Home Flower Identifier Flower Details
Corn Poppy
🌸

Corn Poppy

Papaver rhoeas

Basic Details
Description
Floral Formula
Features
Translations
Related

Basic Details

NameCorn Poppy
DescriptionIconic annual wildflower featuring brilliant scarlet-red, papery petals with distinctive black blotches at the base surrounding a dark center. Blooms sway gracefully on slender, hairy stems above feathery foliage, creating stunning drifts in fields and meadows. Immortalized as symbol of remembrance for fallen soldiers, particularly from WWI battlefields of Flanders, where poppies bloomed among the trenches—now worn on Remembrance Day and Veterans Day worldwide.
FamilyPapaveraceae
GenusPapaver
TribePapavereae

Floral Formula & Features

Floral FormulaEBr ⊕ ⚥ K2 C4 A∞ G(2-20)

Ebracteate (no bracts), radially symmetrical (actinomorphic), bisexual, 2 free sepals that fall as flower opens (caducous), 4 free papery petals, numerous free stamens (many dozens), 2-20 fused carpels forming superior ovary with radiating stigmatic rays

Features
  • Name 'Corn Poppy' from growing as weed in grain fields (corn = grain in British English). 'Papaver' from Latin 'papa' (pap/milk) for milky sap. 'Rhoeas' from Greek for red. 'Flanders Poppy' from WWI poem 'In Flanders Fields' by John McCrae. Symbol of remembrance since 1921
  • Flowers 2-4 inches (5-10 cm) across with 4 delicate, crinkled, papery petals (occasionally 5-6). Brilliant scarlet-red with black or dark purple blotch at base. Prominent black stamens surround green seed capsule in center. Buds nod downward, flowers face upward. Individual blooms last 1-2 days
  • Annual wildflower that blooms late spring through summer (May-August). Flowers open in morning, petals drop by afternoon or next day. After blooming, produces distinctive pepper-shaker seed pods releasing thousands of tiny seeds. Self-seeds prolifically, naturalizing in disturbed soils
  • Grows 1-2.5 feet (30-75 cm) tall with slender, branching stems. Lifespan of one growing season (annual). Propagated from seed sown directly in fall or early spring (needs cold stratification, doesn't transplant well). Seeds remain viable in soil for decades
  • Native to Europe, Mediterranean region, temperate Asia, and North Africa. Naturalized worldwide in temperate regions. Historically abundant in agricultural fields before herbicides. Found in disturbed soils, roadsides, waste ground, and wildflower meadows
  • Requires full sun with at least 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Thrives in poor to moderately fertile, well-drained soil. Drought tolerant once established. Dislikes rich soil or overwatering. Grows best in cool spring weather. Sow seeds where they are to grow (resents transplanting)
  • International symbol of remembrance for war casualties, especially WWI. Seeds edible and used in baking (poppy seeds). Does NOT contain opium alkaloids (unlike P. somniferum). Attracts bees and beneficial insects. Deer resistant. Excellent for wildflower meadows and naturalized areas. Banned in some agricultural areas as weed

Names in Different Languages

Latin / ScientificPapaver rhoeas
English (Alternate)Corn rose, Field poppy, Flanders poppy, Red poppy
Hindiगुलाब खस (Gulab Khas), पोस्ता (Posta)
Tamilகாட்டுக்காளான் பூ (Kaattuk Kaalaan Poo)
Telugu గానుగ పువ్వు (Gaanuga Puvvu)
Malayalamകൺകാവൽ (Kankaval), ചെഞ്ചെടിയുടെ പൂവ് (Chenchediyude Poovu)
Kannadaಕಾರ್ನ್ ಪಾಪಿ(Korn Papi)
SanskritRakta-posta (रक्त-पोस्त), Rakta Khakasa (रक्त खखस), Raktapostuvrikshaha (रक्तपोस्तुवृक्ष)
Bengaliপোস্ত ফুল (Posto Phool), কর্ন পপি (Korn Popy), বেল ফুল (Bel Phool)
Frenchcoquelicot
Russianполевой мак (polevoy mak), красный мак (krasniy mak)
Spanishamapola silvestre
GermanKlatschmohn, Mohnblume

What is Floral Formula?

A floral formula is a symbolic representation of a flower's structure using letters, numbers, and special symbols. It provides a concise way to describe the arrangement and number of floral parts.

Example Formula
% K(6) C1+2+(2) A(9) G2

This formula describes the flower's symmetry, sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels in a standardized format.

Formula Sequence

  • Bract: Br or Ebr
  • Bracteole: Brl or Ebrl
  • Symmetry: % (Radial) or ⊕ (Bilateral)
  • Sex: ♀ (Female), ♂ (Male), or ⚥ (Bisexual)
  • Calyx/Sepal: K<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Corolla/Petal: C<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Androecium: A<number> (Free or Fused)
  • Gynaecium: G<number> (Superior or Inferior Ovary)

Symbol Meanings

  • Numbers: Indicate quantity of parts
  • Parentheses (): Parts are fused together
  • Plus (+): Parts in different whorls
  • Underline: Superior ovary position
  • Overline: Inferior ovary position
  • ∞: Numerous parts (too many to count)

Understanding floral formulas helps botanists quickly identify and classify flowers based on their structural characteristics.