This species of Papaver is readily distinguished from the Papaver dubium, which it closely resembles* 
by the hairs spreading horizontally on the flower-stalks as well as on the stem, and by the short roundish 
capsule. Being a very common weed, although probably not a native of this country, but introduced with 
seed-corn from the east, it has received very numerous names ; such as Corn poppy, Corn rose, Cop rose, 
Canker rose , Head-wark fyc. And like most other pretty flowers, it has been celebrated by poets in different 
ways ; thus, from flowering amongst the corn, the red poppies have been supposed, by one, to be upon the 
look out for Ceres : — 
“ And the poppies red, 
On their wistful bed, 
Turn up their dark blue eyes for thee.” 
In a Latin poem, by Mr. Landor, Ceres is supposed to have created the Poppy to assuage her anguish 
during the search for her daughter ; and the statues of the goddess are generally adorned with Red Poppies, 
from their being companions of wheat ; but these flowers are more praised by the poet than the farmer, for 
“ Poppies nodding, mock the hope of toil.” 
Crabbe's Village. 
In Gerard’s Herbal we find the following droll account of the Papaver Rhoeas by a curious gentleman. 
“ Moreover, in the said Leyland fields doth grow our garden Rose wilde, in the plowed fields among the 
corne, in such aboundance, that there may be gathered daily during the time, many bushels of roses, equal 
with the best garden Rose in each respect : the thing that giveth great cause of wonder, is, that in a field in 
the place aforesaid, called Glovers field, every yeare that the field is plowed for corne, that yeare it wil be 
spred over with Roses, and when it lieth by, or not plowed, then is there but few Roses to be gathered ; "! 
by the relation of a curious gentleman there dwelling, so often remembered in our history. 
I have heard that the Roses which grow in such plenty in Glovers field every yere the field is plowed, 
are no other than Corn Rose, that is, red Poppies, however our author was informed.” 
The flowers of the Red Poppy, says the Dictionnaire des Sciences Naturelles, are easily doubled by 
cultivation ; and gardeners have obtained a great variety of them, which are all more or less agreeable, not 
only from the number of their petals, but on account of their immense variety of shades, from deep purple 
to white. The flowers of the double red poppy are not only handsome, but have the advantage of remaining 
in bloom three or four days ; while the petals of the single flowers fall off in a few hours. 
Qualities and Uses. — The Petals of the Red Poppy should be gathered just as they begin to blow. 
They possess a faint narcotic odour, and are generally thought to have a slightly sedative effect. They yield 
their virtues to boiling water, but are merely used for their fine colouring matter. A syrup of them is di- 
rected in the Pharmacopoeias, which was formerly prescribed in coughs and catarrhal complaints ; but no 
faith whatever is now placed in its medicinal powers. Opium has been obtained from the capsules, but in 
so small a quantity, as to render it an object unworthy of the trouble. Still it must be stated, that by some 
foreign practitioners this extract, as a sedative, is preferred to opium itself. 
Off. Prep. — Syrupus Rhoeados. L. E. D. 
In the language of flowers the Red Poppy denotes evanescent pleasure. 
