Meconopsis
(from Mekon, a Poppy, and opsis, resemblance; alluding to the general appearance of the plant). ORD. Papaveraceae. A genus comprising eight species of showy, hardy, perennial, biennial, or rarely annual herbs, of which one is found in Western Europe (Britain), one in North-west America, and the rest in the Himalayas. Flowers yellow, purple, or blue, large, showy, on long peduncles, nodding when in the bud; petals four; sepals two. Leaves entire, or often lobed or dissected. The species are of easy culture in any moderately good garden soil. Seeds of the Indian species should be sown, during March, in a gentle hotbed, and the seedlings transferred, when large enough to handle, to the open border.
M. aculeata (prickly). fl. purple, with numerous yellow stamens, about 2in. across. l. cordate in outline, somewhat five-lobed, covered with rigid, hair-like prickles. h. 2ft. North-west India, 1864. Biennial. (B. M. 5456.) M. cambrica (Welsh).* Welsh Poppy. fl. pale yellow, erect, on long peduncles. May to August. l. numerous on the lower part of the stem, pinnate, stalked; lobes toothed, somewhat decurrent. h. 1ft. Western Europe (Britain). A very showy and desirable perennial; it thrives well on rockwork. (Sy. En. B. 63.) M. nepalensis (Nepaulese).* fl. pale golden-yellow, nodding, from 2in. to 3 1/2in. across. Flower stems from 3ft. to 5ft. high, not much branched. Himalayas, 1866. A handsome free-flowering biennial. (B. M. 5585.) M. simplicifolia (simple-leaved). fl. violet-purple, solitary and terminal, from 2in. to 3in. across. June. l. tufted, lanceolate, slightly toothed, covered with a short, dense, brownish pubescence. h. 3ft. Nepaul, 1855. Biennial. (I. H. 114.) M. Wallichi (Wallich's).* fl. pale blue, drooping on the slender-branches, somewhat evanescent. June. l. pinnatifid, hispid, sometimes 1ft. long. h. 4ft. to 6ft. Sikkim Himalayas. A very handsome biennial. (B. M.4668.) M.W. fusco-purpurea (brownish-purple). A very effective and ornamental variety, having brownish-purple flowers arranged in a loose panicle, 2in. to 3in. in diameter. (B. M. 6760.)