Hybridizes with : Long-Headed Poppy (Papaver dubium) to produce Papaver × hungaricum for which it is sometimes mistakenly identified when specimens have slightly differing characteristics from the norm for Common Poppy; but this hybrid is only (?) found in Southern England, and is sterile.
Many similarities to : Oriental Poppy (Papaver pseudoorientale) but that is taller (t5o 1m) and has larger flowers (150mm across) which are pale pink to orange-red and with a similar but larger black splodge in the centre but the seed-capsule is widest near the top and also much tapers much narrower towards the base with an overall shape like a flower vase. These flowers also have three sepals.
It is a commonly grown in English Cottage Gardens and sold at garden centres under the name Shirley Poppy . A milky (sometimes yellow) latex oozes from broken stems. It is an archaeophyte.
This is the Poppy that sprang up in continental Europe after bombing in the war and which the Poppy that the Royal British Legion attempt to replicate in their Remembrance Day Poppies. It is the County Flower of Essex and Norfolk.
ANTHOCYANINS
The red colour of the petals is said to be due to an anthocyanin dye called Mecocyanin which has two glucose units attached in series to Cyanidin.
A blue glycosidic anthocyanin based upon Pelargonidin is said to be responsible, together with the above MecoCyanin, for the deep purple parts of the petals by subtractive colour)
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A ISOQUINOLINE ALKALOID
Rhoeadine, which obtains its name from the specific epithet part of the scientific name for this poppy 'rhoeas', is one of the alkaloids contained within the Common Poppy. If Common Poppy is ingested it presents the sufferer with same symptoms as those manifested by opium poisoning. It is an isoquinoline alkaloid similar to Berberine and Protopine. Note that Rhoedine has a 7-membered ring (the third from left) containing a heterocyclic nitrogen atom.
When Rhoeadine is decomposed by HCl it yields a red coloured substance that has intense calorific value. See Red Inimium Salt.
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A BISBENZYLISOQUINOLINE ALKALOID
Protopine, which is also known as Fumarine since it is found in Common Ramping-Fumitory (which is also in the Papaveraceae Family). is another bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid and acts as a smooth muscle relaxant and sedative. It is found within Common Poppy. Protopine has a 10-membered ring in the centre which also contains a heterocyclic nitrogen atom. But you could think of it as two fused 6-membered rings where the central bond has been broken.
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