GLAUCIUM FLAVUM

Family and Genus:- See- PAPAVERACEAE

Common Names:- Yellow horned-poppy

Homotypic Synonyms:- Chelidonium glaucium, Glaucium corniculatum var.

flavum, Glaucium glaucium, Glaucium luteum.

Meaning:- Glaucium (Gr) A name used by the Greek physician and botanist

Dioscorides for the colour of the latex which is grey-green.

Flavum (L) Bright almost pure yellow.

General description:- Medium to tall grey-green, short-lived perennial, somewhat

hairy.

Stems:-

1) 20-50 cm, moderately branched.

Leaves:-

1) Basal, in a rosette, pinnatisect, ± undulate, glaucous, rather densely pubescent.

2) Cauline, similar but sparsely pubescent. from 10 to 35 cm long.

a) pedicels,1-4 cm.

Flowers:-

1) Buds, nodding, broadly ovoid, with sparse indumentum of bulbous-based hairs.

2) Calyx, with hairy sepals.

3) Corolla, from 55-75 mm in diam. with 4 free petals.

4) Petals, 2.5-4 cm, yellow or rarely red, sometimes with dark markings at the

base.

5) Stamens. yellow.

Fruit:-

1) Capsule, linear, 8-18 cm. glabrous or with few aptical hairs or warts.

Key features:-

1) Petals, yellow.

2) Capsule, glabrous, or with few aptical hairs or warts.

Click here for a glossary of terms used.

Habitat:- Sandy and gravelly beaches, occasionally roadsides, olive groves and

ruderal habitats some distance inland up to 500 m.

Distribution:- Coastal areas throughout Greece. - Mediterranean region, W Europe

and black Sea area. On Crete mostly somewhat scattered around northern coastal

areas.

Flowering time:- Apr-June.

Photos by:- Steve Lenton