The Poppy

Poppy comes from Africa, Europe and Asia.

It is a grass covered perpendicular hairs, simple leaves at base elongated and lobed reaching reach a size of up to 70 cm.

They are solitary flowers with crinkled petals flower buds, deep red with a blackish spot at the base.

It blooms in late spring and early summer days.

The fruit of the poppy is a capsule full of seeds.

In addition:

- The poppies have properties making dye used to color the wine, certain medicines and to dye wool .

- Poppy Seeds are used to flavor fruit salads, apple tart , breads and pastas vegetables.

It has sedative and antitussive properties, cough syrups are manufactured.

- It is slightly toxic.

- Poppy petals teas can be used as mixed with other flowers.

- Poppies were used also for insomnia especially in children and the elderly.

- Cultivated in flower beds. Slopes and meadows of colors.

GROWING POPPIES

- Light: full sun.

- Rather dry and poor in organic substances to soil poppies.

- Habitat: vacant land, landfills, pastures etc. It is very common on roadsides and fields.

- Irrigation moderate once or twice a week, depending on time and season.

- Seeds germinate easily poppies.

By:Claudia Balmaseda