John In Ireland
Well-known member
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White Poppy Algarve (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter John In Ireland
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
Agree with Papaver somniferum, the normal lilac colour is normal but white ones are frequent. Its a naturalised exotic appearing on disturbed ground.
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
Think the wild type is red with a black patch at the base of the petals; like this:
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
They're pretty common here, there is a large population near the BP petrol station near Lagos for example and the only colours I have seen are as attached (bad photo) - and the odd white one - never seen one's the colour in your photo!
The common red one here is Papaver rhoeas - here's a piccy I took near Lagos
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Simon Wates
Well-known member
One or two red ones here, I had no idea they were grown in England at such scale!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fileoppy_Fields_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1361923.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File
oppy_Fields_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1361923.jpg
Nutcracker
Stop Brexit!
But are the pink / mauve ones cultivated selections? Hard to find info on what the original wild species is like! But reds predominate in the genus.
Simon Wates
Well-known member
I'd mentioned that I'd never seen red ones - had meant amongst the spontaneous populations. I would be interested if the red flowered photo was taken within range and if occurring outside a garden setting.
There are numerous cultivars/varieties withing the gardening world of which most, if not all don't produce opium, or very little. These come in many colours from white - pink - purple and reds and in double, single and picotted forms. These are best referred to as breadseed poppy, rather than opium.
I think the taxonomy of the wild forms is unresolved also, maybe more than one species involved.
There are numerous cultivars/varieties withing the gardening world of which most, if not all don't produce opium, or very little. These come in many colours from white - pink - purple and reds and in double, single and picotted forms. These are best referred to as breadseed poppy, rather than opium.
I think the taxonomy of the wild forms is unresolved also, maybe more than one species involved.
Yes without doubt poppys are attractive flowers they can soon add a bit of colour on disturbed ground especially If the soil is right, I remember last year just across the road from me a screen of mature leylandii were taken Out from the bottom of a neibours garden they had a small digger on the job and replaced it all with a fence, no Doubt from those activitys they,ve created some nice patches of poppys alongside the fence I saw the first flower Out yesterday from the colour and size It had to be a oriental poppy with the typical light green bushy growth Below hopefully the council will leave them alone thou I think that might be asking for to much I think they,d look nice in any border.
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