Papaver argemone
Papaver orientale
long prickly-head poppy, pale rough fruit poppy, prickly pod poppy
oriental poppy
simple or branching.
simple or rarely branching.
to 12[-20] cm.
to 35 cm.
peduncle appressed-hispid.
peduncle moderately to densely appressed pale hispid;
bracts sometimes 1-4 just beneath flower.
petals dark red, sometimes with dark basal spot, to 25 mm;
anthers pale blue;
stigmas 4-6, disc convex and radially vaulted.
petals light orange to orange-red, usually with pale basal spot, sometimes dark-spotted or unspotted, to 6 cm;
anthers violet;
stigmas (8-)11-15, disc flat or shallowly convex.
sessile, oblong to clavate, distinctly ribbed, to 2 cm, sparsely and weakly setose.
sessile, subglobose, obscurely ribbed, to 2.5 cm, glaucous.
Papaver argemone
Papaver orientale
In its native range, Papaver argemone is a complex of five diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid subspecies (J. W. Kadereit 1986, 1990). Apparently two or more of these have been represented among the crop weeds and ballast waifs introduced in North America, where plants are difficult to assign to particular subspecies. The species should be expected elsewhere in the flora. Collections attributed to Maryland, Ohio, and Virginia are known also, but they lack more specific citations of locality.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
An alpine species in its native range, Papaver orientale is widely grown for ornament and sometimes persists after spreading from cultivation. It should be expected elsewhere in the flora.
Papaver bracteatum Lindley, which some authors have included in P. orientale, is similar but more robust, with buds erect, sepals subtended by 3-5 sepaloid and 2 foliaceous bracts, flowers to 20 cm diam., deep red petals with dark basal spot, and capsules to 4 cm. It is widely cultivated and may occasionally escape but apparently does not become naturalized.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria 
WildflowerSearch
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USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
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MI Flora
