Macleaya cordata

White spring poppy ( Macleaya cordata)

The White Feather Poppy ( Macleaya cordata, Syn. Bocconia cordata Willd ) is a flowering plant in the genus spring poppy ( Macleaya ) within the family of Poppy Family ( Papaveraceae ).

Description

The White Feather poppy grows as a perennial herbaceous plant that reaches the stature heights of up to 250 cm. It forms underground rhizomes. The strong stem is frosted blue-gray and contains brownish, poisonous milky juice. The alternate arranged leaves are divided into petiole and leaf blade. The petiole is 2 to 15 cm ( often up to 20 cm ) long. The blue-green leaf blade is at a length and width of 10 to 30 cm in outline roundish - heart-shaped, deeply cut, seven to neunlappig.

The flowering time is in the summer months (July to August). The large, spring-like, paniculate inflorescences contain many flowers. The pedicels are 4-10 mm long. The tiny flowers are hermaphroditic. There are only two off-white to coral pink sepals present, which are 5 to 10 mm long. Petals absent. There are eight to 30 stamens present. The short style ends in a bilobed scar. The smooth, 15 to 20 mm wide, zweifächerige fruit capsule contains only a few dark brown seeds.

Occurrence

The White Feather poppy originated in moderate areas from China to Japan.

Toxicity

The White Feather poppy is poisonous in all plant parts. Main ingredients are probably isoquinoline alkaloids, especially protopine, berberine and allocryptopine.

Use

The White Feather poppy used medicinally and as a pesticide.

In the temperate zones of the world of White feather poppy is used as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens and can run wild. The White Feather Poppy is found in open areas and on woody border in a sunny to semi -shady spot and hardy.

Swell

• Robert W. Kiger: Macleaya: Macleaya cordata - text the same online as printed work, In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee ( eds.): Flora of North America North of Mexico, Volume 3 - Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae, Oxford University Press, New York and Oxford, 1997. ISBN 0-19-511246-6 ( Description section )
• Macleaya cordata (French )