Information About Red Poppies

A crop of red poppies

The red poppy is a species of flower plant and agricultural weed. Its scientific name is the Papaver rhoeas. The red poppy is part of the poppy plant family and has been used as a symbol for fallen soldiers.

Geography

The red poppy is native to Europe. It is common to see red poppies growing in agricultural fields and it is sometimes confused with actual crops.

Time Frame

The red poppy is a variable annual and grows in the spring time. If the weather is warm enough red poppies can spring up during the fall season.

Significance

The red poppy became a symbol for fallen soldiers sometime around World War I and is popular on Remembrance Day. The red poppy has also been popularized in song and poem. John McCrae wrote about the red poppy in the poem "In Flanders Fields" and the red poppy is referred to in the Polis war song "Czerwone maki na Monte Cassino."

Benefit

The red poppy has potential to become a crop and its seeds are used to make bread dough, decorate bread and used to make syrups.

Fun Fact

The American Legion uses the red poppy as an official symbol and has adopted it as the organization's memorial flower.

References

• The Story Behind the Poppy
• maltawildplants: The Red Poppy
• Amercian Meadows Guide to Wildflowers

Resources

• VFW: Buddy Poppy