This week I’d like to talk about the Common Poppy or Papaver rhoeas, which is a symbol in Britain for the millions of casualties in the First World War and since.
Due to the extent of ground disturbance in warfare during World War I, red poppies flowered in between the trench lines and no man’s lands on the Western front. Poppies are a prominent feature of “In Flanders Fields” by Canadian Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, one of the most frequently quoted English-language poems composed during the First World War. During the 20th century, the wearing of a poppy at and before Remembrance Day (sometimes known informally as Poppy Day) each year became an established custom in Britain. It is also used at some other dates in some countries, such as at appeals for Anzac Day in Australia and New Zealand.
This weekend we will have Remembrance Sunday here which is always the nearest Sunday to Armistice * Day (on 11-11). This was signed at 5 am on the 11th November, 1918 to be precise but all the fighting ceased at 11 am, so exactly 100 years ago!
*Armistice means: a Ceasefire or suspension of hostilities or also an agreement made by opposing sites to stop fighting for a certain time or a truce.
The Poppy belongs to the Papaveraceae or Poppy family which is number 34 in Stace.
Follow the links in the Contents page. Thanks to various websites for information on habitat, interesting facts and ‘uses’ for the poppies. Pictures with thanks from Mike Poulton, Matt Summers and Wikipedia Commons. Further pictures can be seen on the links provided. Such as in the gallery of Plant Atlas Online and in Wikipedia Commons. FBBC is added behind the name when the plant occurs in the Flora of Birmingham and the Black Country!
Contents:
The Poppy family or Papaveraceae
‘In Praise’ of the Poppy!
1) Papaver spp.
P. cambricum or Welsh Poppy
- P. dubium s.l.
- P. dubium or Long-headed Poppy FBBC
- P. lecoqii or Yellow-juiced Poppy FBBC
- P. rhoeas or Common Poppy FBBC2)
- P. setiferum or Oriental Poppy FBBC
2) Roemeria argemone or Prickly Poppy FBBC
- R. hispida or Rough Poppy
- R. hybrida or Violet Horned-poppy
* Edible uses: * Medicinal uses: * Other uses:
Papaver somniferum or Opium Poppy
3) Argemone mexicana or Mexican poppy
4) Glaucium flavum or Yellow Horned-poppy
- G. corniculatum or Red Horned-poppy FBBC
5) Chelidonium majus or Greater Celandine FBBC
6) Eschscholzia californica or Californian Poppy FBBC
7) Macleaya × kewensis (M. cordata × microcarpa) or Hybrid Plume-poppy
The Poppy family or Papaveraceae
The Papaveraceae, informally known as the Poppy family, are an economically important family of about 42 genera and approximately 775 known species. The family is cosmopolitan, occurring in temperate and subtropical climates (mostly in the northern hemisphere) like Eastern Asia as well as California in North America. It is almost unknown in the tropics.
On the British Isles it has 12 genera and the family itself is split into 2 Sub-families;
- the Papaveroideae with 7 genera. The Papaveroideae has 2 sepals, 4(-6) showy petals, and white or yellow latex. We’ll cover those in this post.
- the Fumarioideae with 5 genera. (In next post) The distinctive flowers of subfamily Fumarioideae are unique, but the two subfamilies are linked by intermediates (Stace).
See this post on Fumarioideae here
‘In Praise’ of the Poppy!
The poppy of all the various species is a delicate flower on tall stems and still a rare but beautiful sight in the countryside and disturbed land.
- Red flowers are one of our rarer colours in these climates and, therefore, extra special.
- Their thousands of seeds in each plant (17.000 per plant is estimated!) can lay dormant in the soil for many decennia and then grow and flower en masse when coming to the surface by ploughing or other soil disturbance.
It was one of our common agricultural weeds, but has very efficiently been eradicated from our crops as a nuisance.
Now the poppy is often part of an ornamental, annual cornfield seed-mixture, which can attract many beneficial insects. For example see here:
- As well as being the symbol of remembrance and peace, the Common or Red Poppy is symbolically the plant of forgetfulness and sleep.
- In some cultures it has been a plant of fertility, with its fast production of seeds and vivid red petals, a reminder of the blood of life and of war, as also of renewal and rebirth. (from Hedgerow Medicine)
As poppies are not wind-pollinated, their pollen poses no allergy risk via inhalation.
1) Papaver spp.
P. atlanticum or Atlas Poppy FBBC (neophyte)
A perennial herb, widely grown in gardens and found on or at the foot of walls, pavements, roadsides and waste ground. Often naturalized, sometimes perhaps only casual.
P. cambricum or Welsh Poppy FBBC
The only one true native is the Welsh Poppy or Papaver cambricum, which was until recently known as Meconopsis cambricum.
A long-lived perennial herb, native in damp, rocky woodlands and on shaded cliff ledges. It is also very widely grown and has become naturalized in gardens, on pavements and walls, hedgebanks, roadsides and waste ground and occasionally on stream banks and riversides. Recent phylogenic and morphological studies have shown that it is most closely related to Papaver rather than Meconopsis, as was previously assumed, due to the presence of a style instead of a stigmatic disc (Kadereit et al., 2011). Native plants range from the lowlands to 640 m (Cwm Idwal, Caernarvonshire).
It has been used since 2006 as the basis for the logo of the political party Plaid Cymru.
Native populations rarely spread into apparently suitable habitat and are probably in slow decline. In contrast, garden plants can spread rapidly and the species is increasing as an established alien. Within its core native areas, it can be difficult to separate native from alien occurrences, particularly in Ireland.
All the other Papaver species below including Papaver rhoeas and Papaver dubium or Long-headed Poppy are archyophytes. The former Papaver argemone or Prickly Poppy is also now known by the new alternative name of Roemeria argemone, just to be difficult.
Papaver dubium s.l. (= sensu lato)
P. dubium s.l. includes P. dubium s.s. and P. lecoqii which were formerly treated as subspecies (subsp. dubium, subsp. lecoqii).
Annual herbs, found principally in arable fields, where they can occur on both light and heavy calcareous soils. They are also found on waste ground, roadsides, refuse tips and railways, and in gardens and allotments.
P. dubium or Long-headed Poppy
An annual herb, principally associated with arable crops, but also found on disturbed ground, road verges, refuse tips, and in gardens and allotments. It is most frequent on light soils but less strictly confined to calcareous substrates than P. lecoqii and therefore more widely distributed. It can be found in both spring- and autumn-sown crops, although most seedlings emerge in the autumn. The seed can be very long-lived.
P. lecoqii or Yellow-juiced Poppy FBBC
Visually identical to Long-headed Poppy (Paper dubium) and was treated as a subspecies (Papaver dubium ssp. Lecoqii) until the publication of new names and taxa in the third edition of Stace which changed it to Papaver lecoqii. The test for Papaver lecoqii is to break and squeeze the stem so that the juice becomes visible. In Papaver lecoqii this is quite a bright yellow, although it may need 30 second or so to become obvious – (the juice is white in Papaver dubium).
P. rhoeas or Common Poppy FBBC
An annual herb, principally of arable fields and other disturbed, open habitats including road verges, waste ground, railways, old pits, gardens and allotments. It is now a frequent introduction in wild-flower seed mixes and occurs as a garden escape. It is most frequent on light, calcareous soils. It is sensitive to herbicide, but can be abundant in unsprayed corners or margins and occasionally throughout entire fields. A single plant can produce very large numbers of seed which can be very long-lived, leading to mass emergence following the disturbance of a long-buried seed bank.
Papaver rhoeas topped the list in a UK study of meadow pollen production. The Californian poppy placed second. The pollen production of Papaver rhoeas, on a per flower basis, was very high in comparison with the other plants tested, at almost triple the amount of the top-ranked perennial (a mallow). When sampled at the level of the entire capitulum, however, Papaver rhoeas was outranked by the ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare. It tied with Cosmos bipinnatus.
most of below information (but much edited) from PFAF website here:
Edible uses:
- An edible oil is obtained from the seed. Said to be an excellent substitute for olive oil, it can be used in salad dressings or for cooking.
- Seed can be eaten raw or cooked. Much used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads etc. It imparts a very nice nutty flavour.
- A syrup can be prepared from the scarlet flower petals, it is used in soups, gruels etc.
- A red dye from the petals is used as a food flavouring, especially in wine and for herbal remedies, in sweets and herbal teas.
- The petals can be added in summer salads.
Medicinal uses:
Papaver rhoeas contains the alkaloid called rhoeadine which is a mild sedative. It contains no morphine as does its related species, P. somniferum or the Opium Poppy.
The flowers of common poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for ailments in the elderly and children.
- An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous digestive disorders and minor painful conditions.
- The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice. The petals are harvested as the flowers open and are dried for later use. They should be collected on a dry day and can be dried or made into syrup.
- The latex in the seed pods is narcotic and slightly sedative. It can be used in very small quantities, and under expert supervision, as a sleep-inducing drug.
- The leaves and seeds are tonic. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers.
- The plant has anticancer properties.
Other uses:
- Very useful for insects due to its high pollen count (see information in blue above).
- A red dye is obtained from the flowers, though it is very fugitive.
- A syrup made from the petals has been used as a colouring matter to revive old inks.
- The red petals are used to add colour to pot-pourri.
- There are several named cultivars suitable as an ornamental plant in annual mixes.
- The commonly grown garden decorative Shirley poppy is a cultivar of this plant
- The seed heads are attractive in dry flower arrangements.
P. setiferum (Synonym (Syn. P. pseudo-orientale) or Oriental Poppy (neophyte)
A large, tap-rooted perennial herb found as a garden escape or throw-out on roadsides, railway banks, rough grassland, sand dunes, waste ground and refuse tips; it also occurs as a relic of cultivation. Populations can become well-naturalized, especially on well-drained soils.
There is also a P. orientale which is called Oriental Poppy too! It looks very similar to the Papaver setiferum From this website:
‘This beautiful-flowered plant has become very popular and has in many places marginalized the previously popular, almost same-sized oriental poppy (P. orientale). It is usually quite easy to differentiate between the species when you know what you’re looking for: pseudo-oriental poppy’s stem is leafy until the top, the bud is erect, the base of the flower petals usually have a clear dark blotch, and the capsule is oval, egg-shaped.
Pseudo-oriental poppy is a joy to the eye, but it has no medicinal properties. Like most species in the genus, pseudo-oriental poppy’s natural area of distribution is the temperate parts of the old world, and it is native to Turkey and Iran.
P. orientale has many attractive garden cultivars.
2) Roemeria argemone or Prickly Poppy ( archaeophyte)
An annual herb of arable crops, usually found on field edges and in unsprayed and uncultivated strips and corners, often in small numbers. It is most frequent on light sandy, gravelly and chalky soils. Rarely, it occurs on waste ground.
Two more species in the B.I. are:
Papaver somniferum or Opium Poppy
Papaver somniferum or Opium Poppy is another archyophyte (a neophyte in Ireland), but also a well known crop and ornamental garden plant for its attractive flowers and seed-heads.
An annual occurring as a casual garden escape on roadsides, waste ground and rubbish tips, and occasionally in arable fields as a relic of cultivation for poppy seed. Lowland, with one record at 410 m
This plant contains a number of very toxic compounds, many of which are extracted and used as pain killers etc in medicine. They are also used to make various highly addictive narcotic drugs!
However, in the cooler climate of Britain these compounds are not formed in sufficient quantity to make their extraction worthwhile. There are no toxins in the seeds.
Young leaves can be used raw or cooked. They must be used before the flower buds have formed. In some countries they are eaten at the seedling stage.
Seeds can be used raw or cooked.
- Much used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads etc.
- The crushed and sweetened seeds are used as a filling in crepes, strudels, pastries etc.
- Highly nutritious, the seed contains about 22.7% protein, 48% fat, 9.8% carbohydrate, 7.1% ash. It is also a good source of lecithin.
- A high quality edible drying oil is obtained from the seed. It has an almond flavour and makes a good substitute for olive oil.
Medicinal Uses: Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
The opium poppy contains a wide range of alkaloids and has been a very valuable medicine, especially useful in bringing relief from pain.
Its use (especially of the extracted alkaloids opium and morphine which it contains) can become addictive, however, and so it should be treated with extreme caution and only be used under the supervision of a qualified practitioner!
- As well as its pain-relieving properties, the latex has also been used as an antispasmodic and expectorant in treating certain kinds of coughs, whilst its astringent properties make it useful in the treatment of dysentery etc.
- A homeopathic remedy is made from the dried latex. This is used in the treatment of a variety of complaints, including constipation, fevers and insomnia.
3) Argemone mexicana or Mexican poppy (neophyte)
A well-branched, slightly spiny annual, occasionally grown in gardens and found as a casual on refuse tips and waste ground, railway sidings and arable land. It also occurs as a grain alien and was formerly a contaminant in wool shoddy.
Glaucium flavum or Yellow Horned-poppy the habitat and close-ups of foliage and flowers at Chesil Beach in Dorset (by Matt Summers)
4) Glaucium flavum or Yellow Horned-poppy and here
A short-lived perennial herb of shingle banks and stony beaches; also, more rarely, amongst loose rock and on eroding cliffs of sand and clay, and on the bare tops of chalk cliffs. The few inland records were of casual occurrences.
This is an attractive plant growing on our coast. Apparently it has the longest fruit of all the native plants on the British Isles!
All parts of the plant, including the seeds, are toxic, and can cause a wide range of symptoms including brain damage (if eaten), and respiratory failure, resulting in death!
Glaucine is the main alkaloid component in Glaucium flavum. Glaucine has bronchodilator and antiinflammatory effects, acting as a PDE4 inhibitor and calcium channel blocker and is used medically as an antitussive in some countries.
Glaucine may produce side effects such as sedation, fatigue, and a hallucinogenic effect characterised by colourful visual images, and as a recreational drug. For a detailed bibliography on glaucine and Glaucium flavum see: National Agricultural Library.
In the past, it was known in Hampshire, UK as ‘squatmore’, and the roots were used to treat bruises. Also for pains in the breast, stomach and intestines.
An oil obtained from the seed is used for as a fuel for lighting, it burns cleanly. It is also used in soap making.
Orange/Red form of the Yellow Horned poppy or G. corniculatum or Red Horned-poppy on my allotment? Bumblebees and Hoverflies obviously enjoy the pollen! (by Matt Summers)
- G. corniculatum or Red Horned-poppy FBBC (neophyte)
This plant is not in the Plant Atlas Online yet but has found its way in the Birmingham and Black Country area. I had this on my allotment until a few years ago bought as an ornamental thinking it was a red form of the yellow horned poppy! It has, similar as the Yellow Horned poppy a blue foliage rosette. Orange poppy-like flowers followed by long seedpods. This looks fabulous in the garden, especially if you grow it in a ‘gravel garden’. Self seeds.
Chelidonium majus or Greater Celandine (by Matt Summers & below by Mike Poulton)
5) Chelidonium majus or Greater Celandine FBBC (archaeophyte)
A short-lived, winter-green perennial herb, widely naturalized on pavements, by roadsides and paths, in the crevices of old walls, on waste ground and in hedge-bottoms. It was at one time cultivated as a medicinal plant, and most localities are near human habitation.
It is an attractive plant for damp soil but apparently poisonous for chicken and from the RHS site:
Humans/Pets: Harmful if eaten, skin/eye irritant. Wear gloves and other protective equipment when handling.
Leaves – cooked in small quantities. They contain small amounts of toxic alkaloids. The leaves are boiled with clean earth, the mixture is left overnight and then thoroughly washed in several changes of water. Very much a famine food, to be used when all else fails!![K].
Medicinal Uses: (much edited, see original website)
Greater celandine has a long history of herbal use.
- Traditionally it was employed as an ophthalmic to treat and clear the eyesight whilst in modern herbal medicine it is used more as a mild sedative, antispasmodic and detoxifying herb, relaxing the muscles of the bronchial tubes, intestines and other organs.
- The latex is much used externally to treat warts.
Caution should be employed, especially when the plant is used internally however, because it contains toxic alkaloids. The leaves and the sap are acrid, alterative, anodyne, antispasmodic, caustic, cholagogue, diaphoretic, diuretic, hydrogogue, narcotic, purgative.
- They are used in the treatment of bronchitis, whooping cough, asthma, jaundice, gallstones and gallbladder pains.
- The plant has anticancer properties and is analgesic. It is an important component of a stomach ulcer drug.
- It is used as an external treatment to get rid of warts, ringworm and corns and has also been used to remove films from the cornea of the eye.
6) Eschscholzia californica or Californian Poppy FBBC (neophyte)
An annual or perennial herb that is frequently encountered as a casual on pavements, roadsides and refuse tips, but sometimes naturalized in quarries, old gravel and ballast pits, on railway tracks and waste ground. It has long been naturalized on dunes in Guernsey.
California poppy leaves are used as food or garnish, while the seeds are used in cooking.
E. californica is drought-tolerant, self-seeding, and easy to cultivate. It is best grown as an annual, in full sun, and well-draining sandy or loam soil. Horticulturalists have produced numerous cultivars with a range of colors and blossom and stem forms. These typically do not breed true on reseeding. Seeds are often sold as mixtures. The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society‘s Award of Garden Merit:
- ‘Apricot chiffon’ (yellow flushed with pink and orange)
- ‘Dali'(red)
- ‘Rose chiffon’ (pink and white)
7) Macleaya × kewensis (M. cordata × microcarpa) or Hybrid Plume-poppy (neophyte)
A robust herbaceous perennial up to 2.5 m tall, occurring as a persistent escape on refuse tips, waste ground, with dumped garden soil, and as a relic of cultivation. Reproduction is by suckering.