Citation: L., Sp. Pl. 506 (1753).

Synonymy: Not Applicable

Common name: Poppies.

Description:
Annual with white to yellow sap; leaves petiolate, in a basal rosette, sessile above, pinnatisect to bipinnatisect.

Sepals 2, free, caducous; petals 4; stamens numerous; stigmas lobed discs, sessile or almost so, persistent in fruit.

Capsule globose to obovate, dehiscing through several pores below the stigma; seeds kidney-shaped.

Distribution:  The genus of about 100 species is mainly found in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, but several species have become widespread weeds of cultivation.

Biology: No text

Key to Species:

1. Capsule (and ovary) glabrous
2. Capsule almost globose; cauline leaves lobed at the base; pedicels with erect usually appressed bristles	P. setigerum 6.
2. Capsule ellipsoidal to obconical; cauline leaves tapering towards the base, or if slightly lobed then pedicels with hairs or bristles spreading at about right angles
3. Leaves toothed or if lobed then lobes rarely more than a quarter of the width of the leaf, covered with bristles and soft hairs. P. aculeatum 1
3. Leaves dissected almost to the central vein, covered with soft hairs
4. Pedicels with erect and appressed hairs at least below the flower; capsule narrowly obovoid-ellipsoid and about twice as long as broad	P. dubium 3.
4. Pedicels with spreading hairs; capsule obovoid and less than twice as long as broad	P. rhoeas 5.
1. Capsule (and ovary) with appressed to spreading hairs or bristles
5. Capsule narrowly ellipsoid (at least twice as long as broad) with few bristles towards the apex	P. argemone 2.
5. Capsule broadly ellipsoid or rarely almost globose (less than twice as long as broad) covered with spreading bristles	P. hybridum 4.

Author: Not yet available