Pictorial guide to the flora of the British Isles

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Papaver cambricum L.

Welsh poppy (Papaveraceae)

 SpreadBias within British IslesDirection of bias
Very widespreadNegligible tendencyNE
Plant Atlas 2020
BSBI Distribution Map

Synonym | Meconopsis cambrica (L.) Vig.

Papaver cambricum is native to parts of Ireland, Wales and south-western England, but is very widely encountered as a garden escape; it and Glaucium flavum are our only native poppies.

Menai Bridge (VC52: Anglesey); 2000-06-01

 Welsh poppy / Papaver cambricum: _Papaver cambricum_ is native to parts of Ireland, Wales and south-western England, but is very widely encountered as a garden escape; it and _Glaucium flavum_ are our only native poppies.

The flowers of Papaver cambricum are yellow or orange; the stigma is divided into 4–6 lobes, but is not flattened like other Papaver species.

Vienna, Austria; 2005-06-25

 Welsh poppy / Papaver cambricum: The flowers of _Papaver cambricum_ are yellow or orange; the stigma is divided into 4–6 lobes, but is not flattened like other _Papaver_ species.

The capsules of Papaver cambricum open by means of 4–6 triangular flaps near the tip, in contrast to the squarish pores that open up in the fruits of Papaver species.

Brockhampton (VC33: East Gloucestershire); 2018-10-20

 Welsh poppy / Papaver cambricum: The capsules of _Papaver cambricum_ open by means of 4–6 triangular flaps near the tip, in contrast to the squarish pores that open up in the fruits of _Papaver_ species.

All images copyright © Christopher J. Dixon unless otherwise indicated.

L-R: Bidens tripartita, Melilotus officinalis, Mimulus guttatus, Thalictrum flavum, Ranunculus peltatus, Anchusa arvensis, Malva alcea, Lolium perenne