Papaver rhoeas
Papaver orientale
amapola, common poppy, coquelicot, corn poppy, field poppy, flanders poppy
oriental poppy
simple or usually branching.
simple or rarely branching.
to 15 cm;
distal often somewhat clustered.
to 35 cm.
peduncle sparsely to moderately spreading-hispid throughout.
peduncle moderately to densely appressed pale hispid;
bracts sometimes 1-4 just beneath flower.
petals white, pink, orange, or red, often with dark basal spot, to 3.5 cm;
anthers bluish;
stigmas 5-18, disc ± flat.
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 or substipitate, turbinate to subglobose, obscurely ribbed, to 2 cm, less than 2 times longer than broad.
sessile, subglobose, obscurely ribbed, to 2.5 cm, glaucous.
Papaver rhoeas
Papaver orientale
J. W. Kadereit (1990) suggested that Papaver rhoeas originated on the east coast of the Mediterranean, probably derived from one or more of the other species of the section that are native in that region, and only after (and because) "suitable habitats in sufficient extent were provided by man." Various forms with pale pink or white, unspotted, sometimes doubled petals are grown for ornament, notably the Shirley poppies. In North America, the species escapes from cultivation fairly readily and has been introduced also as a crop weed.
(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.)
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