The Poppy is any of a number of showy flowers, born one per stem, belonging to the poppy family.
These can be enjoyed in the wild, but are also grown for ornament.
There are white, pink, yellow, orange, red and blue poppies; some have a dark centre. The centre has a whorl of stamens.
Poppies have 4-6 petals. Prior to blooming, the petals are crumpled in bud.
Poppies have long been used as a symbol of both sleep and death: sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of their (commonly) blood red color.
Poppies are used as emblems on tombstones to symbolize eternal sleep.
The poppy of wartime remembrance is the red corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas. This poppy is a common weed in Europe and is found in many locations, including Flanders Field.
In many Commonwealth countries, artificial, paper versions of this poppy are worn to commemorate the sacrifice of veterans and civilians in World War I and other wars, during the weeks preceding Remembrance Day on November 11.
It has been adopted as a symbol by The Royal British Legion in their Poppy Appeal.
In Australia and New Zealand, paper poppies are widely distributed by the Returned Services Association leading up to ANZAC day (April 25th).
The golden poppy, Eschscholzia californica, is the state flower of California.
Poppies may be found in the genera:
Meconopsis - Himalayan poppy, Welsh poppy and relatives.
Papaver - Iceland poppy, Oriental poppy, Opium poppy, corn poppy and about 120 other species.
Romneya - Matilija poppy and relatives.
Eschscholzia - California poppy and relatives.
Stylophorum - Celandine-poppy, mock poppy, yellow-poppy, wood-poppy.
Argemone - Prickly-poppy
Canbya - Pygmy-poppy
Stylomecon - Wind-poppy
Arctomecon - Desert bearclaw-poppy
Hunnemannia - Tulip poppy
Dendromecon - Tree poppy
The pollen of the oriental poppy, Papaver orientale, is dark blue. The pollen of the field poppy or corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is dark blue to grey.
Bees will use poppies as a pollen source.
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