Intro: Erect annual from a taproot, found in fields, roadsides and other disturbed areas.

Stems: Stems simple or branching, stiff-hairy, leaking milky sap when broken.

Leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate to sessile-clasping, oval to elliptic, 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. long, pinnately divided into toothed lobes, hairy.

Inforescence:

Flowers: Flowers solitary at top of stem (may nod in bud but erect in bloom); red and often darker in the center; 1 1/2-2 in. wide; consisting of 4 overlapping round petals, 2 sepals (these drop early), numerous stamens and a large reddish-green ovary with 7-9 stigmas in a radiating array on its top.

Fruits: Fruit a green, ribbed, narrowly oval capsule that elongates and turns brown.

Comments:

Height: 1-2 ft.

plant sale text:

bloom table text:

description: Erect annual from a taproot, found in fields, roadsides and other disturbed areas.

stems: Stems simple or branching, stiff-hairy, leaking milky sap when broken.

leaves: Leaves basal and alternate on stem, petiolate to sessile-clasping, oval to elliptic, 1 1/2-3 1/2 in. long, pinnately divided into toothed lobes, hairy.

inflorescence:

flowers: Flowers solitary at top of stem (may nod in bud but erect in bloom); red and often darker in the center; 1 1/2-2 in. wide; consisting of 4 overlapping round petals, 2 sepals (these drop early), numerous stamens and a large reddish-green ovary with 7-9 stigmas in a radiating array on its top.

fruits: Fruit a green, ribbed, narrowly oval capsule that elongates and turns brown.

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