Common poppy - Papaver rhoeas

Common Name :	Common poppy.
Binomial Name :	Papaver rhoeas
Family :	Papaveraceae
Bangla Name :	Poppy (পপি ফুল).
Photo Taken :	Ireland, Bangladesh

Botanical Identity

Papaver rhoeas, commonly known as the Common Poppy, Corn Poppy, or Flanders Poppy, is an annual herbaceous plant belonging to the Papaveraceae family. It is native to Europe, North Africa, and parts of western Asia, but has spread widely and naturalized across temperate regions of the world. Often seen blooming in fields and roadsides, especially in disturbed soil, this poppy became a powerful symbol of remembrance after World War I, particularly in Europe. In Bangladesh this is an ornamental flowering plant mostly found around bedding in a garden or a park.

Plant Description

This delicate yet resilient plant grows to a height of about 30 to 60 cm, with finely divided, hairy leaves and a slender stem. It thrives in open, sunny areas and is especially common in farmlands, meadows, and fallow fields. Papaver rhoeas prefers light, well-drained soils and often emerges in areas where the ground has been turned, such as plowed fields or construction sites. Its seeds are extremely long-lived and can form a persistent seed bank in the soil.

Flowers and Fruit Characteristics

The Common Poppy is admired for its bright red, silky petals, often with a black blotch at the base, forming a striking contrast against green backgrounds. Each flower measures about 5–10 cm across and blooms from late spring to early summer. The flowers are borne singly on long, hairy stems. After flowering, it produces rounded seed capsules with a distinctive disk-like top. These capsules release hundreds of tiny black seeds that can lie dormant for years, waiting for soil disturbance to trigger germination.

Uses and Cultural Significance

Historically, Papaver rhoeas has been used in traditional medicine for its mild sedative and cough-relieving properties, particularly in teas made from its petals. While it lacks the narcotic compounds found in the opium poppy (Papaver somniferum), it is appreciated for its gentle medicinal action. Culturally, the red poppy became an enduring symbol of remembrance and sacrifice following its association with the battlefields of World War I, immortalized in the poem In Flanders Fields. Today, it continues to be both a botanical beauty and a poignant emblem of memory and peace.


Photos of this Common poppy (Papaver rhoeas) were taken from the following locations:
1) March 2013: Agricultural University, Mymensingh, Bangladesh.
2) June 2023: Kildare, Ireland. From my backyard garden.


Written by Lonely Traveler,
For blog icflora.blogspot.com