Order X
PAPAVERACEÆ. 1213 Nelúmbium J.
These plants are better known for their medicinal properties than for their beauty. Some of them are the common pests of corn fields, and with grain have been disseminated over all the world. Sanguinária is a neat little American plant well known for its crimson juice, and the emetic purgative powers of its roots. Saracénnia is a genus of very doubtful affinity; consisting of curious little American marsh plants of difficult culture, and remarkable for the singular pitcher-like form of its leaves. The peculiar power of the poppy is, as is well known, narcotic; a property which pervades all the order, although in a less intense degree in all than in the officinal P. somniferum, from which exclusively the drug opium is obtained. The Mexicans use the expressed oil of the seeds of Argemóne mexicána for polishing furniture. 1170 Papáver W. 1168 Röméria Med. 1165 Sanguinária W. 1169 Glaúcium J. 1172 Argemóne W. 313 Hypécoum W. 1073 Boccónia W. ? 1173 Saracénia W. 1167 Chelidónium W. 1171 Meconopsis Vig.
ORDER XI.