Papaver rhoeas L.

Annual herb; rosette tufted; stems erect, usually sparsely hispid, 30–60–(100) cm tall. Lvs dull green, 7–20 × 1–8 cm, at least the lower petiolate. Lamina narrow-ovate to triangular, cuneate at base, sparsely to densely hispid, pinnatifid to 2-pinnatisect, the upper becoming less divided. Pedicels to 30 cm long, with fine spreading hairs throughout. Sepals hispid, 10–20 × 5–10 mm. Petals red, rarely pink or white, 2–4 × 2.5–6 cm, usually with dark, sometimes white, basal blotch. Capsule subglobose to broadly obovoid, widest above 1/2 way, flat-topped, rounded at shortly stipitate base, slightly ribbed, glabrous, 10–15–(20) × 8–15 mm. Stigmatic disc = width of capsule, flat when ripe; rays (5)–8–12–(18).

[From: Webb et al. (1988) Flora of New Zealand. Volume 4.]

Flowering: (Oct.)–Dec.–Jan.–(Apr.); Fruiting: (Oct.)–Dec.–Jan.–(Apr.)