Family
Papaver is a member of the Papaveraceae family.
Varieties
Many different varieties are found in the wild. Three types of poppy are sold at auction and these are P. nudicaule, P. somniferum and P. orientale.
Tips for Care
Poppies have hairy stems and for this reason should be stored in buckets containing a water. Since the product only has a vase life of around a week, it is important to make sure that it reaches the customer as quickly as possible. This product needs to be handled with care.
Top 5 cultivars in this product group
(Based on sales in 2004)
Supply and sales data for the product group
Sales(x 1000 Euro):
2004: 1,280
2001: 1,067
1999: 745
Supply(x 1000 stems):
2004: 8,723
2001: 8,687
1999: 5,617
Relevant Internet sites
www.vanklink.nl
Explanation of name
Papaver is an ancient Latin plant name thought to be derived from the Latin word ‘pap(p)a’, a children’s name for food. It is said that in the past, the milky sap of the poppy or its seeds were used in children’s meals to help them sleep better.
Symbolism
Eternal sleep, imagination, oblivion.
Most important colors
Red is the most important color for poppies.
Use for special days
Papaver or poppy is used as a symbol by English speaking nations to remember the First World War. It owes its symbolic significance to the poem "In Flanders Fields" by John McCrae. On Armistice Day poppies are on display everywhere and even television journalists wear them.
It is said that the Mongolian conqueror Genghis Khan brought the seeds of white poppies to Europe when he marched his armies across the continent in the 13th century. Legend has it that the flowers turned red after battle. In 1914-1918 poppies thrived amazingly well on the spoiled and tortured earth of the Western Front.
Additional information
In 2005 Papaver nudicaule ‘Poppy Bussana’ was voted the most promising novelty at the FloraHolland Flower Auction. In the words of the jury: ‘The product is familiar and conjures up images of spring. This poppy works well in more natural looking flower bouquets as well as in mono consumer bouquets.
Disclaimer
Although great care has been taken in collecting this information, the Dutch Auction Association(VBN) accepts no liability for any kind of damage which is the direct or indirect result of actions and/or decisions based or partly based on the above information.
These products are intended exclusively for decoration and are not for consumption. Products may have damaging effects on humans and/or animals if improperly used, consumed or touched and/or in cases of over sensitivity
