Papaver can be annuals, biennials or herbaceous perennials with simple or pinnately divided leaves and short-lived, saucer-shaped, 4-petalled flowers which may be solitary or in racemes
P. orientale var. bracteatum is an herbaceous perennial to 1m in height, with bristly, pinnate basal leaves and erect, unbranched stems bearing 10cm in width, deep red flowers 10-15cm across, each petal with a blackish-purple spot at base