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A poppy is a flowering plant in the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae. Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colorful flowers. One species of poppy, ''Papaver somniferum'', produces edible seeds and is also the source of the crude drug opium which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine and has been used since ancient times as an analgesic and a source of narcotic, medicinal and recreational drugs. Following the trench warfare which took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, during the 1st World War, poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime. ==Description== Poppies are herbaceous annual, biennial or short-lived perennial plants. Some species are monocarpic, dying after flowering. Poppies can be over 4 feet tall with flowers up to six inches across. The flowers have 4 to 6 petals, many stamens forming a conspicuous whorl in the centre of the flower and an ovary consisting of from 2 to many fused carpels. The petals are showy, may be of almost any color and some have markings. The petals are crumpled in the bud and as blooming finishes, the petals often lie flat before falling away. Poppies are in full bloom late spring to early summer.〔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〕 Most species secrete latex when injured. Bees 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. The opium poppy, ''Papaver somniferum'', is mainly grown in eastern and southern Asia, and South Eastern Europe. It is believed that it originated in the Mediterranean region.〔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.〕 Poppies belong to the subfamily Papaveroideae of the family Papaveraceae, which includes the following genera: *''Papaver'' – ''Papaver rhoeas'', ''Papaver somniferum'', ''Papaver orientale'', ''Papaver nudicaule'' *''Eschscholzia'' – ''Eschscholzia californica'' *''Meconopsis'' – ''Meconopsis cambrica'', ''Meconopsis napaulensis'' *''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 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「poppy」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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