Papaver bracteatum

Flower name
Papaver bracteatum
Scientific name
Papaver bracteatum
Alias罌粟, 袴鬼罌粟
Place of originIran
Place of floweringSpecific area
Flowering seasonMay, June

What is Papaver bracteatum

Papaver bracteatum or Hakama Onigesh (Papaver bracteatum) is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the Papaveraceae family, native to Iran. It is one of the poppies whose cultivation is prohibited in Japan due to its potential use as a raw material for narcotics.

The plant grows to a height of 60-100 cm and is covered in stiff white hairs. The branches do not divide. The leaves are dark green, 20-25 cm long, elliptical, and pinnately lobed. In May to June, it produces flowers at the ends of the flower stalks, which are deep red with 4-6 petals and have blackish-purple spots at the base of the petals. The flowers are large, with a diameter of 9-12 cm. Just below the flowers, there are 4-6 bracts, which resemble a "hakama" (a type of traditional Japanese clothing), hence the name. The buds are covered in hair that lies flat.

Hakama Onigesh (Papaver bracteatum) resembles the Oriental Poppy (Papaver orientale). However, Papaver bracteatum has deep red flowers with blackish-purple spots at the petal base, and the buds are covered in lying hairs, whereas Papaver orientale has orange flowers without these spots and its buds have upright hairs.

Common Name: Papaver bracteatum
Scientific Name: Papaver bracteatum
English Name: Iranian poppy
aka: Hakama Onigesh
Classification: Kingdom Plantae, Angiosperms, Eudicots, Order Papaverales, Family Papaveraceae, Genus Papaver, Species P. bracteatum
Origin: Iran
Life Form: Perennial herb
Height: 60-100 cm
Characteristics: Entire plant densely covered in stiff white hairs, non-branching
Leaf Color: Dark green
Leaf Shape: Elliptical with pinnate lobes, length 20-25 cm
Flowering Period: May to June
Flower Diameter: 9-12 cm
Petal Count: 4-6
Flower Shape: Terminal
Flower Color: Deep red with blackish-purple spots at the petal base
Bracts: 4-6 below the flower
Bud Hair: Lying flat
Fruit Type: Capsule
Fruit Shape: Hairless, obovate
Note: One of the prohibited poppies for cultivation.