![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYqRZon8GXOyF_2puJuILaAb2Zm6A50ShS9jjDpXZMUnWMtG5PeEYTGQaFEDN1f2w1rwMGsGELnZMspt21saoWAM92lmJaB8Gu_jiMt-e9j_YROSHA199LYoSrotBRU3g1r47hEPRWXl7aKKAjOVdP6fGpI6XYgG6CLUcNFhnqwH-iLTX5wYaOzMBquE/w630-h640/Papaver%20arenarium%20Gyumri%20to%20Haghpat%202024-05-16%20(82).JPG) |
Papaver arenarium |
There is a rather flawed truism that the eastern hemisphere has far fewer red flowered plants than the hummingbird infested Western hemisphere--and I don't deny that there are a suprising number of red flowered plants in the Americas. However, the Eastern hemisphere boasts a few groups with some of the reddest flowers imaginable: tulips, peonies and especially poppies--which are often strangely similar in their floral impact.
Although we only really had ten days in the field, I was astonished at what a range and abundance of poppies we found all over Armenia. You may look at these and wonder what distinguishes one from the next: alas, few were in seed--but seedpods are a definitely important way to tell them apart. And in my case traveling with Tamar Galstyan--author of Flowers of Armenia and a leading field botanist of the this region was extremely helpful.
This was the first species we encountered between Gyumri and Haghpat in northern Armenia.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmbTjVe9vcROOKe1AgimxcBvABSB-8ftAaotdAym4ypwK4nOO7t4slhBDImgJZM_PnUIgKYUAtf9eBpbMe1LSy6hXj5vIvZJDCHUTPCE1fhrr6j3ewktq0gKdba42vMWxaVPp9LQhiNizlS09wDy5Yy3jwaTnILidUnfvB3O9fh-rXeUster-lWJcdeG0/w640-h624/Papaver%20arenarium%20Gyumri%20to%20Haghpat%202024-05-16%20(83).JPG) |
Papaver arenarium |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0kf7EecZ8pu8_N-NqIENdllekRl0FV0mk_nppcqUVmwFvlaSD19PENIGhzx6N6Z3zHu0ev68amgxhht6E1j1Ims8Y1q0yRr25Q5eY8UbtFX8H05i5u159c8l9d1xhiE8DCSV4f98DlaQAOCG31pVaWR7GjluAQYw6sfVFsib1iRIbh1pJpCxF3zoufs/w480-h640/Papaver%20bipinnatum%20Meghri%202024-05-21%20(13).JPG) |
Papaver bipinnatum |
This beautiful species was commonest in the south--sligfhly more orange than the others.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwXVWgOwdD9W_Y33ZIUnth1BKd3MyGwEJ9kls6nmB9_v3ay-FYn4MZbdnqFGpxUb2ijbjSmGVWFoXa20-iWOOp138rHeXjm-WnGbdshopusnXFmkrIfDmOSjUqIrqYb5MbsL9uSaY57PYEH8IYP23vguXORpAD9o9MXg3luQ41QAs0sj3KKh9UWqz84lg/w640-h622/Papaver%20bipinnatum%20Meghri%202024-05-21%20(14).JPG) |
Papaver bipinnatum |
I photographed this above the Araxes river, within a quarter mile of Iran,
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpVLFXAgMTgdXwVSJ2ta_hnyoBWAzZDpL08FjfE_32AZDItSVXZxbW93QkNhNk5reRzTvHCBAcPSpeGQOsFX-8mc7izKfwacvlLuNHBkAxMagG0xpYyowpK5a3CWIgOO_MWv8ElU1Uo2M3VTZ_jZRWkP_bVhxvT7GEUN_gbFheI344yOa3xH7ihFsO498/w640-h480/Papaver%20commutatum%20Vanavahank%20monastery%202024-05-22%20(34).JPG) |
Papaver commutatum |
This grew in many areas of central Armenia: especially large and bright red. Generally growing on wetter, richer soils.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghkvAwEQ8YB6zwwpTcZnwVknFOk6-OUEXvUUcS2ryUUPqbPzrH2RXFuKMVQY3YVRNSUoNShXkTcLzXnxiAzOUyMhPbEwL1KX0ZmXRzXnJZNfhxlXrcXG8hlYWEkSVfx13IQjev7LZUJFOy_UUxNkyoTUvQZ5-guZNVg9lJe2mJsV3nNEVCY2hKphRaQ-M/w612-h640/Papaver%20commutatum%20Vanavahank%20monastery%202024-05-22%20(35).JPG) |
Papaver commutatum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Zkwx3Lc2_aihuTEb56OXk1-FSX8Yga6GrB2XPWz64AOtg8Rtj-dIawiuJGP1yRflZUXFDo8klU7Bx4nS8kZsAeLWc7q0dtFzqpO15bj1dkP1o3pfoh0xAEC08kTCTaZLV5paQgRHG5W-kY81HaEGgw3bTYdZ06tN0qZLf2iFlayheAHdFJ6LDt_fH8c/w508-h640/Papaver%20commutatum%20Vanavahank%20monastery%202024-05-22%20(36).JPG) |
Papaver commutatum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH5MLkUGRdEdLfPeJTlxsY_W8H8weUZSDwuefE3HtkJjoSFWSli3P2Shrl7j8j3V6-I_g6ZCvVIi5i2RuJW3tkkL8mxVV4557KH6b1oSr0Ta5-EiUgS2C1LyfrPUAGDO8nsqhZcNrWuMGz7pHIIeeZG8e10zdQJYC8YoLQqTGzZl6QBC0xYTTf8Y9AX0/w606-h640/Papaver%20dubium%20Martiros%20canyon%202024-05-19%20(145).JPG) |
Papaver dubium |
Possibly one of the most ineradicable weeds in my home garden (the form I grow isn't this nice) I was charmed by Armenia's form of this variable poppy.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXg8wgxztWcWTQ1FrU0dTPe4KjS9LtGYlmrfP5rr5IqjgByJtWHTmwQQgnFYbvXCTB3CX9sF_p4WX1PWc80AiMUMh1levb1hH9WihZEjVPSTJ0h0-lSmtqisaBmAuRgothNnZeS07pb7M3_HRdWUAtHOuRcYKWN3CnaXv18RVgz614GlXhuL3yROQkEao/w640-h596/Papaver%20dubium%20Saradak-Vedi%202024-05-23%20(16).JPG) |
Papaver dubium
|
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNNUSBYYweIkJffDA3S6drQAqYALMeHD9uvMlvVXbAvQeZjLJU5ls0E1QQOJe33jENjPDHLGdkMvKmVF8iuOw6_bBBWG9TQnbsy9WWyZWSzIj00nr74qhHoBJ_nfXLyCpL2B4jVMI6__yB1VesgJKClNVwYCTS2A9n9QJiXd2SP0LyALfgvJ7xeVg-vEs/w480-h640/Papaver%20fugax%20Martiros%20canyon%202024-05-19%20(143).JPG) |
Papaver fugax |
We found this species only a few times, always on very rocky substrates. The flowers lose their petals quickly: hence the "fugax" (fleeting),
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde29MkmUDJMpcAxGIo7dLf1KZKUUjMYhTfWXr2Agg639llAN0dX2aidOtglzfZpX3AN8Ukbhcd60rdB8trioyYn-hSzF2C4GSi02tD2lgFHkr-m7UNLknBytkAccPtxC6dHdwVjOBbQQjMV2uvamoIXfAmW549kIgv9mmGOcXpPi_Mxbcs8jVn-p07hU/w480-h640/Papaver%20macrostomum%20Saradak-Vedi%202024-05-23%20(32).JPG) |
Papaver macrostomum |
This was the poppy that was most abundant--usually in fallow fields. We saw countless acres stained reed with it.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWcBs0PSm6zmNpcMZuWaqxzGJTmhFKPHJT_0krD466YctEVY46mxDQ_LIvLzOtKgRXHTld-4vF9h8N9hvBEGucFki9KTxuLxBco2WEUasCVAIC0ny8BgrUiB-wCPa0xllzFN-nKN5hXNOJM1vl9AHKeCb-s4UCP7mqbIaVMlt6S8-6E1So4r2NpoX0da0/w640-h480/Papaver%20macrostomum%20Saradak-Vedi%202024-05-23%20(36).JPG) |
Papaver macrostomum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6vWx3z6LUn7AjKWBmEVj32LqfaQ5iarUEKAYyOez-eCyYEA51a0Fc9fSEjCe_dU4tBCiCyopjXgg59ozPym726Mq4B5OwX9RTZClGcTThwl4XZ0tHRUjgxRgbB8qgMn_oV5CTesclMXmq-nH-3cm2oleVii1jEkB4igFDgUAzJhwg44CNwXjVNYUAin0/w640-h476/Papaver%20macrostomum%20Saradak-Vedi%202024-05-23%20(37).JPG) |
Papaver macrostomum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjicrbZWbnsTFX6K20DlNFwaIetyBN09GFjYMyWejm6f5l5iKvvIa7aA6WQGaSaXk5c5U2pvx7e_bYEVD5dF48QTDiKpCwea-WK3wK3HiapdGw7fGzI3XYj81eaeAk72dItnaD5vl5LmfMKm2fBRDvkuoQKBwk4xGp5BnvQGN6iqD1UyZyuETlzOGbp6gM/w584-h640/Papaver%20roseolum%20Vanavahank%20monastery%202024-05-22%20(59).JPG) |
Papaver roseolum |
And for a bit of a change--the only pink annual species we found...
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwOuJQohRPAxPcYcNGSo-fMlJDmB-k82DLSwye6fw6ulLW92DaTUzhkjuNB8IZpFOglFUVWxoVIOghSb79NcYRiKeey42n8hJtNkPMdr4GDYi-VKr4607Dr6ui2aWh3QS-mpp2wWfrlFcpKtj82phxHkvKEBLwqngQQ71h55yD60u2QVAGW71S9Mb-NNM/w598-h640/Papaver%20roseolum%20Vanavahank%20monastery%202024-05-22%20(63).JPG) |
Papaver roseolum |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0jiRkRKh4eJNu6LpQ-Vb2OQZP3KFWBx8p7MI4n9z1yg829dodsOk-_sW_Dg_FFk5uUytYFPWvk_P05D1EBglO2LoUDPUV4lhxlK60X4LexZvl4y1oCu79t9jFiYsQC7ygq7QysQj72imZl30e_paj9ku7PICsUo3oIN5W3bdnO24WogIwArUodrYJdyQ/w640-h554/Roemeria%20hybrida%20Noravank%20monastery%202024-05-23%20(132).JPG) |
Roemeria hybrida |
Another dramatic departure: alas we only found a few plants of this in the great Norevank monastery.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXl543RpnVAQS3yjpeNWFiDYg5i61iyot9_vvKCteNzmtSJfSq2-1fI2VzLAQSsyCQGm1EdEZLCA9rmR7KFACui8WPYjq8RbV5kAjZ8x8iC_rGcYgK-sQUNbhZyICN_iyrbDP6l7BQC7hXvKhecx9TtkwwLvD2tm0oAoI7Q4wsAQvgO6V1-WKN3Zg2UsQ/w640-h480/Roemeria%20refracta%20Saradak-Vedi%202024-05-23%20(243).JPG) |
Roemeria refracta |
The crazy seedpods reveal why these, perhaps, have been segregated into a different genus!
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin26JjakLTi0TBNWnIoxcAUaHQ7S-0Ie2nTHI2iSYeKX-oZ1Dr24ScU00Tw2Dn4UkPw4PuTwJrrnnpdFKMVb1nFLtnUXgqmCNmswrjVTFbl7EFG563moTpWPdAO8Ue4E5SEo8SBpgb6voi42gmJme_GLKWSTIX6hJyu9JVZuBWfdHnR-G6oaJ7d4kBxz8/w640-h508/Roemeria%20refractra%20Noravank%20monastery%202024-05-23%20(135).JPG) |
Roemeria refracta
At first I was sure this was a Papaver, until I saw the ungainly, linear pods. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjISRaQjFwx3inSuIxtYcv26XIUTOYxdBoF-VzS6pBGLnY4wlKECF7H613cMNMmYsnSMS4buaJwM_Jz8_dIc5m9SiKmCmgfXRcrwWt4kW6S5HRemq-b1yqeabcMzyCc4za-HLrazN60fd2zrvmkthqK7Zo_bQO36ObLEGasYyWfdEx7qtDB-RQk75K_io/w640-h588/Roemeria%20refractra%20Noravank%20monastery%202024-05-23%20(136).JPG) |
Roemeria refracta
|
And there were more annuals we didn't find... and we did see the foliage of many Oriental poppies--the perennial sorts with giant flowers--often in these same shades. Alas, we were several weeks early to find these in bloom...a very good reason to go back to Armenia in June!
No comments:
Post a Comment