Field Poppies (Papaver rhoeas) Science Image

Ref: poppy19



Field Poppies (Papaver rhoeas). This common wild flower distributed all over Europe, W. Asia and Africa is a hairy plant with single flowers having four usually red overlapping petals which are often black at their base. The flower stalks have white or red hairs and the leaves, which are deeply lobed are 15cm or more in length. The drooping bud becomes upright when flowering and the 2 sepals fall away during blooming. The flower is short lived leaving behind a round hairless seed capsule with up to 18 spokeless ridges. The plant is an annual and blooms from spring to early summer and can often be found in profusion in arable fields, gardens and waysides and in warmer climates vineyards and olive groves.