Papaver rhoeas
| Papaver rhoeas | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |  |
| Hardiness: | 5 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 2' |
| Width: | 0.5' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Late Summer |
| Native to: | |
| Shelter | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Papaver rhoeas (common name: corn poppy)
Propagation: Seed - sow spring or autumn in situ[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a well-drained sandy loam in a sunny position[2][1]. Does not do well on wet clay soils but succeeds in most other soils[3].
Plants usually self-sow freely when growing in suitable conditions so long as the soil surface is disturbed[4].
There are several named varieties selected for their ornamental value[1].
A polymorphic species, varying in leaf shape and flower colour[5].
When growing in cereal fields, poppies decrease the yields of nearby cereal plants[6][7].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer or rabbits[8].
Range: Europe, including Britain, from Scandanavia south and east to N. Africa and temperate Asia.
Habitat: A common weed of cultivated land and waste places, avoiding acid soils[5]. Becoming far less frequent on cultivated land due to modern agricultural practices.
Edibility: Seed - raw or cooked. Much used as a flavouring in cakes, bread, fruit salads etc[9][10][11][12], it imparts a very nice nutty flavour[K]. The seeds are rather small, but they are contained in fairly large seed pods and so are easy to harvest. The seeds are perfectly safe to eat, containing none of the alkaloids associated with other parts of the plant[4].
Leaves - raw or cooked[13][14]. Used like spinach or as a flavouring in soups and salads[15][12]. The leaves should not be used after the flower buds have formed[13]. Some caution is advised, see the notes above on toxicity.
An edible oil is obtained from the seed[16][9]. Said to be an excellent substitute for olive oil[9][12], it can be used in salad dressings or for cooking[16].
A syrup can be prepared from the scarlet flower petals, it is used in soups, gruels etc[9][12].
A red dye from the petals is used as a food flavouring, especially in wine[12].
Medicinal: The flowers of corn poppy have a long history of medicinal usage, especially for ailments in the elderly and children[17][18]. Chiefly employed as a mild pain reliever and as a treatment for irritable coughs, it also helps to reduce nervous over-activity[18]. Unlike the related opium poppy (P. somniferum) it is non-addictive[17]. However, the plant does contain alkaloids, which are still under investigation, and so should only be used under the supervision of a qualified herbalist[17].
The flowers and petals are anodyne, emollient, emmenagogue, expectorant, hypnotic, slightly narcotic and sedative[9][13][19][20][21][22]. An infusion is taken internally in the treatment of bronchial complaints and coughs, insomnia, poor digestion, nervous digestive disorders and minor painful conditions[19][4]. The flowers are also used in the treatment of jaundice[23]. The petals are harvested as the flowers open and are dried for later use[4]. They should be collected on a dry day and can be dried or made into a syrup[9].
The latex in the seedpods is narcotic and slightly sedative[24]. It can be used in very small quantities, and under expert supervision, as a sleep-inducing drug[13].
The leaves and seeds are tonic[24]. They are useful in the treatment of low fevers[24].
The plant has anticancer properties[23].
Usage: A red dye is obtained from the flowers[13][21][25], though it is very fugitive[9]. A syrup made from the petals has been used as a colouring matter for old inks[9][20][26].
The red petals are used to add colour to pot-pourri[4].
Pollinators: Bees, flies, beetles, self
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Seed Ripens: Late Summer-Early Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Known Hazards: This plant is toxic to mammals, though the toxicity is low[27]. The seed is not toxic[27].
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Sowerby, John. The Useful Plants of Great Britain. 1862.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Bown, Deni. Royal Horticultural Society Encyclopaedia of Herbs and Their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, 1995.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Clapham, Arthur and Tom Tootin, Edmund Warburg. Flora of the British Isles. Cambridge University Press, 1962.
- ↑ Philbrick, Helen and Richard Gregg. Companion Plants. Watkins, 1979.
- ↑ Riotte, Louise. Carrots Love Tomatoes. Garden Way, 1978.
- ↑ Thomas, Graham. Perennial Garden Plants. J. M. Dent & Sons, 1990.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Grieve, Margaret. A Modern Herbal. Penguin, 1984.
- ↑ Mabey, Richard. Food for Free. Collins, 1974.
- ↑ Lust, John. The Herb Book. Bantam Books, 1983.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 13.4 Chiej, Roberto. Encyclopaedia of Medicinal Plants. MacDonald, 1984.
- ↑ Larkcom, Joy. Salads all the Year Round. Hamlyn, 1980.
- ↑ Corbetta, Francisco. The COmplete Book of Fruits and Vegetables. 1985.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Hedrick, Ulysses. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications, 1972.
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 Phillips, Roger. Herbs. Pan Books, 1990.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Chevallier, Andrew. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants. Dorling Kindersley, 1996.
- ↑ 19.0 19.1 Launert, Edmund. Edible and Medicinal Plants. Hamlyn, 1981.
- ↑ 20.0 20.1 Triska, Jan. Encyclopaedia of Plants. Hamlyn, 1975.
- ↑ 21.0 21.1 Uphof, Johannes. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim, 1959.
- ↑ de Bray, Lys. The Wild Garden.
- ↑ 23.0 23.1 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Chopra, R. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants. Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi, 1986.
- ↑ Usher, George. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable, 1974.
- ↑ Polunin, Oleg. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press, 1987.
- ↑ 27.0 27.1 Cooper, Marion. Poisonous Plants in Britain and their Effects on Animals and Man. The Stationery Office, 1984.