Corn Poppy
Corn Poppy: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
The common or corn poppy, Papaver rhoeas, is an annual in the poppy family, recognised by red flowers and slender hairy stems. Often associated with cereal fields and disturbed ground, it provides a seasonal presence rather than a permanent perennial clump. Its life cycle includes leaf growth, flowering and the development of capsules containing many tiny seeds.The plant first forms leaves near the ground, then branched stems carrying buds and flowers. The green leaves are divided into lobes and covered with hairs. Rounded buds often hang down before opening. Their green covering falls away as the petals unfold. The contrast between a hairy bud and a very light-looking flower is one of the easiest characteristics to observe.Single flowers generally have four large, thin, crumpled-looking petals that open into a cup and then spread out. Their red colouring may have dark marks at the base, but these marks are not identical…
