Papaver species - Poppies

The first two poppies can have yellow / orange flowers and more information is given about how to separate them, including vegetatively.

Papaver (Meconopsis) cambricum Welsh Poppy

Stem sparsely bristly hairy below. Petiole channelled, no sheathing base, ciliate at base and 3-5 vascular bundles. Leaves, limp, pale green, ±glaucous,  ±hairless above, pinnately lobed 3-4 lobes, ±hairy on veins below. Yellow / orange petals, with a short style and 4 -  6 lobed stigma and yellow anthers. Capsule obvoid, narrow

Papaver atlanticum Atlas Poppy Petiole is flat or u-shaped, weakly ridged below with >5 vascular bundles. Leaves dull grey-green, densely hairy, pointing to apex, on both sides of the leaf. 1-2 pinnately lobed and bristle tipped. Petals 2-4 cm orange-red, no style, stigma (5-)6(-8) rayed as wide as capsule, anthers yellow

Papaver rhoeas‍ Corn or Common Poppy ‍has a bristly stem. The leaves are pinnatewith pointed segments. terminal lobe much larger than laterals. Red petals 7-10cm across often with dark blotches at base, anthers bluish-black. The stigma (5-)8-12(-18) rayed at least as wide as the globose hairless capsule.

Papaver dubium Long-headed Poppy Similar to P. rhoeas butstigma (4-)7-9(-12) rayed slightly less wide than the capsule. Red petals paler than P. rhoeas , often with dark blotches at base, anthers bluish-black. Has long, thin hairless capsule more than twice as long as wide.

Papaver somniferum Opium Poppy is usually a garden escape. The flowers are very variable. It is stouter, taller +/- hairless, strongly waxy-grey glaucous, coarsely toothed leaves (not pinnate). Flower 8 - 18cm wide, white lilac or pink with dark or purple centres. Anthers yellow or darkish purple. Stigma is 5-12(18) rayed as ±as wide as capsule which is oval,  smooth.