Papaver - Poppy

There are some 50 species in the genus Papaver and they are found through most of the temperate and subtropical regions. Collectively known as poppies, these annuals and perennials have some very close relatives in other genera, such as Meconopsis, Argemone, Eschscholzia and Platystemon.

They usually form basal rosettes of foliage, which may be simple, lobed or pinnate, sometimes finely feathery and often hairy. The simple 4-6 petalled flowers are very graceful, occur in a wide range of colours and appear at varying times depending on the species. Garden forms may have very large or double flowers.

All species exude a white to yellow latex when cut. The genus has a degree of notoriety due to one species, Papaver somniferum or the Opium Poppy, the latex of which is the source of opium and its derivatives, such as morphine.

Plant Genera:   A–B   C–D   E–G   H–J   K–M   N–P   Q–S   T–Z

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