Magnoliidae: Papaverales: The Papaveraceae are herbs or rarely shrubs or trees comprising 25 genera and 200 species that usually have milky or colored sap. The leaves are alternate and lack stipules. The flowers are actinomorphic, showy, and bisexual. The calyx consists of 2 or 3 distinct or rarely completely connate sepals that are usually torn off the receptacle as the bud opens. The corolla comprises 4-12 distinct petals in 1 or 2 whorls. The petals are usually crumpled in bud. The androecium consists of numerous stamens. The gynoecium consists of a single compound pistil with a superior ovary and usually many parietal ovules in a single locule. The two to many carpels equal the number of placentae and stigmas. The fruit is generally capsular and commonly dehisces by way of valves or by pores.
Each "thumbnail" image below is linked to a larger photograph.
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Argemone glauca, pua kala. Note large, open, bowl-shaped flower typical of beetle pollination, 6 petals, numerous stamens and compound pistil in this Hawaiian native plant. |
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Dendromecon rigida, tree poppy. Note the two sepals on the flower bud and none on the open flower. |
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Papaver orientale, poppy. Note sepals abscised and some petals and stamens removed to show the pistil with its radiating stigmas. |
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Papaver sp., poppy. Note the two sepals being lifted off the receptacle by the expansion of the crumpled petals. |