Banner description

128 Species of Genus Papaver

The Enchanting World of Papaver: A Personal Journey

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the delicate beauty and vibrant colors of the Papaver genus. More commonly known as poppies, these flowers have captivated me since childhood with their papery petals and almost ethereal presence. Their fleeting blooms, often lasting only a day or two, seem to symbolize the ephemeral nature of beauty itself, making each moment with them precious.

I remember the first time I truly recognized a poppy. It was a bright red Papaver rhoeas, a common poppy, growing wild in a field near my grandmother’s house. Its scarlet petals, so vividly contrasted against the green sea of grass, seemed to dance in the gentle breeze. That image stuck with me, sparking a fascination that has only grown over time.

A Diverse Family of Flowers

The Papaver genus is surprisingly diverse, encompassing 128 species. These range from the bold and showy Papaver orientale, with its large, fiery orange blooms, to the more subtle charm of the Papaver nudicaule, the Iceland poppy, which comes in a variety of pastel hues.

  1. Papaver acrochaetum Bornm. ex Fedde
  2. Papaver aculeatum Thunb.
  3. Papaver alaskanum Hultén
  4. Papaver alberti Mikheev
  5. Papaver albiflorum (Elkan) Pacz.
  6. Papaver ammophilum (Turcz.) Peschkova
  7. Papaver anadyrense V.V.Petrovsky
  8. Papaver angustifolium Tolm.
  9. Papaver anjuicum Tolm.
  10. Papaver arachnoideum Kadereit
  11. Papaver arenarium M.Bieb.
  12. Papaver armeniacum (L.) DC.
  13. Papaver atlanticum (Ball) Coss.
  14. Papaver atrovirens V.V.Petrovsky
  15. Papaver baitagense Kamelin & Gubanov
  16. Papaver × bartuschianum Fedde
  17. Papaver bipinnatum C.A.Mey.
  18. Papaver × boissierianum Fedde
  19. Papaver × bourgeauanum Fedde
  20. Papaver bracteatum Lindl.
  21. Papaver calcareum V.V.Petrovsky
  22. Papaver californicum A.Gray
  23. Papaver cambricum L.
  24. Papaver canescens Tolm.
  25. Papaver carmeli Feinbrun
  26. Papaver chakassicum Peschkova
  27. Papaver chelidoniifolium Boiss. & Buhse
  28. Papaver chionophilum V.V.Petrovsky
  29. Papaver clavatum Boiss. & Hausskn.
  30. Papaver × collidorense Pérez Dacosta
  31. Papaver coloradense (Fedde) Fedde ex Wooton & Standl.
  32. Papaver columbianum Fedde ex Björk
  33. Papaver commutatum Fisch., C.A.Mey. & Trautv.
  34. Papaver confine Jord.
  35. Papaver coreanum Nakai
  36. Papaver curviscapum Nábělek
  37. Papaver cyprium (Chrtek & B.Slavík) M.V.Agab., Christodoulou & Hand
  38. Papaver czekanowskii Tolm.
  39. Papaver decaisnei (Elkan) Hochst. & Steud. ex Boiss.
  40. Papaver denalii Gjaerev.
  41. Papaver detritophilum V.V.Petrovsky
  42. Papaver dubium L.
  43. Papaver glabrum Royle
  44. Papaver glaucum Boiss. & Hausskn.
  45. Papaver × godronii Rouy
  46. Papaver gorgoneum Cout.
  47. Papaver gorodkovii Tolm. & V.V.Petrovsky
  48. Papaver gorovanicum M.V.Agab.
  49. Papaver gracile Aucher ex Boiss.
  50. Papaver halophilum (Fedde) Cullen
  51. Papaver heterophyllum (Benth.) Greene
  52. Papaver holophyllum Sam. ex Rech.f.
  53. Papaver hultenii Knaben
  54. Papaver humile Fedde
  55. Papaver hypsipetes V.V.Petrovsky
  56. Papaver × intercedens Kubát
  57. Papaver jacuticum Peschkova
  58. Papaver kachroianum Tabinda, Dar & Naqshi
  59. Papaver kuvajevii Schaulo & Sonnikova
  60. Papaver labradoricum (Fedde) Solstad & Elven
  61. Papaver laestadianum (Nordh.) Nordh.
  62. Papaver laevigatum M.Bieb.
  63. Papaver lateritium K.Koch
  64. Papaver lecoqii Lamotte
  65. Papaver leiocarpum (Turcz.) Popov
  66. Papaver leucotrichum Tolm.
  67. Papaver libanoticum Boiss.
  68. Papaver luculentum Björk
  69. Papaver macrostomum Boiss. & A.Huet
  70. Papaver maculosum Schur
  71. Papaver mairei Batt.
  72. Papaver malviflorum Doum.
  73. Papaver maschukense Mikheev
  74. Papaver mcconnellii Hultén
  75. Papaver minutiflorum Tolm.
  76. Papaver multiradiatum V.V.Petrovsky
  77. Papaver nivale Tolm.
  78. Papaver oreophilum Rupr.
  79. Papaver orientale L.
  80. Papaver pamporicum Tabinda, Dar & Naqshi
  81. Papaver paphium M.V.Agab., Christodoulou & Hand
  82. Papaver pasquieri Dubuis & Faurel
  83. Papaver paucistaminum Tolm. & V.V.Petrovsky
  84. Papaver persicum Lindl.
  85. Papaver pilosum Sm.
  86. Papaver pinnatifidum Moris
  87. Papaver piptostigma Bien. ex Fedde
  88. Papaver polare (Tolm.) Perfil.
  89. Papaver postii Fedde
  90. Papaver pseudoradicatum Kitag.
  91. Papaver × pseudotrilobum (Wein) Fedde
  92. Papaver pulvinatum Tolm.
  93. Papaver purpureomarginatum Kadereit
  94. Papaver pygmaeum Rydb.
  95. Papaver rechingeri Kadereit
  96. Papaver rhoeas L.
  97. Papaver roseoalbum Björk
  98. Papaver roseolum M.V.Agab. & Fragman
  99. Papaver rubroaurantiacum (Fisch. ex DC.) C.E.Lundstr.
  100. Papaver rupifragum Boiss. & Reut.
  101. Papaver saichanense Grubov
  102. Papaver schamurinii V.V.Petrovsky
  103. Papaver schelkovnikovii N.Busch
  104. Papaver setiferum Goldblatt
  105. Papaver setosum (Tolm.) Peschkova
  106. Papaver sheperdii Post ex Dinsm.
  107. Papaver smirnovii Peschkova
  108. Papaver sokolovskajae Prob.
  109. Papaver somniferum L.
  110. Papaver stanovense (Petroch.) Peschkova
  111. Papaver stewartianum Jajri & Qaiser
  112. Papaver × strigosum (Boenn.) Schur
  113. Papaver stubendorfii Tolm.
  114. Papaver talyshense Grossh.
  115. Papaver tatricum (A.Nyár.) Ehrend.
  116. Papaver tenellum Tolm.
  117. Papaver tenuifolium Boiss. & Hohen.
  118. Papaver tichomirovii Mikheev
  119. Papaver tolmatschevianum N.S.Pavlova
  120. Papaver × trilobum Wallr.
  121. Papaver × tuberculatum V.I.Dorof. & Murtaz.
  122. Papaver turczaninovii Peschkova
  123. Papaver udocanicum (Peschkova) Peschkova
  124. Papaver umbonatum Boiss.
  125. Papaver variegatum Tolm.
  126. Papaver walpolei A.E.Porsild
  127. Papaver yildirimlii Ertekin
  128. Papaver zangesurum Mikheev

More Than Just a Pretty Face

While the aesthetic appeal of poppies is undeniable, these plants have also played significant roles in human history and culture. The Papaver somniferum, for example, is the source of opium, a powerful painkiller that has been used for centuries. However, it’s also the source of highly addictive substances, highlighting the complex relationship between humans and this plant.

Poppies also hold symbolic meaning in many cultures. The red poppy, in particular, is a symbol of remembrance for those who have died in war. This association stems from World War I, when poppies bloomed in the battlefields of Flanders Fields, their red color mirroring the bloodshed of the conflict.

Cultivating Beauty: My Experience with Poppies

I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate several Papaver species in my own garden. It’s a rewarding experience, watching these delicate plants emerge from tiny seeds and transform into stunning blooms. I’ve found that poppies prefer well-drained soil and plenty of sunlight. They’re relatively low-maintenance plants, but deadheading spent blooms can encourage more flowers.

One of my favorite things about growing poppies is the element of surprise. Many species readily self-seed, so I often discover new plants popping up in unexpected corners of my garden. It’s like receiving a gift, a reminder of the resilience and beauty of nature.

The Allure of Poppies

The appeal of Papaver, for me, lies in its contrasting qualities. It’s a flower that embodies both fragility and resilience, simplicity and complexity. Its fleeting beauty serves as a reminder to appreciate the present moment, while its vibrant colors bring joy and vibrancy to any landscape.

Whether growing wild in a field or carefully cultivated in a garden, poppies continue to fascinate and inspire me. They are a testament to the enduring power of nature and a source of endless wonder.

Related Posts

Scroll to Top