Symbol of war with seeds that bring peace...

Field poppies are associated with war. The disturbed ground of 1st World War battlefields created their perfect growing conditions; their blood-red flowers appearing where soldiers shed their blood was especially loaded with significance.

The tasty seeds are traditionally used in baking and drinks. They’re not only pleasant to consume, they also treat depression and stress – recent research reveals that they inhibit the stress chemical cortisol.

Poppies are one of several plants which put their pollen under lock and key in what’s known as ‘poricidal anthers’. Rather than releasing their pollen by splitting, these anthers have small pores making their pollen harder for most pollinators to access. Buff-tailed Bumblebee however have the key: middle C, the frequency at which their bodies have evolved to vibrate, which is the ideal frequency to shake pollen out through the pores. Beetles however, obtain poppy pollen by force, biting through anther walls, or squeezing it out like toothpaste.