NEN Gallery

A smaller paler and less upright plant than the field poppy. The pale poppy also grows on disturbed siol but prefers sand soils. It has unusual seed capsules that shed seed as the plant is shaken by the wind. The seeds can lie dormant for many years. It exudes a sticky latex from cut on the stem which in very small qusntites was once used in medicine, however it is poisonous and cattle avoid the plants which is why they are often found growing where other plants have been removed. It flowers May to July. Picture taken at Maulden, Bedfordshire 8th July 2006.