PAPAVER rhoeas Poppy, Common Poppy, Field Poppy, Corn Poppy, Flanders Poppy, Corn Rose ____________________________________ Type: Annual Height: 1-2' (30-60cm) Flowering Time: Summer, autumn Flower Colour: Red ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Magnoliidae (Magnolia Superorder) Order: Papaverales (Poppy Order) Family: Papaveraceae (Poppy Family) Genus: Papaver (Poppy) Species: rhoeas (red) ____________________________________

Papaver rhoeas is one of the most well-known wild flowers. At its best in the middle of a field of ripe golden corn, it is also familiar from roadsides and verges. A hardy annual, it grows to a foot or two (or even more) high, with bright red single poppy flowers, with or without a black blotch at the base of the petals, throughout the summer. The sap is milky white.

Hybrids have been raised in various colours, including white, pinks, and mauves, and Papaver rhoeas is a familiar plant in gardens as well as one of our most recognisable wild flowers. It is happy in poor soil, in dry conditions, and is suitable for a wild garden or flower lawn, or anywhere you want a bright splash of colour with no maintenance.

Papaver rhoeas has been used in traditional medicine to relieve pain, to treat coughs and insomnia, and to aid digestion. The petals have been used to colour medicines.

There is a similar plant, Papaver dubium (Long-headed Poppy), which is a little smaller, has a longer, more cylindrical seed pod and often yellow sap.

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				Germination: Any time Any method (8-41 days)
Seed Pod The seed pod is a small rounded pepperpot with holes opening around the top edge to release the seeds. Seed The seeds are tiny dark brown commas. There are very many seeds in a seedpod. Seedling The seedling has small pointed bluish seedleaves, and the first true leaves are also bluish and undivided.