British Wild Flowers: A photographic guide to every common species. Paul Sterry

FRUITS Capsules. LEAVES 2 to 3 times pinnately divided; greyish green. STATUS Naturalised as a garden escape.

      Common Poppy

      Common Poppy

      Fruit

      Common Poppy Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 60cm

      Annual of arable land and disturbed ground. FLOWERS 6–8cm across with 4 papery, overlapping scarlet petals (often dark at the base); on slender stalks with spreading hairs (June–Aug). FRUITS Ovoid, flat-topped capsules. LEAVES Much divided into narrow segments. STATUS Widespread, commonest in S and E England; scarce in the north and west.

      Long-headed Poppy

      Fruit

      Long-headed Poppy Papaver dubium (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 60cm

      Annual of arable land and disturbed ground. FLOWERS 3–7cm across with 4 papery, orange-red overlapping petals with no dark basal blotch; on stalks with appressed hairs (June–Aug). FRUITS Narrow, elongated, hairless capsules. LEAVES Much divided into narrow segments. STATUS Widespread and fairly common, including the north.

      Rough Poppy

      Rough Poppy

      Fruit

      Rough Poppy Papaver hybridum (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 40cm

      Hairy annual of arable fields, mainly on calcareous soils. FLOWERS 2–5cm across with 4 crimson, overlapping petals with dark-blotched bases; on hairy stalks (June–Aug). FRUITS Ovoid to spherical with spreading, yellowish hairs. LEAVES Much divided and bristle-tipped. STATUS Scarce and declining, mainly in S England.

      Prickly Poppy

      Fruit

      Prickly Poppy Papaver argemone (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 30cm

      Delicate annual of arable land, mainly on sandy soils. FLOWERS 2–6cm across with 4 pale red petals that typically do not overlap but which do have a dark basal blotch (May–Aug). FRUITS Narrow, elongated and ribbed with prickle-like bristles. LEAVES Much divided; bristle-tipped. STATUS Local and scarce, mainly in S England.

       See also Western Ramping-fumitory

Poppy, Barberry and Cabbage Families

      Yellow Horned-poppy

      Yellow Horned-poppy Glaucium flavum (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 50cm

      Blue-grey, clump-forming perennial of shingle beaches. FLOWERS 5–7cm across with overlapping yellow petals (June–Sep). FRUITS Elongated, curved capsules, to 30cm long. LEAVES Pinnately divided, the clasping upper ones having shallow, toothed lobes. STATUS Locally common on most suitable coasts except far N.

      Welsh Poppy

      Welsh Poppy Meconopsis cambrica (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 50cm

      Showy perennial of shady woods. FLOWERS 4–6cm across with 4 overlapping, bright yellow petals; on slender stems (June–Aug). FRUITS 4-to 6-ribbed capsules that split when ripe. LEAVES Pinnately divided, toothed, stalked. STATUS Native to Wales, SW England and Ireland; naturalised as a garden escape elsewhere.

      Greater Celandine

      Greater Celandine Chelidonium majus (Papaveraceae) HEIGHT to 80cm

      Tall, brittle-stemmed perennial. Found in hedgerows and along woodland rides. FLOWERS 2–3cm across and comprising 4 non-overlapping bright yellow petals (Apr–Oct). FRUITS Narrow capsules that split from below when ripe. LEAVES Grey-green, pinnately divided. STATUS Native but also naturalised.

      Fruit

      Barberry

      Barberry Berberis vulgaris (Berberidaceae)