Image: Wikimedia Commons (See link for license)
Poppy family
Papaveraceae
ケシ科
A family of about 44 genera and 800 species including poppies (Papaver), Chelidonium, and Corydalis. Many produce latex (white to yellow sap containing alkaloids). Placed in Ranunculales under APG IV; Papaver, Corydalis, and others occur in Japan.
Key Characteristics
- ●Many exude latex when cut
- ●Petals 4–6, easily crumpled
- ●Stamens numerous
- ●Fruits are capsules containing numerous seeds
- ●Some species contain alkaloids such as morphine and codeine
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple / Compound
Venation
Pinnate / Palmate
Leaf margin
Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Tree / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Deciduous
Leaf dissection
Dissected / Undivided
Stipules
Absent
Latex
Present / Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
6 petals
Petal fusion
Free
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
1-2
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Basal eudicots > Ranunculales > Papaveraceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (approx. 75 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Evolution of alkaloid biosynthesis pathways (morphine, berberine, etc.)
- ・Divergence into Papaveroideae and Fumarioideae (with zygomorphic flower evolution)
Plants in Poppy family on this site
AI-generated, needs verification