Meconopsis betonicifolia

Meconopsis betonicifolia (syn. Meconopsis baileyi), the Himalayan blue poppy,[1] is a species of flowering plant in the family Papaveraceae. It was first formally named for western science in 1912 by the British officer Lt. Col. Frederick Marshman Bailey.[2]

Meconopsis betonicifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Papaveraceae
Genus: Meconopsis
Species:
M. betonicifolia
Binomial name
Meconopsis betonicifolia
Synonyms

Meconopsis baileyi

Meconopsis betonicifolia is hardy in most of the United Kingdom[3] and it has striking large blue flowers. This herbaceous perennial is often short-lived.[3]

Description

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Meconopsis betonicifolia

Meconopsis betonicifolia is a rare flower found in the Himalayan regions of Nepal, Tibet, and Myanmar at elevations of 2000 to 5000 meters.[4] It thrives in slightly alkaline to acidic soils in cool, moist environments. The flower's distinctive blue color results from various pigments influenced by the soil's pH and UV light exposure.[5] Blue poppies have been introduced to gardens for their beauty; however, due to overexploitation, they are becoming scarce in the wild.[6] The hermaphroditic flowers bloom from late spring to early summer, attracting pollinators such as bees and butterflies, which are crucial for cross-pollination and genetic diversity. The plant's life cycle spans two to three years, with flowering occurring in the second or third year after seed germination. Followed by wind-dispersal, the seeds can remain viable for several years.

References

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  1. ^ "Meconopsis betonicifolia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  2. ^ Paulette Singley (2004). Eating Architecture. MIT Press. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-262-08322-5.
  3. ^ a b "Meconopsis betonicifolia". Royal Horticultural Society. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
  4. ^ Qu, Yan; Ou, Zhi; Yang, Fu-sheng; Wang, Shu; Peng, Jiansong (2019-03-20). "The study of transcriptome sequencing for flower coloration in different anthesis stages of alpine ornamental herb (Meconopsis 'Lingholm')". Gene. 689: 220–226. doi:10.1016/j.gene.2018.12.017. ISSN 0378-1119. PMID 30572099.
  5. ^ Takeda, Kosaku; Yamaguchi, Shin; Iwata, Keizo; Tsujino, Yasuko; Fujimori, Takane; Husain, Sayed Z. (1996-06-01). "A malonylated anthocyanin and flavonols in the blue flowers of Meconopsis". Phytochemistry. 42 (3): 863–865. Bibcode:1996PChem..42..863T. doi:10.1016/0031-9422(95)00067-4. ISSN 0031-9422.
  6. ^ Cheng, Peizhao; Gan, Ruixi; Wang, Cong; Xu, Qian; Norbu, Kelsang; Zhou, Feng; Kong, Sixin; Jia, Zhuoma; Jiabu, Dawa; Feng, Xin; Wang, Junsong (October 2024). "Comparative Evaluation of the Chemical Components and Anti-Inflammatory Potential of Yellow- and Blue-Flowered Meconopsis Species: M. integrifolia and M. betonicifolia". Metabolites. 14 (10): 563. doi:10.3390/metabo14100563. ISSN 2218-1989. PMC 11509530. PMID 39452944.
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