poppy

Poppy is the common name for plants in the genus Papaver, especially Papaver rhoeas (common poppy) and Papaver somniferum (opium poppy). Poppies are flowering plants in the family Papaveraceae, native to the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and widely cultivated elsewhere.

Most poppies are annuals or short-lived perennials with tall, hollow stems and lobed bluish-green leaves. The flowers are usually solitary and showy, with four to six petals and a central column of stamens; colors vary from red and orange to pink, white, and purple. The seed capsule becomes a rounded, ribbed pod after petals fall.

Poppies prefer well-drained soils and sunny positions. They self-seed in gardens. Papaver somniferum is cultivated for its latex, which contains opiate alkaloids; extraction yields morphine, codeine, and other compounds used in medicine. Because of its potential for illicit drug production, cultivation of opium poppy is regulated in many countries.

Beyond their medicinal uses, poppies have horticultural value as ornamentals; poppy seeds are used in cooking and baking; poppy oil is produced from the seeds.

Cultural aspects: the red field poppy is a symbol of remembrance in some countries; the plant has a long history in art and literature.