Oreomecon crocea

Oreomecon crocea, common name ice poppy, is a species of flowering plant in the poppy family.

Description

Oreomecon crocea can reach a height of. It is a biennial or perennial herbaceous plant, with a basal rosette of long-stalked bluish-green lobed leaves. The stems are leafless and haired. Flowers are actinomorphic, solitary, wide, with four yellow, orange, reddish or white petals. They bloom from June to August. This plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant and erroneously sold under the name of Papaver nudicaule, that is instead a different species.

Taxonomy

Oreomecon crocea was scientifically described and named Papaver croceum in 1830 by Carl Friedrich von Ledebour. It has also been considered to be variety of Papaver nudicaule or of Papaver alpinum. In 2021 it was moved to the new genus Oreomecon, giving the species its accepted name. It has synonyms according to Plants of the World Online.

Distribution and habitat

Oreomecon crocea is a native of southern Siberia, Central Asia, and Mongolia.
It can be found in pasture, meadows, rocky slopes and landfill areas.