common poppy

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Flanders poppy
• corn poppy
• field poppy
• red poppy
• Common Poppy
• Shirley poppy
• cornfield poppy
• headache

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae and order Ranunculales, it is a member of the Papaveraceae family. Specifically, it is categorized under the genus Papaver.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely recognized for its presence across various parts of Northern Europe. It can be found growing naturally in the coastal and inland regions of Denmark. Its distribution extends further north into the landscapes of Norway and Finland. Additionally, the species is well-established within the islands of Great Britain and Ireland. Together, these locations highlight the specific northern range of Papaver rhoeas.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Papaver rhoeas is characterized by its adaptability to a broad altitudinal spectrum, ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum elevation of 1900 m AMSL. It is primarily categorized as a lowland species, thriving in diverse open environments that allow for sufficient light exposure. This wide elevational range demonstrates the plant's ability to colonize various thermal and atmospheric conditions, from coastal lowlands to higher montane reaches, provided the habitat meets its fundamental requirements for growth.

Elevational range max:

1900 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Papaver rhoeas is characterized by its classification as an annual plant, meaning it completes its entire reproductive cycle within a single growing season. As a therophyte, it survives unfavorable periods through highly resilient seeds that remain dormant in the soil, rather than maintaining vegetative structures above ground. This life form is strictly deciduous, as the individual plant withers and dies completely once the seed maturation process is finished, leaving no permanent aerial parts. Through this rapid lifecycle, the species efficiently exploits disturbed habitats to ensure the continuation of its lineage via prolific seed production.

Deciduousness :

deciduous

Life form :

therophyte

Lifecycle :

annual

Morphology

The morphology of Papaver rhoeas is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. As a terrestrial and independent species, it does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant exhibits a self-supporting climbing habit, though it is not a liana or vine, and its shoots follow an ascending orientation. In terms of stature, the plant height is variable, with a minimum height of 0.1 m, a maximum height of 1 m, and a mean height of approximately 0.4035 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

1 m

Plant height mean:

0.4035 m

Plant height min:

0.1 m

Shoot orientation :

ascending

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Papaver rhoeas is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies entirely on soil nutrients and does not possess mechanisms for capturing prey, nor does it function as a nitrogen fixer. The plant's vegetative morphology is defined by elliptic leaf forms that exhibit significant dimensional variability. The leaves typically maintain a mean length of 9 cm (ranging from a minimum of 3 cm to a maximum of 20 cm) and a mean width of 4.5 cm (ranging from 1 cm to a maximum of 6 cm), resulting in an average leaf size of approximately 49.865 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 330.7 cm²/g, reflecting its leaf mass per area and its physiological strategy for light interception and resource allocation.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf form :

elliptic

Leaf length max:

20 cm

Leaf length mean:

9 cm

Leaf length min:

3 cm

Leaf size mean:

49.865 cm²

Leaf width max:

6 cm

Leaf width mean:

4.5 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

330.7 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Papaver rhoeas is primarily a sexual process through bisexual flowers, with asexual reproduction being absent. The flowering period typically begins in May and extends through July, characterized by red flowers that vary in size from 2 cm to 6 cm in length and 3 cm to 6 cm in width. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically attracting insects such as bees to facilitate fertilization, as self-fertilization is noted to be absent. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dry capsule as its fruit type. These capsules vary in dimensions, with a mean length of 1.45 cm (ranging from 0.8 to 2.2 cm) and a mean width of 1.1 cm (ranging from 0.7 to 1.3 cm). Each capsule is highly prolific, containing more than 1000 seeds. The seeds themselves are quite small, possessing a mean length, width, and volume of 0.9 mm, 0.9 mm, and 0.17 mm³ respectively, with a mean mass of 0.000159 g (ranging from 0.00004 to 0.0004 g). Dispersal is achieved through an anemochorous (wind-driven) mechanism, though it is also categorized as unspecialized.

Dispersal syndrome :

anemochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

red

Flower length max:

6 cm

Flower length min:

2 cm

Flower width max:

6 cm

Flower width min:

3 cm

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jul

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length max:

2.2 cm

Fruit length mean:

1.45 cm

Fruit length min:

0.8 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width max:

1.3 cm

Fruit width mean:

1.1 cm

Fruit width min:

0.7 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

0.9 mm

Seed mass max:

4e-04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.000159 g

Seed mass min:

4e-05 g

Seed volume max:

0.17 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Papaver rhoeas has 1 reported plant parts identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include flower.

Flower

1. Neoplasma

Chemicals

Papaver rhoeas has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Anthocyanins, Benzophenanthridine, Benzylisoquinoline, Ca2+, Coumarins.

Anthocyanins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Benzophenanthridine

1. Journal of separation science

Benzylisoquinoline

1. Journal of separation science

Ca2+

1. Biochemical and biophysical research communications

Coumarins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Flavonoids

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Oripavine

1. Planta medica

Phenols

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Protoberberine

1. Journal of separation science

Rhoeadine

1. Journal of separation science

Activities

Papaver rhoeas has 7 reported activities identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Analgesic, Antidepressant, Antispasmodic, Antitussive, Cytotoxic.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antispasmodic

1. Biological trace element research

Antitussive

1. Biological trace element research

Cytotoxic

1. Neoplasma

Genotoxic

1. Neoplasma

Sedative

1. Journal of separation science

Conditions

Papaver rhoeas has 10 reported investigations on conditions identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include analgesic, antidepressant, chronic diseases, cough, inflammation.

Analgesic

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Antidepressant

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chronic diseases

1. Neoplasma

Cough

1. Journal of separation science

Inflammation

1. Pakistan journal of biological sciences : PJBS

Oxidative stress

1. Neoplasma

Pain

1. Journal of separation science

Sedative

1. Journal of separation science

Sleep disorder

1. Journal of separation science

Struvite crystal

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Preparations

Papaver rhoeas has 6 reported preparations identified across 1 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include 10% ethanol, alcoholic and aqueous plant extract, dried petals, ethanolic and aqueous extract, fluid extracts.

10% ethanol

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Alcoholic and aqueous plant extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dried petals

1. Planta medica

Ethanolic and aqueous extract

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Fluid extracts

1. Planta medica

Plant extract isolated from flowers of papaver rhoeas

1. Neoplasma