The corn poppy is the wild poppy of agricultural cultivation—Papaver rhoeas L. It is a variable annual plant, usually with vivid red flowers, surrounding a black center. In the northern hemisphere it generally flowers in June. It has a variety of common names.
It is known to have been associated with agriculture in the Old World since early times. It has most of the characteristics of a successful weed of agriculture. These include an annual lifecycle that fits into that of most cereals, a tolerance of simple weed control methods, the ability to flower and seed itself before the crop is harvested. Like many such weeds, it also shows the tendency to become a crop in its own right; its seed is a moderately useful commodity.
Its origin is not known for certain. As with many such plants, the area of origin is often ascribed by Americans to Europe, and by northern Europeans to southern Europe. The European Garden Flora suggests that it is ‘Eurasia and North Africa’; in other words, the lands where agriculture has been practised since the earliest times.
It is mildly poisonous to grazing animals. The seed is harmless. The commonly grown decorative Shirley Poppy is derived from forms of this plant.
It has had an old symbolism and association with agricultural fertility.
It has become associated with wartime remembrance in the 20th century, especially in English-speaking countries. As poppies bloomed in much of the western front in World War I, poppies are a symbol of military veterans, especially of that war.
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