Wild Poppy
by Deena Stoddard
Title
Wild Poppy
Artist
Deena Stoddard
Medium
Photograph - Digital Painting
Description
Poppies are herbaceous plants, often grown for their colorful flowers. Some species of poppy produce edible seed, whilst others produce opium which contains powerful medicinal alkaloids such as morphine which have been used since ancient times as analgesic and narcotic medicinal and recreational drugs. Following the trench warfare which took place in the poppy fields of Flanders, during the 1st World War, red poppies have become a symbol of remembrance of soldiers who have died during wartime.
The flowers of most poppy species are attractive and are widely cultivated as annual or perennial ornamental plants.
Poppy seeds are rich in oil, carbohydrates, calcium, and protein. Poppy oil is often used as cooking oil, salad dressing oil, or in products such as margarine. Poppy oil can also be added to spices for cakes, or breads. Poppy products are also used in different paints, varnishes, and some cosmetics.
Poppies have long been used as a symbol of sleep, peace, and death: Sleep because of the opium extracted from them, and death because of the common blood-red color of the red poppy in particular. In Greek and Roman myths, poppies were used as offerings to the dead. Poppies used as emblems on tombstones symbolize eternal sleep. This symbolism was evoked in the children's novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, in which a magical poppy field threatened to make the protagonists sleep forever. A second interpretation of poppies in Classical mythology is that the bright scarlet color signifies a promise of resurrection after death.
All images © 2011-2020 Deena Stoddard ~ All Rights Reserved
Uploaded
October 1st, 2013
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