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    more than a flower when we talk about poppies we are referring to a type of floweri.e. the same kind of plants: papaveraceae. Present on four of the five continents, it is made up of more than 700 different varieties... Even if we will only speak here of the 3 most important varieties and the poppy flower meaning

    types of poppy

    Among the best known are the red poppy flower or Papaver rhoeas, the yellow poppy flower or Meconopsis cambrica and the white poppy flower, also known as the opium poppy or Papaver somniferum. It is important to differentiate them Each has different uses and different meanings.. Let's see where these differences lie:

    red poppy

    Common in Spain but present throughout Europe, Asia and North Africa, it is a plant closely related to human activity, specifically to the planting of cereals. The flower is slightly poisonous, although it loses its effect after cooking. It has a rich flavor similar to spinach, but it has sedating effects, so its consumption has decreased. Its seeds are widely used in baking or as a condiment.

    yellow poppy

    California yellow poppies are the most popular. These, although they grow naturally too They are used ornamentally. for its brightly colored flower. However, there is another yellow poppy from Cantabria (Spain) but it is much rarer to see and its picking is prohibited.

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    white poppy

    Although it is important to know that the color of the poppy flower does not determine the type, whites are recognized as true poppies or opium poppies, since is used to extract opium, among other substances. It is mainly cultivated in countries such as Afghanistan or India.

    poppy curiosities

    The poppy in antiquity

    The history of the poppy goes back to Mesopotamia (4000-3000 BC), since the Sumerians cultivated a type of poppy to extract Opium; received the Sumerian name "gil", which means joy and happiness. It is then described in The Ebers Papyrus (1600-1500 BC) and in the works of Hippocrates (463-377 BC) for its medicinal values.

    Where there are poppies, there is movement

    One of the most remarkable characteristics of the poppy is its need for nitrate in the soil, and this is only grows in soils that have been removed. That's why you'll never find her in a long-forgotten field, or in a forest.

    Loved by some, hated by others

    This same proximity to human activity is not always welcome. For cereal growers, it is a weed, because compete aggressively with other cereals, and steals nutrients from the soil, generating losses. However, its beauty attracts tourists who fill their Instagrams with red every spring.

    Poppy Meanings

    For these and other reasons, the meaning of the poppy flower does not only depend of the type or color but often of the context in which it is found. So let's see how circumstances give a different character and how each culture adds touches of meaning to this beautiful flower.

    for the egyptians

    In ancient Egypt, this flower designated beauty and youth, yes, but it was also used as a medicine against infections or to prevent children from crying. They also used to lay large bouquets of poppies on the tombs of the pharaohs to help them the other world.

    for the greeks

    It turns out interesting like the poppy crowned the head of Morpheus in the descriptions we have left of this God of sleep. It is for this very reason that the pharmacist Fredrich Wilheim gave the name of Morphine to the powerful drug marketed in the year 1817.

    for Ukrainians

    The red poppy has always been part of Ukrainian culture due to its strong presence in fields and landscapes. This resulted in beautiful embroidery typical of certain garments worn by young women in this country. Subsequently, he became a symbol very important, because he remembers the end of the war against Nazism.

    The poppy of peace

    This relationship between the poppy and war is not fortuitous: during the First World War, it was very common to see poppies in no man's land, this space which was neither on one side nor on the other but which was trampled from time to time was perfect for its hatching. For this same reason, it is considered the flower of peace.

    What is the poppy flower used for?

    Although the royal poppy is mainly used to extract opium and its derivatives such as morphine and heroin, the red poppy is also used today: in Spain, for example, its seed is used in dessertsfor decoration (although it has very mild narcotic properties). On the other hand in Africa it is done flower tea.

    Main Features

    The characteristics of the poppy flower are:

    • soft texture
    • The stems that support it measure up to 90 centimeters and are hairy.
    • Its growth cycle is annual.
    • Blooms mostly in spring
    • It is generally resistant to a wide variety of herbicides.
    • Its seed has a kidney shape

    …

    As you may have noticed, there is no single meaning for the poppy. Very well it continues to evoke different values ​​each time it blooms and gives us its beauty. However, now that you know her a little better, will you be surprised or will you go looking for her next spring?

    Poppy meaning video

    If you wanted to know more about the Poppy, don't worry, in this video that we leave you here you can learn much more about it and solve all the doubts you may have.

    If you liked this poppy flower information and want to know more about other flowers, their meanings and origin, keep reading. We invite you to read the meaning of calla flower and the meaning of cherry blossom.