Farrer's lampshade-poppy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Farrer's lampshade-poppy
• yellow poppywort
• Yellow Chinese poppy

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Cathcartia integrifolia
• Papaver przewalskii

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the Papaveraceae family within the genus Meconopsis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Meconopsis integrifolia, exhibits a specific distribution pattern across several key regions of East Asia. It is found within the South-Central areas of China, where it adapts to local environmental conditions. The species also extends into the North-Central parts of China, covering a significant breadth of the country's territory. Furthermore, its presence is documented in the high-altitude province of Qinghai. Finally, the plant is a notable part of the natural flora found throughout the Tibet region.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Meconopsis integrifolia is defined by its specialized adaptation to high-altitude montane environments, where it thrives within a specific vertical distribution. This species occupies a significant altitudinal gradient, primarily found in alpine or sub-alpine zones with a minimum elevation of 2700 m AMSL. Its distribution peaks at a mean elevation of approximately 3900 m AMSL, indicating a preference for high-elevation habitats that likely feature unique microclimates characterized by lower temperatures and distinct moisture regimes. The upper limits of its ecological niche extend to extreme heights, reaching a maximum elevation of 5100 m AMSL, which underscores its capacity to tolerate the physiological stresses associated with high-mountain ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

5100 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

3900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

2700 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Meconopsis integrifolia is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist in its habitat over multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it establishes itself through a developmental process that enables it to endure environmental fluctuations, contributing to its stability within its ecological niche. This perennial nature ensures that the plant can undergo repeated cycles of vegetative growth and reproductive effort, rather than completing its entire biological mission in a single season.

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Meconopsis integrifolia is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb, lacking the structural rigidity of woody or shrubby species. As a terrestrial plant, it does not exhibit aquatic or semiaquatic tendencies, nor does it function as an epiphyte. The species is an independent organism, meaning it does not act as a parasite, and it is strictly self-supporting in its structure rather than functioning as a liana, vine, or any other form of climber.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Meconopsis integrifolia is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a metabolic strategy common in temperate species that facilitates efficient carbon fixation under moist, cool conditions. The plant's vegetative morphology is heavily defined by its leaf dimensions, which exhibit significant variability to optimize light interception and gas exchange. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 20 cm, though they can range in size from a minimum of 8 cm to a maximum of 32 cm. Complementing this length, the leaf width fluctuates between a narrow 1 cm and a broader 5 cm, contributing to a diverse leaf surface area that supports its metabolic requirements.

Leaf length max:

32 cm

Leaf length mean:

20 cm

Leaf length min:

8 cm

Leaf width max:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Meconopsis integrifolia is characterized by the development of specific fruit structures and seed characteristics essential for its life cycle. The plant produces fruits that vary in dimensions, with a mean length of 2.5 cm and a range spanning from a minimum of 2 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. In terms of width, the fruits typically measure a mean of 1.1 cm, with individual specimens ranging from a minimum width of 1 cm to a maximum of 1.2 cm. Following the maturation of these fruits, the seeds are released, possessing a mean mass of approximately 0.0398 g, which facilitates their dispersal and subsequent germination.

Fruit length max:

3 cm

Fruit length mean:

2.5 cm

Fruit length min:

2 cm

Fruit width max:

1.2 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

1 cm

Seed mass mean:

0.0398 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Meconopsis integrifolia has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include luteolin, quercetin.

luteolin

1. International journal of molecular sciences

quercetin

1. Zhong yao cai = Zhongyaocai = Journal of Chinese medicinal materials

Activities

Meconopsis integrifolia has 2 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Hepatoprotective.

Antioxidant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hepatoprotective

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Conditions

Meconopsis integrifolia has 5 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include hepatitis, NAFLD, Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease, edema, pneumonia.

Hepatitis

1. International journal of molecular sciences
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Nafld

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

1. International journal of molecular sciences

Edema

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Pneumonia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology