PapaverĀ
AĀ poppyĀ is aĀ flowering plantĀ in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the familyĀ Papaveraceae. Poppies areĀ herbaceous plants, often grown for their colourful flowers.
Poppies areĀ herbaceous annual,Ā biennalĀ or short-livedĀ perennialĀ plants. Some species are monocarpic, dying after flowering. Poppies can be over a metre tall with flowers up to 15 centimetres across. Flowers of species (not cultivars) have 4 to 6 petals, many stamensĀ forming a conspicuous whorl in the center of the flower and an ovary of from 2 to many fused carpels. The petals are showy, may be of almost any color and some have markings. The petals are crumpled in theĀ budĀ and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away. In the temperate zones, poppies bloom from spring into early summer.Ā Most species secrete latex when injured.Ā BeesĀ use poppies as aĀ pollenĀ source. TheĀ pollenĀ of the oriental poppy,Ā Papaver OrientaleĀ is dark blue, that of the field or corn poppy (PapaverĀ rhoeas) is grey to dark green.Ā The opium poppy,Ā Papaver Somniferum, grows wild in eastern and southern Asia, and South Eastern Europe. It is believed that it originated in the Mediterranean region.
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