Papaveraceae
Poppy Family
The Papaveraceae family (Poppy Family) is a botanical family placed in the order Ranunculales. In the SASYA catalogue it spans 3 species across 3 genera. Its members are predominantly herbs. Well-represented genera include Argemone, Eschscholzia and Papaver. Several members are valued in traditional medicine. Familiar examples include Broad-leaved Sorel, California Poppy and common poppy.
Browse all 3 species ↓
Deeply lobed or dissected leaves on herbs oozing white, yellow, or orange latex when cut; large, delicate, crinkled petals fall quickly after opening, and numerous stamens surround an ovary that ripens into a capsule releasing seeds through pores beneath a flat, disc-like stigma cap.
Latex throughout the family carries potent alkaloids — opium poppy's latex is the source of morphine and codeine, among the most significant plant-derived medicines ever discovered.
Which Papaveraceae species is this?
Answer what you can see and narrow it down to a single Papaveraceae species.
To check whether a plant belongs to Papaveraceae, compare the leaf arrangement, leaf type, flower symmetry, fruit type, and one distinctive marker together. A single feature can mislead; the family pattern is the combination.
Learn the full family-identification methodTypical leaf characters
- ArrangementVariable
TypeCompound- MarginVariable
- VenationVariable
Characters typical of the family — individual species can vary.
Typical flower & fruit
- Flower symmetryVariable
- InflorescenceCyme
- FruitVariable
Typical of the family — flowering plants only; species can vary.
Notable members
Families that can look similar
Fumariaceae
Compare against Fumariaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare FumariaceaeRanunculaceae
Compare against Ranunculaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare RanunculaceaeMenispermaceae
Compare against Menispermaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare MenispermaceaeBerberidaceae
Compare against Berberidaceae when the plant shares similar leaves, flowers, or fruit. Confirm by checking the full family pattern.
Compare BerberidaceaeAll 3 species in PAPAVERACEAE
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