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Volume IV (1988) - Flora of New Zealand Naturalised Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, Dicotyledons
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Papaveraceae

PAPAVERACEAE

Annual or perennial herbs with watery sap or milky or coloured latex. Lvs spiralled, exstipulate, variously lobed to dissected. Fls ⚥, solitary or in lax leafy cymes, rarely in axillary umbels, actinomorphic, hypogynous. Sepals 2-(3), caducous. Petals 4-(6), all similar, sessile, not spurred. Stamens many, free. Ovary of 2-many carpels; ovules numerous on parietal placentae. Fr. a capsule opening by valves or pores, 1-locular or rarely 2-locular by meeting of placentae. Seeds many, small, reticulate; embryo small; endosperm oily.

Key

1
Fr. < 4× as long as broad, dehiscing by pores or by 4 or more valves
2
Fr. > 8× as long as broad, dehiscing by 2 valves
5
2
Stigma sessile, discoid with radiating lobes, at least 1/2 diam. of capsule; capsule opening by small pores just below stigma
PAPAVER
Stigma on a very short style, capitate, < 1/4 diam. of capsule; capsule opening by valves from apex to at least ⅕ of its length
3
3
Petals usually orange or yellow; lvs with teeth and apices of segments soft; sepals neither horned nor apiculate
MECONOPSISζ
Petals white or cream; lvs with teeth and apices of segments hardened or spiny; sepals horned or apiculate
4
4
Rhizomatous perennial; capsule with dense bristly hairs; sap clear
ROMNEYAζ
Taprooted annual; capsule spinous; latex yellow
ARGEMONE
5
Lvs finely dissected with linear segments; sepals joined to form a hood pushed off by the opening petals; sap watery
ESCHSCHOLZIA
Lvs simple to pinnate with broad segments; sepals free; latex yellow to orange
6
6
Fls solitary or in lax leafy cymes, > 3 cm diam.; capsules > 7 cm long
GLAUCIUM
Fls in umbels, < 2.5 cm diam.; capsules <5 cm long
CHELIDONIUM

26 genera, c. 200 spp., predominantly temperate N. Hemisphere, a few tropical and S. Hemisphere.

The family is a rich source of narcotic and medicinal alkaloids.

The seeds of many of the spp. naturalised in N.Z. are described and illustrated by Swarbrick J. T., and Raymond, J. C., Ann. Bot. 34: 1115-1122 (1970).

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