissima Gaertn. f. Alligator Pear. Avocado. Leaves 7.2 to 
36 cm. long; fruit a large pear-shaped fleshy drupe.—Native of Central 
America, cult, in S. Cal. Var. drymifolia Mez. Leaves anise-scented; 
flowers more pubescent; fruit smaller, thin-skinned.—Cult. 
PAPAVERACEAE. POPPY FAMILY 
Herbs (except Dendromecon) with regular flowers. Sepals 2 to 3, 
early-falling, the petals twice as many. Stamens commonly numerous. 
Pistil 1 ; ovary 1-celled, becoming a pod in fruit.—In Platystemon the 
lightly united parts of the pistil become distinct in fruit. In Eschscholt- 
zia the 2 sepals are united into a pointed cap. The juice often contains 
poisonous properties. The family consists of about 80 species, widely 
distributed in the north temperate zone. 
Sepals distinct, caducous; receptacle not hollowed. 
Sepals 3 ; petals 6 ; leaves opposite or basal; annuals. 
Stigmas 6 to many ; petals withering-persistent. 1.Platystemon. 
Stigmas 3 ; petals deciduous. 2. Meconella. 
Sepals 2 ; petals 4 ; leaves alternate or basal. 
Leaves entire, leathery; shrub. 3. Dendromecon. 
Leaves lobed or dissected ; herbs. 
Flowers erect in bud ; capsule 4 to 6-valved at summit..4. Argemone. 
Flowers nodding in bud ; capsule opening by holes just below summit 
5. Papaver. 
Sepals united into a calyptra or foolscap body, which is pushed off by the 4 
expanding petals ; receptacle hollowed.6. Eschscholtzia. 
1. PLATYSTEMON Benth. 
Low annual with mainly opposite entire leaves. Filaments of the sta¬ 
mens broad. Pistils v 6 to 20, at first joined, in fruit distinct and breaking 
crosswise into 1-seeded joints. (Greek platus, broad, and stemon, a 
stamen.) 
