Editing Poppy (section)

==Description==
[[File:A bright red poppy flower.jpg|thumb|A close-up of a red-flowered poppy|alt=A close-up of a bright red poppy flower]]
[[File:Persian Poppy, Behbahan.jpg|alt=Wild poppy in Behbahan|thumb|Wild poppy in [[Behbahan County|Behbahan]]]]
[[File:Wild Poppy in Mazandaran, Iran.jpg|alt=Wild poppy in Mazandaran, Iran|thumb|Wild poppy in [[Mazandaran province|Mazandaran]]]]
Poppies are [[herbaceous plant|herbaceous]] [[Annual plant|annual]], [[Biennial plant|biennial]] or short-lived [[Perennial plant|perennial]] plants. Some species are [[monocarpic]], dying after flowering.

Poppies can be over {{convert|1|m|ft}} tall with flowers up to {{convert|15|cm|in}} across. Flowers of species (not cultivars) have 4 or 6 petals, many [[stamen]]s forming a conspicuous whorl in the center of the flower and an ovary composed of 2 or more fused carpels. The petals are showy, may be of almost any colour and may have markings. The petals are crumpled in the [[bud]] and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away.

In the temperate zones, poppies bloom from spring into early summer.<ref>Simon, J.E., Chadwick, A.F. and Craker L.E. (1984) Herbs: An indexed bibliography, 1971-1980: the scientific literature on selected herbs, and aromatic and medicinal plants of the Temperate Zone. Elsevier, Amsterdam and New York. {{ISBN|0444996265}}</ref> Most species secrete [[latex]] when injured. [[Bee]]s use poppies as a [[pollen source]]. The [[pollen]] of the oriental poppy, ''[[Papaver orientale]]'', is dark blue, that of the field or corn poppy (''[[Papaver rhoeas]]'') is grey to dark green.<ref name="Hodges">{{cite book |author=Dorothy Hodges |title=The pollen loads of the honeybee |year=1952 |publisher=Bee Research Association Ltd., London}}</ref> The opium poppy, ''[[Papaver somniferum]]'', grows wild in [[Southeast Europe]] and [[Southeast Asia]]. It is believed that it originated in the [[Mediterranean]] region.<ref>Kryzmanski, J. and Jonsson, R. (1999) Poppy. In: Robbelon, G., Downey, R.K., Ashri, A.(eds.), Oil Crops of the World. Their Breeding and Utilization. McGraw Hill, New York, {{ISBN|00-705-30815}}. p. 388-393.</ref>

[[File:Glaucium flavum 2015-06-16 442.JPG|thumb|A flowering ''[[glaucium flavum]]'']]
Poppies belong to the subfamily [[Papaveroideae]] of the family [[Papaveraceae]], which includes the following genera:
* ''[[Papaver]]'' – ''[[Papaver rhoeas]]'', ''[[Papaver somniferum]]'', ''[[Papaver orientale]]'', ''[[Papaver nudicaule]]'', ''[[Papaver cambricum]]''
* ''[[Eschscholzia]]'' – ''[[Eschscholzia californica]]''
* ''[[Meconopsis]]'' – ''[[Meconopsis napaulensis]]''
* ''[[Glaucium]]'' - the horned poppies including ''[[Glaucium flavum]]'' and ''[[Glaucium corniculatum]]''
* ''[[Stylophorum]]'' – celandine poppy
* ''[[Argemone]]'' – prickly poppy
* ''[[Romneya]]'' – matilija poppy and relatives
* ''[[Canbya]]'' – pygmy poppy
* ''[[Stylomecon]]'' – wind poppy
* ''[[Arctomecon]]'' – desert bearpaw poppy
* ''[[Hunnemannia]]'' – tulip poppy
* ''[[Dendromecon]]'' – tree poppy