Papaver radicatum

The Flora of North America lists four subspecies:

• Papaver radicatum subsp. alaskanum (Hultén) J. P. Anderson
• Papaver radicatum subsp. kluanensis (D. Löve) D. F. Murray
• Papaver radicatum subsp. polare Tolmatchew
• Papaver radicatum subsp. radicatum

Arctic poppy leaves grow up to 12cm long. The leaves are green and lanceolate in shape. The Arctic poppy is known for either their white or yellow flowers; these flowers can grow up to 6.5 cm in diameter. The Arctic poppy stems range from 10 to 15 cm in length. Arctic poppies produce spherical or oval seed pods that are covered by fine hairs.{{Cite web |title=Papaver radicatum (Arctic poppy) |url=https://florafinder.org/Species/Papaver_radicatum.php |access-date=2024-11-06 |website=florafinder.org}}

Arctic poppy petals are covered by black hairs, which along with their cup-shaped petals help to insulate the poppy by trapping heat inside the flower.{{Cite journal |year=1919 |title=Reviewed work: Botany of the Living Plant., F. O. Bower |journal=The New Phytologist |volume=18 |issue=8 |pages=259–261 |jstor=2428079}} Hair-like structures are also found covering the stem and sepals of the Arctic poppy. These hairs are used to retain heat and act as insulation against the cold, windy climate conditions that Arctic poppies grow in.{{Cite journal |last1=Atkin |first1=Owen K. |last2=Villar |first2=Rafael |last3=Cummins |first3=W. Raymond |year=1993 |title=The ability of several high arctic plant species to utilize nitrate nitrogen under field conditions |journal=Oecologia |volume=96 |issue=2 |pages=239–245 |bibcode=1993Oecol..96..239A |doi=10.1007/bf00317737 |pmid=28313420}}

The Arctic poppy grows primarily in gravelly, rocky, well-drained soils, but can also grow in meadows.{{Cite web |last=Fox |first=White |date=2024-02-25 |title=Arctic Poppy (Papaver Radicatum) - Arctic Wildlife Knowledge |url=https://arcticwildlifeknowledge.com/arctic-poppy-papaver-radicatum/ |access-date=2024-11-06 |language=en-GB}} The poppies are circumpolar in distribution, and are found in Arctic and alpine zones within Europe, North America and Asia.{{cite web |title=Arctic Poppy, (Papaver radicatum) Varanger peninsular, Northern Norway {{!}} UNEP/GRID-Arendal - Environmental Photo Library |url=http://www.grida.no/photolib/detail/arctic-poppy-papaver-radicatum-varanger-peninsular-northern-norway_c889 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120602044627/http://grida.no/photolib/detail/arctic-poppy-papaver-radicatum-varanger-peninsular-northern-norway_c889 |archive-date=2012-06-02 |website=www.grida.no}}{{Cite web |title=Papaver radicatum in Flora of North America @ efloras.org |url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500854 |access-date=2020-10-27 |website=www.efloras.org}} In 2023, the Arctic poppy was the northernmost flowering plant in the world,{{Cite web |title=Northernmost flower |url=https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/northernmost-plant-moss-arctic-poppy?loggedin=true&rnd=1715183731184 |website=National Geographic Society}} with a northern range limit on Kaffeklubben Island{{Cite web |title=Sagax Groenland 2007 |url=http://www.sagaxexpeditions.com/2US%20-%203.4%20Photos-Videos.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131029200751/http://www.sagaxexpeditions.com/2US%20-%203.4%20Photos-Videos.html |archive-date=2013-10-29 |access-date=2010-04-13}} at a latitude of 83°40'N.

The Arctic poppy, like many species of flowers, relies on pollination for reproduction. In the early spring, when snow starts to melt, the Arctic poppy blooms. Around the same time, Arctic bumblebees (Bombus polaris) begin their pollination process, making the Arctic bumblebee the main pollinator of Arctic poppies. As spring transitions to summer, bumblebee pollination begins to decline, and flies take over the place of the bumblebee's pollination of Arctic poppies.{{Cite web |title=packerpedia - Bio Arctic Bumblebee |url=http://packerpedia.wiki.packer.edu/Bio+Arctic+Bumblebee |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120713050358/http://packerpedia.wiki.packer.edu/Bio+Arctic+Bumblebee |archive-date=2012-07-13 |accessdate=2015-11-06 |website=packerpedia.wiki.packer.edu}}

Arctic poppies contain alkaloids throughout the entirety of the flower structure, from the stem to the leaves.{{Cite journal |last1=Adibah |first1=Kamarul Zaman Munirah |last2=Azzreena |first2=Mohamad Azzeme |last3=Adibah |first3=Kamarul Zaman Munirah |last4=Azzreena |first4=Mohamad Azzeme |date=2019 |title=Plant toxins: alkaloids and their toxicities |url=https://gsconlinepress.com/journals/gscbps/content/plant-toxins-alkaloids-and-their-toxicities |journal=GSC Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences |language=en |volume=6 |issue=2 |pages=021–029 |doi=10.30574/gscbps.2019.6.2.0003 |issn=2581-3250|doi-access=free }} These alkaloids protect and assist the survival of the Arctic poppy in a number of ways. When Arctic poppies are consumed, the alkaloids within the poppy can affect the central nervous system, protein synthesis, enzyme activity, and membrane transport of the predator. Because of these effects, the Arctic poppy is not a direct food source for many species. Alkaloids are known to act as a growth regulator and can aid in the plant's reproduction rates. Alkaloids can even act as herbicides, which inhibit the growth of competing plants. They also act as substitutes for important minerals, like calcium and potassium, that can be difficult for the Arctic poppies to receive in their environment.

• The Svalbard poppy, another poppy of the extreme north.
• The coat of arms of Nunavut, in which the Arctic poppy appears on.

{{reflist}}

• {{commons category-inline|Oreomecon radicata}}

{{Taxonbar|from=Q149477}}

radicatum

Category:Flora of the Arctic

Category:Plants described in 1770