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The [[genus]] '''''Papaver''''' is easily recognised and very widespread, it contains around 120 [[species]] of [[annual]]s and [[perennial]]s. It also gives its name to the poppy family ''[[Papaveracae]]''.

The [[genus]] '''''Papaver''''' is easily recognised and very widespread, it contains around 120 [[species]] of [[annual]]s and [[perennial]]s. It also gives its name to the [[poppy]] family ''[[Papaveracae]]''.

The flower stems, each with usually only one [[bud]], emerge from the [[basal rosette]]s of hairy, finely lobed leaves. The flowers usually have four petals surrounding a central ovary that is topped by a [[stigmatic disc]]. They come in a great variety of colours, normally shades of red, but yellows, purples and whites are available.

The flower stems, each with usually only one [[bud]], emerge from the [[basal rosette]]s of hairy, finely lobed leaves. The flowers usually have four petals surrounding a central [[ovary]] that is topped by a [[stigmatic disc]]. They come in a great variety of colours, normally shades of red, but yellows, purples and whites are available.

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Papaver (old Latin name, from the Greek, of dubious derivation). Papaveraceae. Poppy. Well- known flower-garden plants, of brilliant but short-lived bloom.

Papaver (old Latin name, from the Greek, of dubious derivation). Papaveraceae. Poppy. Well- known flower-garden plants, of brilliant but short-lived bloom.

Herbs or rarely subshrubs, annual, biennial and perennial, with milky juice, bristly or smooth and often glaucous: lvs. usually lobed or dissected in a pinnate way: peduncles long, single-fld., the bud usually nodding: fls. red, violet, yellow and white; sepals 2; petals usually 1; stamens numerous: ovary and caps, globose, obovate or top-shaped, dehiscing under the vertex by transverse pores between the placentae;, the openings very small and valve-like; this vertex or flattened sometimes conical top or cap represents the combined radiate stigmas; placentae 4 - 20, projecting into the c e n t e r.—Species more than 100, largely in the Medit. region, and the Armenian- Persian region and somewhat eastward, with one in the southern hemisphere; Fedde accepted 99 species in 1909 in Engler's Das Pflan- zenreich, hft. 40 (iv:104) together with many botanical varieties and hybrids. Two or three species are indigenous in W. N. Amer. Opium is made from the milky juice of P. somniferum, which oozes from shallow cuts made in the young capsules. The seeds have no narcotic properties and are sold for bird food under the name of "maw seed." They also produce a valuable oil.

Herbs or rarely subshrubs, annual, biennial and perennial, with milky juice, bristly or smooth and often glaucous: lvs. usually lobed or dissected in a pinnate way: peduncles long, single-fld., the bud usually nodding: fls. red, violet, yellow and white; sepals 2; petals usually 1; stamens numerous: ovary and caps, globose, obovate or top-shaped, dehiscing under the vertex by transverse pores between the placentae;, the openings very small and valve-like; this vertex or flattened sometimes conical top or cap represents the combined radiate stigmas; placentae 4 - 20, projecting into the c e n t e r.—Species more than 100, largely in the Medit. region, and the Armenian- Persian region and somewhat eastward, with one in the southern hemisphere; Fedde accepted 99 species in 1909 in Engler's Das Pflan- zenreich, hft. 40 (iv:104) together with many botanical varieties and hybrids. Two or three species are indigenous in W. N. Amer. Opium is made from the milky juice of P. somniferum, which oozes from shallow cuts made in the young capsules. The seeds have no narcotic properties and are sold for bird food under the name of "maw seed." They also produce a valuable oil.

Poppies rank among the most popular flowers in cultivation. From their astonishing range of color, and from the formidable list of names given below, one might suppose their botany to be very complicated. It is, however, easy to understand, although the variation in some of the species is very great. There are only four species commonly cultivated and these are all remarkably distinct. They are (1) the opium poppy, (2) the corn poppy, (3) the Iceland poppy, and (4) the oriental poppy.

Poppies rank among the most popular flowers in cultivation. From their astonishing range of color, and from the formidable list of names given below, one might suppose their botany to be very complicated. It is, however, easy to understand, although the variation in some of the species is very great. There are only four species commonly cultivated and these are all remarkably distinct. They are (1) the opium poppy, (2) the corn poppy, (3) the Iceland poppy, and (4) the oriental poppy.

The other species of poppy are for the fancier. The alpine poppy, P. alpinum, was considered by Linnaeus to be a distinct species from the Iceland poppy. However, gradations occur between the typical form of P. nudicaule of the arctic regions and the poppy found in the Alps. The former has a yellow flower, while the common alpine poppy is white. The alpine poppy is by some regarded as an extreme form of P. nudicaule, characterized by a dwarfer habit and more finely divided foliage. For horticultural purposes P. nudicaule and P. alpinum should be considered to be distinct species, as many botanists indeed consider them to be. The Iceland poppy can be easily grown in the border, while the alpine poppy demands rock-garden treatment. The former does best in a moderately rich and light loam, while the latter does better in a rather poor soil. Both need full exposure to the sun, and P. alpinum probably needs better drainage. See No. 20, p. 2459.

The other species of poppy are for the fancier. The alpine poppy, P. alpinum, was considered by Linnaeus to be a distinct species from the Iceland poppy. However, gradations occur between the typical form of P. nudicaule of the arctic regions and the poppy found in the Alps. The former has a yellow flower, while the common alpine poppy is white. The alpine poppy is by some regarded as an extreme form of P. nudicaule, characterized by a dwarfer habit and more finely divided foliage. For horticultural purposes P. nudicaule and P. alpinum should be considered to be distinct species, as many botanists indeed consider them to be. The Iceland poppy can be easily grown in the border, while the alpine poppy demands rock-garden treatment. The former does best in a moderately rich and light loam, while the latter does better in a rather poor soil. Both need full exposure to the sun, and P. alpinum probably needs better drainage. See No. 20, p. 2459.

The Shirley poppies are now the prevailing forms of P. Rhoeas. The following history of the remarkable race is given by the Rev. W. Wilks in "The Garden," 57, page 385: "In 1880 I noticed in a waste corner of my garden abutting on the fields a patch of the common wild field poppy (Papaver Rhoeas), one solitary flower of which had a very narrow edge of white. This one flower I marked and saved the seed of it alone. Next year, out of perhaps two hundred plants I had four or five on which all the flowers were edged. The best of these were marked and the seed saved, and so for several years, the flowers all the while getting a larger infusion of white to tone down the red until they arrived at quite pale pink and one plant absolutely pure white. I then set myself to change the black central portions of the flowers from black to yellow or white, and having at last fixed a strain with petals varying in color from the brightest scarlet to pure white, with all shades of pink between and all varieties of flakes and edged flowers also, but all having yellow or white stamens, anthers and pollen, and a white base." .

The Shirley poppies are now the prevailing forms of P. Rhoeas. The following history of the remarkable race is given by the Rev. W. Wilks in "The Garden," 57, page 385: "In 1880 I noticed in a waste corner of my garden abutting on the fields a patch of the common wild field poppy (Papaver Rhoeas), one solitary flower of which had a very narrow edge of white. This one flower I marked and saved the seed of it alone. Next year, out of perhaps two hundred plants I had four or five on which all the flowers were edged. The best of these were marked and the seed saved, and so for several years, the flowers all the while getting a larger infusion of white to tone down the red until they arrived at quite pale pink and one plant absolutely pure white. I then set myself to change the black central portions of the flowers from black to yellow or white, and having at last fixed a strain with petals varying in color from the brightest scarlet to pure white, with all shades of pink between and all varieties of flakes and edged flowers also, but all having yellow or white stamens, anthers and pollen, and a white base." .

. . Mr. Wilks then distributed it. freely to all. "My ideal," he continues, "is to get a yellow P. Rhoeas, and I have already obtained many distinct shades of salmon. The Shirley poppies have thus been obtained simply by selection ana elimination. . . . Let it be noticed that true Shirley poppies (1) are single, (2) always have a white base with (3) yellow or white stamens, anthers and pollen, (4) never have the smallest particle of black about them. Double poppies and poppies with black centers may be greatly admired by some, but they

. . Mr. Wilks then distributed it. freely to all. "My ideal," he continues, "is to get a yellow P. Rhoeas, and I have already obtained many distinct shades of salmon. The Shirley poppies have thus been obtained simply by selection ana elimination. . . . Let it be noticed that true Shirley poppies (1) are single, (2) always have a white base with (3) yellow or white stamens, anthers and pollen, (4) never have the smallest particle of black about them. Double poppies and poppies with black centers may be greatly admired by some, but they

are not Shirley poppies. It is rather interesting to reflect that the gardens of the-whole world—rich man's and poor man's alike—are today furnished with poppies which are the direct descendants of one single capsule of seed raised in the garden of the Shirley Vicarage so lately as August, 1880."

are not Shirley poppies. It is rather interesting to reflect that the gardens of the-whole world—rich man's and poor man's alike—are today furnished with poppies which are the direct descendants of one single capsule of seed raised in the garden of the Shirley Vicarage so lately as August, 1880."

Hybrids between different species of Papaver are described in the monographs, but they do not appear to have given leading forms for cultivation. Hybrids have been produced between the annual and perennial species. Between the different garden varieties, crossing probably goes on continuously, and new strains are constantly arising.

Hybrids between different species of Papaver are described in the monographs, but they do not appear to have given leading forms for cultivation. Hybrids have been produced between the annual and perennial species. Between the different garden varieties, crossing probably goes on continuously, and new strains are constantly arising.

[[Image:Papaver orientale 'Cedric Morris' - 1.jpg|thumb|Oriental Poppy 'Cedric Morris' (salmon pink), ([[Papaver orientale]])]]

[[Image:Papaver orientale 'Cedric Morris' - 1.jpg|thumb|Oriental Poppy 'Cedric Morris' (salmon pink), ([[Papaver orientale]])]]

[[Image:Isländischer Mohn.jpg|thumb|Papaver nudicaule]]

[[Image:Isländischer Mohn.jpg|thumb|Papaver nudicaule]]

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