Papaver rhoeas - red field poppy (0.5 g of seed)

The poppy is an annual herbaceous plant up to 80 - 90 cm tall. The species, widely distributed in Italy, normally grows in fields and on the edges of roads and railways and is considered a weed. The flower is red with delicate and deciduous petals, often stained black at the base in correspondence with the black stamens. The stem is erect, covered with stiff hairs. When cut it emits a white liquid. The leaves are pinnately set and scattered along the stem. The fruit is a capsule that contains numerous small, kidney-shaped and reticulate seeds; these emerge from a hole under the stigma. It flowers in spring from April to mid-July. A field of red poppies is an eye-catcher that is impossible to ignore. Many painters and photographers have tried to capture and reproduce the feeling of amazement felt when faced with the brilliance of the red poppy. The green wheat fields painted by the Macchiaioli are famous, with many red spots typical of poppies.

Pedoclimatic needs

Not very demanding. It is frequent on the edges of paths and abounds on uncultivated land with calcareous soil.

Sowing

Directly planted at the beginning of autumn as the seedlings are difficult to re-stake out. The soil must be free from vegetation and well tilled.

Botanical Information

Botanical Name: Papaver rhoeas

Family: Papaveraceae